Depression Is a Preoccupation With Self

My name is Wanda. I am a mother of four children and have been married for 27 years. I have been a believer in Christ for 20 years. I wish I could say that when I came to know Christ all my problems disappeared, but I can say the Lord Jesus has brought me through each difficulty.

One of the most freeing truths for me to learn, and I continue to apply to my life, is in the area of emotions. As women, we have a tendency to live in this area of our emotions, and that can cause a lot of heart ache. You see, emotions are dumb and only respond to what we're thinking.In Romans 12:2, it says that we're transformed by the renewing of our minds. Often times I would become overwhelmed by my circumstances or depressed by my difficulties, but when Ilearned that depression is a preoccupation with self, that freed me from it's bondage. We can choose what we think. We can either dwell on the negative and ourselves, or we can renew our minds and have our focus on Jesus.

This is not a one time deal though. Moment by moment I have the option to choose whether to obey God's word and give thanks in all things or to spiral down from self-pity, to depression, to despair. I can honestly say that as I continue to learn to give thanks in all things(1Thes5:18) it makes for an adventure in life. We as believers can live above our circumstances. As a believer the sky is not the limit, but God is the limit. WoW!