By Pastor Andrew Farland
One of the most difficult parts of journeying through depression was feeling like I was out of control, that my experiences were unavoidable. All of my emotions were heightened, insecurities were exacerbated, and unhealthy patterns became embarrassingly obvious.
The truth is that, in depression, there are things that get magnified more than others.
Imagine that you have a large flashlight, with an outline of a spider on the lens. When the light is pointed at the wall, a silhouette of a spider appears when it’s on and then disappears when the light is off. As you move the flashlight close to the wall, the spider looks small and almost unrecognizable. But, as you step back, the arachnid grows enormous and your room is blanketed by the shadow of the spider’s legs.
I don’t know what your experience is like, but when I was in depression, I constantly felt threatened and surrounded by danger. I felt like there was a shadow of something like a spider covering the walls around me and I was very afraid.
Looking back, I see the reality that fear is heightened in depression.
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. We are holistic people with physical, emotional, and spiritual components. That means that depression and anxiety are not purely mental or emotional issues. They are also spiritual. You and I are in the middle of a spiritual battle between our new lives in Jesus and our old lives that lead to destruction. We are facing the devil, who is like a crouching lion waiting to devour his prey, waiting to intimidate the most vulnerable men and women he can find.
Today, focus on the spiritual aspect of your journey. If you feel afraid, remember that God has already defeated the evil one which means his days are numbered. Give your fears over to your fearless heavenly father who will bring you peace.
Isaiah 43:1
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Be encouraged today because God is with you.
