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Messin' with Depression

God's Kindness Quest Series

Once upon a time

Depression was a best friend of mine

 

We did everything together

Embracing dreary weather

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Spent lots of time in bed

Tormented by what others did and said

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People sometimes reached out to me

Not sure who, I never looked to see

 

Depression introduced me to his good friend, Regret

Listening to Regret fed constant fret 

 

Regret introduced me to his friend, Shame

Shame convinced me I was always to blame

 

Shame introduced me to his friend, Unworthy 

Unworthy destroyed my self-esteem without mercy

 

One evening, an angel appeared as a beam of light

Brilliantly piercing through the night

 

The messenger moved closer to say

No need to live this way

 

Truth is, Depression isn’t your friend at all

Get out of bed and stand tall

 

I arose as the angel said

Depression remained fast asleep in bed

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The angel gently took my hand

Leading me to the vast ocean and sand

 

I was shown God's creation in the sea

Dolphin and sea turtles frolicked playfully

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Then, to meadows full of wild flowers in which to lie 

Thousands of butterflies filled the sky

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Suddenly, everywhere mountaintops began to appear

The air was so crisp and clear

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One thing was common in each place

I felt overwhelmed by heavenly love and grace

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The angel asked, why are you messin' with Depression

Delight in Father God and his creation; that's the lesson

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Interactive Questions

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV), "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

  • What emotions, memories, thoughts, convictions, or inspirations bubbled up while reading the poem?

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  • Father God, what do you want me to know about my answers to the previous question? 

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  • Thinking about your personal experiences, how would you complete the following? 

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  • I have regrets about: _____, _____, _____.

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  • I feel ashamed when I think about: _____, _____, _____.

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  • I feel unworthy of: _____, _____, _____.

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  • I feel hopeless about: _____, _____, _____.

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  • Father God, I ask for your perspective about all I listed under regret, shame, unworthy and hopeless. 

  1. Regret:

  2. Shame:

  3. Unworthy:

  4. Hopeless: 

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  • Father God, instead of focusing on regret, shame, unworthy, and hopeless, what do you want me to focus on?  

  1. Regret:

  2. Shame:

  3. Unworthy:

  4. Hopeless:

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  • Father God, is there anything else you want to share with me at this moment?

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Prayer

James 5:16 (NLT),  "... The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.​"

Lord, I bring to you depression, along with the emotions I’ve experienced. Because you know me, you understand the root of my personal struggle with depression. I want this fully resolved and ask you to touch me physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Whatever the source of the depression, I ask you to bring everything into perfect balance and alignment.

 

I forgive those who have judged, misunderstood, or criticized me during this struggle. I give you, shame, anger, low self-esteem, hopelessness, loneliness, regret, fear, anxiety, weariness, clouded thinking, exhaustion, lack of motivation, negative effects of medications, sadness, and everything which feeds or is an ill effect of depression.

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I ask for clarity of mind and for your truth to fill my soul. Where shame and regret have taken root, I ask you to replace them with hope and your strength to fulfill my godly purpose. Where hopelessness and depression took root, fill me with expectancy for your promises to prosper me. Where sadness has taken root, I ask you to exchange it for your joy. Let me see through childlike wonder all you created for me to enjoy.

 

Father God, nothing is too difficult for you, including annihilating depression. Help me leap out of bed every morning, with great anticipation about our day together. I choose your presence and come to you with childlike faith. Surround me with a heavenly melody. In your presence, there is fullness of joy, and that’s where I choose to be. Amen.

 

  • Lord, what did this prayer activate in accordance with James 5:16?

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  • ​Tweak the existing prayer as desired or craft a new personalized one.

Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT), "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true ..."

Psalm 30:11 (NLT)

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy ...”

 

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

 

Psalm 40:1-3 (NLT)

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”

 

Romans 15:13 (NLT)

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

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  • List meaningful Bible verses which come to mind regarding this poem, the interactive questions, and prayer.

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