When you surrender your all to Jesus, He can set you free from depression! (Includes my "Depression" poem.)

When you surrender your all to Jesus, He can set you free from depression! (Includes my "Depression" poem.)

I hear so often from Christians who love and serve Jesus that they are steeped in depression, anxiety, and dark thoughts. Way too many people battle with a feeling of hopelessness.  If you or someone you love is one of those people, I pray this writing gives you hope, peace and joy!

(You can also see my recent writing about casting our burdens on Jesus: "Jesus Will Never Tell You That You Are Beyond His Help" https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/09/jesus-will-never-tell-you-that-you-are_15.html)

Let me start off by saying that grief is never wrong, and even the Bible reminds us it is acceptable, so do not ever let anyone tell you tears are wrong. Psalm 30:5 - Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. &  Ecclesiastes 3:4 - A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance.  

However, I am not writing about normal grief, but a dark depression that never seems to go away.  Let me also say that depression is not a sin, it is a symptom of what you have gone or are currently going through.  In some cases, depression can even be a chemical imbalance one cannot control.  There is never, ever any shame in seeking treatment, and in fact, I would encourage you seek professional help from a Biblical counselor if your depression if needed. 

I have shared this story before in my blog, "Advice on How to Help a Hurting Friend" https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/04/colossians-19-advice-on-how-to-help.html but I will share part of it again: I once had a Christian co-worker confide in me that due to depression, she struggled with issues of faith.  She felt as if her mind was a battlefield between Christ and Satan and she was painfully struggling not only to win the spiritual war, but also to understand why this was happening.  My heart went out to her, and I told her I fully believed she was indeed involved in spiritual warfare and quoted to her Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  I also told her that we have a God that intercedes on our behalf and reminded her of Luke 22:31-32 - And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  

Due to a traumatic childhood, she was someone who was difficult to encourage, yet through our 4 months of working together, I tried my best to be her friend.  I once  gave her a card to let her know I was praying for her and wrote some verses in the card including Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  She accepted the card with tears and thanks and said life was hard right now, but then the wall came back up, and she said no more.  

The job we were working at was seasonal, and as soon as the season was over, she never had anything else to do with me.  I tried to keep in contact with her, but she was not interested.  I still think of her often and pray for her. God knows where she is and has her in His hands and heart. 

Her struggles due depression are ones we have all heard of many times, and maybe even experienced ourselves.

The number one way to conquer depression is not on your own, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.  By surrendering your all to Jesus and letting Him be your hope and peace. There are hundreds of good verses I could give to encourage you, and I absolutely believe in the power of Biblical Truths, prayer, and praise.  Yet I also know that there are many for whom Jesus is nothing more than a band-aid for a broken heart, not a cure. 

For those people quoting scripture and prayer will never be enough if they refuse to let go of the items in their lives that cause depression.  Therefore, I want to help you understand why you (or someone you love) may be experiencing depression and how to conquer it.

There is a reason why scriptures won't bring more than temporary comfort and Jesus cannot heal your mind. Here is the key: when you surrender your all to Jesus, He can set you free from depression! 

As I told my friend, I will say it again, spiritual warfare is very real. Satan wants to tear all of us apart and separate us from the Father as wheat is separated from the chaff.  We may or may not realize how easy it is to open doors that allow Satan and his demons to enter into our homes.  By watching television and movies as well as listening to music with satanic beats and reading ungodly books (which often includes so-called Christian artists and authors), we give Satan a foothold and allow him to affect us with emotional ailments, nightmares, and even bad tempers and sinful desires.

Depression attaches itself to your emotions is by stubbornly refusing to give up the things we know God hates. When we are suffering mentally (or physically, financially, and spiritually) we beg for help.  We ask God to fix our circumstances.  We say we will do whatever He asks of us. Yet when God says we need to give up a particular sin or sins in order to be set free from bondage, we balk.  

We try to justify our actions.  For example, some might say, "I know if only I would give up pornography, You would heal my mind, But God, find another way to help. I know Your word says that looking at another woman with lust is cheating on my wife, but..." (Matthew 5:28 - But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.) 

Or some may try to bargain, "God, I know if I gave up the demonic influences of television and movies that my depression would decrease, and I would see more answers to my prayers.  But can you quit mentioning that 'touch not the unclean thing,' scripture verse? Surely that verse has nothing to do with modern day times anyway. If You can give me more proof, other than what the Bible says, that Hollywood is harmful to my soul, then I will give it up." (Again, see 2 Corinthians 6:14-18) 

 Or some may just ignore God altogether, "God, you expect me to give up alcohol and marijuana?  But then how will I cope with all the pains from my past? You need to help me deal with my problems another way; I will not give up drinking or drugs! If I quit going to the bars with my buddies, they will not understand." (Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.)

In essence we have all been guilty of saying, "God, You are not enough for me.  I know I am begging and crying for You to help me, but if you expect me to give up what the Bible says is unclean, then You don't love me at all, You just want me to be bored and miserable. I do not trust your plan for health and healing.  I do not believe that the Bible that tells me to give up my sins. If you love me, You will simply grant me a miracle."  (Mark 2:17 - When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came... to call... sinners to repentance." 

It is the same with sin.  If we refuse to repent and cast sin away, our minds will not improve and will have the potential to escalate to the point of non-repair.  If we do not allow God to test us and get to the bottom of why we are depressed and why we are so stubborn to give up sin, we will never get the relief for are begging for. (Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me. &  Psalm 51:7 - Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.)

Whatever God is asking you to give up, be it pornography, homo- or bi- sexuality (etc.), the occult, Hollywood, alcohol, an affair, false religion, bad temper, argumentative attitude, etc. then you need to follow His will and let go of your own stubborn pride, or you will remain in darkness. (1 John 1:6-8 - If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.) 

I know there are some already resistant to what I have said because you are too attached to certain forms of entertainment.  Well, I am going to make even more of you upset when I say there are also some people you may need to let go.  When we allow people with poisonous personality traits or ungodly beliefs in our lives, we are asking for trouble 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.  Especially those glorifying in the occult, they will do more than tempt you to sin but can literally disturb your peace. 

You may meet a seemingly nice person who just happens to be into Wicca, yoga, fortune telling, fantasy role playing, or steeped into witchcraft through movies/books.  Make no mistake, there is nothing safe, fun, or innocent about witchcraft.  Being around these people can cause their demonic influences to oppress you with depression.   

We are to treat everyone with kindness and respect, but when we willingly let a person involved in Satanism in our lives, we are mixing dark and light when they are clearly meant to be separated (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).  There is a fine line between witnessing to an unbeliever and becoming their friend.  By all means, please share the love of Jesus, but do not cross the unholy line and become unequally yoked.  

It is not just outside influences that give Satan an open door to harass us.  When we give into negativity, critical attitudes, grumbling toward God, and sinful desires, we are saying we are more fleshly-minded than spirituality in-tune.  We make it easier for the enemy to plague us with not just depression, but also anger, bitterness, un-forgiveness, and other sinful actions.  I am talking of oppression, not possession.  We must bind and cast the evil spirits out of our homes in Jesus’ name and trade our poisonous attitudes for a heart of repentance and praise.  Worshiping the Lord (not just singing a pretty song but really honoring Jesus with your heart and soul), brings down the strongholds of sin. 

I know this is already a long writing, but I cannot end it without offering you hope.  The main goal of Jesus' death on the cross was for our spiritual health, to save us from our sins, not for our tears our mental health (in spite of what some songs may say).  But we can still say that Jesus wants us to enjoy life, not be trapped in depression (John 10:10 - I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.)    

I wrote the below poem in 2005 for a friend that was (and still is) perpetually wallowing in self-pity and is often depressed.  It is difficult for her to find joy even in the best of times.  God showed me it was her false religion where she placed empty rituals and unnecessary man-made laws above grace and the pure love and sovereignty of Jesus that was causing her depression (see 2 Corinthians 3:5-6).  

Freedom in Jesus means giving up our sins so we can break the chains of depression.  Accepting forgiveness from God and truly believing He loves us can help bring about peace and joy. Believing your repented of sins are forever under the blood of Jesus should set you free from darkness in your mind.  However, if you still cannot find the joy of the Lord, (as I stated above, unless your depression is caused by a legitimate medical issue) depression can never be cured until you learn to hate what God hates and then give it up. 

 For a reading on joy, please see my article, "Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Joy" here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/search?q=joy   and one on peace "Do you find it difficult to believe that Jesus came to be your personal Prince of Peace?" https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2024/12/do-you-find-it-difficult-to-believe.html

Depression (2005)

Depression

Has settled in; 

How can she

Tame such a Beast

That devours life's joy?

With teeth and claws

That scratch and bite, 

And a forked tongue

That whispers hate and deceit, 

And purrs sweet nothings

To make her believe

Its treacherous lies

Redemption

Has paid the price

To kill the Beast

And set her free; 

With nail-pierced hands

That comfort and heal, 

And eyes of peace

Full of hope and love

And words of truth

To bless with joy

And a pure heart

Full of mercy and grace