Faith in Your Heart

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:9

Depression and anxiety can play with the minds and hearts of anyone experiencing symptoms. Doubt and shame can become a perception you have of yourself and others. Your faith and understanding of Him can begin to be questioned. There are times that these questions arise: "Why did He do this to me?" "Why did He allow me to go through this?" "Why does He not care for me?" And while these questions (along with so many) are valid, they are not true in any form...He has not placed depression and anxiety in your life as a means to be a hurtful God.

Shame, according to the dictionary, is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. For some of you experiencing depression and anxiety, shame may be a feeling that you also experience. The symptoms of depression and anxiety are not just the textbook sad, worried, isolation, lack of motivation. The symptoms of depression and anxiety may also take the form of negactive thinking and feeling that what you are experiencing and going through is wrong, and that it is your fault. This is the furthest form the truth. While there may be consequences to behaviors and actions that you might find yourself doing such as living outside of your values system because of depression and anxiety, you are not in the wrong for simply experiencing depression and anxiety. Many of you going through depression and anxiety are aware that what you are experiencing is not the normal, is not the usual, and is not something you want to experience. You may begin to respond to the discomfort of your symptoms by behaving in ways that are also not typical for you.

Romans 10:11 "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." This verse may remind you that shame is only as deep as this world, because He will not put you to shame. Throughout Romans 10 Paul reminds the people he is speaking to of God's love and righteousness. Paul shares that it is not through their knowledge of God (Romans 10:2) that they are saved, rather through their faith. Paul, while writing to the Romans, is speaking to you too. It is also not through your actions, or through your behaviors, or your ability to manage depression or anxiety better than others that brings you closer to Him. It is through your claiming that His son, is your savior. Paul continues to share that not only is the word near you (Romans 10:8), but it is as close as your mouth and your heart. And while depression and anxiety may attack these areas at times, He knows your heart. "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Your heart is where the belief is, and your mouth is where the sharing is (Romans 10:10). This is where communication comes into focus: for those experiencing depression and anxiety, sharing about your feelings, experiences, and challenges with others, your support system. For those who are witnessing depression and anxiety, your communication is just as important, through creating a safe place, an open arena for others to share their story (whether you share in their experience or not).

Depression and anxiety may create conflict at times, this is the doubt that can arise in your stance with Him. Paul does a great job of reminding you through out all of the chapters of Romans that it is not your goodness that makes you righteous but actually His goodness and righteousness that makes it possible for you. Will depression and anxiety make it hard at times to live a righteous life? Absolutely. And will you no longer be a child of God because of it? Not even close. That is the point here. That He is good and righteous. Doubt and shame may be a byproduct of depression and anxiety, but they do not determine your stance with Him. Your stance with Him is determined by your mouth speaking what is in your heart which is "Jesus is Lord." (Romans 10:9).

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:13. The answer to all of those questions is the word. It is Him.

Acceptance of this can be challenging when faced with the experiences of depression and anxiety. This is why the moments you are not in a depressed and anxious state is so important to guard up your heart and mind and prepare. It is important for your support system to also be guarded and prepared. Depression and anxiety have no plan, they come unexpectedly, and at times without warning. Yet, He is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. This is something that you who may be experiencing depression and anxiety, and those witnessing it, can count on. Paul in Romans 10, continues to remind the people of His love, through their proclaiming and their faith in their hearts. Keep your mind sharp, focused on Him, and when things are falling apart know that He is with you in the struggle. He said that there would be trials. He said that there would be challenges. He also said that from His overcoming them, there is hope for you to overcome them as well.

It is not that He has given people depression and anxiety.

It is that the pressures of the world have manifested in the form of depression and anxiety.

Scripture

Romans 10

Romans 10:2

Romans 10:11

Romans 10:8

Romans 10:9

Romans 10:10

Romans 10:13

Questions

Where is your heart during times of depression and anxiety? Where does it turn?

What are you witnessing in others, in yourself, that you can communicate to create safety?

What do you want others to hear about your experiences? Write it down. Share it.

"My experiences feel like..."

Prayer

Lord, I call upon you to save those experiencing depression and anxiety. I pray that through you they can find the hope and comfort that at times depression and anxiety steal. I pray that their hearts become fixed on you. I pray that through their relationship with you they begin to find the answers to their questions. Lord, I know that you desire to have the world draw closer to you. And depression and anxiety are two things that at times hold people back from drawing near to you. I pray that even for a moment, today someone can draw near to you like they have never done before. I pray for those who are on the fence about their experiences. I pray for those that are deep in their hurt. I pray for those who are free from the pain. Lord, I ask that you bring comfort to all that go through this no matter where they may be in their hills and valleys. I pray all this in your son's name. Amen.