“When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 NLT
This thing called “joy” was always an enigma to me. I heard people talk of it. It has been said that happiness and joy are not the same thing. I knew what happiness was. I did not know what joy was, but I knew this was not it.
Depression ran long and deep in my family, and though I tried, I could not escape its grip. It slipped in and caught me unaware. It was like a mold: I never saw it coming and no matter what I did, it might lessen temporarily, but I couldn’t seem to make it leave permanently and regain my former unblemished life.
“As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 (NLV)
I knew from my nearly two decades of work as a clinical psychologist that our thoughts have a very powerful effect on our beliefs and our behaviors. I very much disliked giving my patients diagnoses, because too often I saw them use those labels as excuses rather than explanations or motivations for change.
Our responses directly influence the outcome
We often cannot control what happens to us, but we can control our response or our reactions. And our responses directly influence the outcome.
When I was struggling with depression, I remembered hearing myself respond to someone’s question, “I didn’t have a choice.” As the words effortlessly flowed across my lips, not a millisecond later my body reflexively shuddered. It was as if my mind, my mouth, and my heart knew that there had been a seismic disconnect in that exchange.
There came a point when I had to face myself in the mirror and decide how I was going to respond.
Was I going to let depression define me? Was I a depressed person or was I a person experiencing depression?
Did I truly want joy bad enough to seek after it, or was I going to continue to believe the lie that I was a victim of my circumstances?
Taking responsibility
I had worked with enough patients, and I had seen enough different scenarios play out with various friends and family members to know…. It was my choice. To a very large extent, I had to take responsibility for the outcome.
Rather than keeping my eyes on my problems and getting lulled into self-pity parties which I had never seen accomplish anything but make depression worse, I had to determine to keep my eyes on Him.
Don’t let me fool you…it wasn’t always easy. Some days were so painful and hard…it made me wonder if maybe some of us (me) were just joy-immune.
But that was just another lie of the enemy…a lie I had believed for far too long. And I was finally sick of it. I deserved better than that! My Savior died so that I could have better than that!
“I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy!” (John 15:11 New Century Version, emphasis mine)
That means it’s possible for me to not just experience joy, but to have a joy-filled life. And for you too. God said it. It’s true. Do you believe it?
Journey from depression into joy
The Lord began to impress upon my heart that Thanksgiving is the Doorway to Joy.
For an extended period of time, it seemed that I repeatedly came across the verse, “I will worship you, and offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Psalm 116:17 Living). But it always struck me with a twinge of curiosity. A sacrifice of thanksgiving?
The more I reflected and “medicated” on this verse, the more I realized that when we come to God with a thankful heart, we are offering a sacrifice. At least momentarily, we sacrifice our desires in exchange for what He deserves. We sacrifice our pride as we recognize His majesty. We sacrifice our attitude of self-sufficiency, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge His sovereignty. We come before him with gratitude and praise, recognizing that He is the one who provides all blessings. Without His provision, we literally would have nothing. It is a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Slowly, bit by bit, day by day, I began to appreciate this more and more. I became more determined to seek God, and praise him and thank Him in advance for His answers. I was going to “speak of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past.” (Romans 4:17b)
I would no longer define myself as a depressed person. No! I AM joyful! And in doing so, it fostered a joy-producing mindset, not a joy-reducing mindset.
It’s been a journey, and I’m still learning. And though at times the journey has been so very hard, I am thankful for the lessons He has taught me, and continues to teach me along the way. I am most especially grateful for the journey from depression into joy.
What has helped your journey from depression into joy?
Depression doesn’t have to become a permanent part of life.
There is hope.
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
Hope Prevails and the Hope Prevails Bible Study are must-reads for anyone suffering from depression or knows someone suffering from depression.
“There are many fine, worthy, and insightful books written about depression, but in my view, Dr. Bengtson’s trumps them all. Our first step of making it to the other side of the valley of depression may well be falling into the competent and compassionately written words of this God-honoring book: ‘Hope Prevails.’” ~ from the foreword by MARILYN MEBERG, Women of Faith speaker and author of Constantly Craving
I see where you are coming from. I fought so hard too after seeing my father take tranquilizers, be angry, have a nervous breakdown, bleeding ulcers…died at 50. But what I didn’t realize for many years was that I chose another costly method: stuffing. So I had a heart attack at 47, developed DDD, went through divorce and now complications of all kinds. Thrown in the middle is my dear mother at 96 with severe dementia. Believe me, I am taxed to the limit. But I want that kind of joy! Happiness can come or go, but I want that real joy! Thanks. I will keep walking the road.
Oh Dear Mary Ann! I know it must come very hard on some days to “count it all joy when you encounter trials”, as you have and continue to encounter many. I understand taxed to the limit…I have been there too.
You are so very right. Happiness is fleeting-it is capricious, and comes and goes on a whim. But joy is a confident assurance that no matter how hard the trials, no matter how dark the days, God is still on His throne, He sees, He cares, and He it is HIS JOY that is our strength.
There may be days when all you can think to thank him for is the roof over your head or the socks on the feet, but thank him for that. Your thanks is a sacrifice, which is a doorway to more and more joy.
I will be praying for you Dear One. You are not alone. Your Father loves you.
Another profound post. I thank you for it!!
One thing I found absolutely delightful… a real “God thing”, if you will. Did you intend to say “The more I reflected and medicated on this verse…”? I’m wondering if you meant to say “the more I reflected and meditated…” but the word “medicated” is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT there! God, and His precious Word, are a balm for our hearts and our souls… the ideal medication. If you meant to say that, I apologize for thinking it was an error… but if you didn’t mean to say it, God inserted that just for me!!!
Joyful giggle! No Sue, I meant to say “meditated” but now, I actually like “medicated” better. He is our “Great Physician” isn’t He? And this just goes to show how God can turn our messes into something He can use for our benefit and for His glory. He is so good. Hope Prevails!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
My mother always said she wanted for us: PEACE. My word for 2014 is Courage, so I pray as He gives me courage I will receive the PEACE. And that will fuel my JOY. Blessings on your day, Michelle. (and I liked the Medicate too) Isn’t God great to use what we think we create and He is really the one to shake it all up to His specifications?? Love it!
Dearest Girl,
How wonderful to come to your site and receive excellent counsel–counsel others would pay dearly to receive. You are more than generous, more than loving with us!
Thank you for so brilliantly pulling back the fleece of Satan and revealing his soft spoken lies. Those are the ones we swallow so easily.
I will take this truth from God’s Word for myself and for others. Thank you again, dear one, for sharing your struggles, your heart, your victories!
I love you,
Margie
My Dear Margie, You touch my heart in the most tender places. You saw potential even when I didn’t. Thank you for mirroring back to me a reflection of what My Heavenly Father sees. It was then and only then that I began to see the purpose He had for me.
My heart’s cry is for others to know that same love and comfort that He has shown to me. It’s a blessing and a privilege for me to get to participate in My Father’s Business.
Thank you for encouraging me on this joyful journey!
Hope Prevails!!
Michelle
Thanks for this wonderful post! I’ve been learning lately to choose hope instead of despair, and gratitude instead of cynicism. It’s a struggle to change long-ingrained habits, but day by day God is helping me.
Lisa, “choose” is the operative word there! We must make a conscious decision. He knows your heart – He will help you!
Learning I had a choice was a huge step in recovery for me from a history of horrible child abuse and one I have to remember often. As I was reading this I was struck be what may be a typo, but could also be a perfect word choice. You said ” as I reflected and medicated on this verse.” If only we would use the Word as medicine for our souls and body we would need less chemical medication.
Michelle, this line really jumped out at me, “Was I a depressed person or was I a person experiencing depression?” The way we look at it makes all the difference in the world. I love how the scriptures really helped you find that joy. I know it’s not been easy and maybe some don’t understand how God’s word can help us, but I’ve experience His peace and joy even in difficult circumstances. When we trust Him and follow His leading, we find what we could never find on our own. Thanks for sharing part of your story. Blessings to you! xo I’m your neighbor at #Grace&Truth.