One of the characteristics of those of us who fight depression is a high sense of guilt coupled with a profound belief that no one could really love someone like us.

If we’re not careful, we will allow our emotional state to tell us that God is using the depression to punish us for something we’ve done wrong.  We may even believe that God doesn’t love us. 

But is that true? 

If we are to ever begin conquering depression, we must develop an essential habit:  we choose to believe God’s word – the Bible – instead of our emotions.  Our books and website are founded upon this principle. 

Faith Fact:  you cannot read the Bible without encountering scripture after scripture that speak of God’s love for you.  When John 3:16 says that “God so loved the world,” it was not talking about the third planet from the sun.  Instead, “the world” encompasses every person who has ever lived . . . which includes you. 

Jesus told us, while on earth, that to see Him was to see God the Father.  So what do we see when we look at the earthly Jesus?  A remote figure no one can relate to?  A condemning leader who chastises everyone He meets?  No!  Instead, we find Someone who attracted lepers, tax collectors, prostitutes, and the demon possessed.  Why would they flock to Jesus?  Because the love of God flowed out of Him to them.  Our Savior took them as they were, loved and forgave them, then helped them to begin to change their lives forever. 

Someone has said that Jesus is “God with skin on.”  I like that!  As Jesus touched the lepers – whom no one else would touch – He desires to touch your life.  As He welcomed the tax collectors – the most hated segment of Israel’s society – Jesus welcomes a relationship with you.  Yes, even with your depression!

Decide today that you will begin doing this:  you will try every day to make the Bible your ultimate authority, not your emotions.  You can start by reading the following verses:  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39 NIV).

Did you notice the phrase “nor anything else” in that passage?  Your depression fits into that category!  In other words, the negative emotions you struggle with will not stop God from loving you. Instead, He wants to help you begin conquering them, not giving into them. As you struggle toward victory, Jesus will be there every step of the way, loving, guiding and encouraging you.