There are several things I’m good at.  For example, I’m a natural encourager.  If I’m around you for long, I’ll probably sense potential in your life you may not even be aware of!

I love to see people succeed, and I find fulfillment in seeing them do well. Also, others have told me I have the gift of teaching – taking difficult concepts and making them understandable. 

On the other hand, art is not one of my strong suits.  To put it bluntly, I am absolutely horrible at drawing.  I’ve never figured out how to transfer what I see onto a piece of paper or canvas.  Just how bad am I?  A 7-year-old child can draw better than I can.  So if I told you one day that I’d decided to become a professional painter, earning a living from my drawings and paintings, you would shake your head and say, “He’s crazy.”

There are other examples like the one above:  trying out for an NBA team when you’ve never played basketball; auditioning for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra even though you don’t know how to play an instrument; asking for a job at the United Nations as an interpreter, knowing you don’t speak another language.  All of these are ridiculous, because without the proper foundation, your efforts in a particular field are doomed to failure. 

Bruce and I are committed to helping you conquer your depression.  However, this presupposes you have the right kind of foundation.  Without it, our approach will not work.  So, let’s make sure either you already have the proper foundation, or let us help you begin laying that foundation in your life today. 

Philippians 4:13 says: 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV). 

Notice two words in this verse.  First, the word “all.”  God will give you the strength to overcome your depression!  Yes, there is a step-by-step plan we believe you need to follow, but God will give you the strength.  Second, don’t miss the word “through.”  All of this is possible only THROUGH Christ.  Everything is predicated on your knowing Jesus personally, on having a growing relationship with Him. 

Do you have this foundation?  If not, it’s possible to begin that relationship with Him right now. 

You, me, all of us, need Someone to take away the guilt of our wrongdoings.  The Bible says that the punishment for sins is death and separation from God.  That’s why Jesus gave His life for us by dying on a cross. 

On the cross, Jesus took your sins, and mine.  He endured God the Father’s rejection while bearing our sins, and then He died – all for you and me.  Because of His willingness to pay what we could not (Jesus is the only One Who could do this, because Jesus is the only person Who never sinned), and because He conquered death 3 days later by rising from the dead, Jesus can offer us forgiveness of our sins, adoption into God’s family, a growing, loving relationship with Him, and an eternal home with Him in Heaven. 

How do you receive all this?  It’s as simple as A B C: 

• Admit:  Tell God you’ve done wrong and need help. 
• Believe:  Tell Jesus you believe He died for you, and you want to accept His offer of salvation. 
• Confess:  Decide you will turn away from your old way of living and turn to Jesus as the Director of your life.  As Romans 10:9 says:  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV).

Give Jesus every area of your life right now; invite Him to fill you completely.  You can do this in your own words as you pray to Him.  He loves you and is listening!  If you need help, below is a prayer you can use as a model. 

“Dear Jesus, I know I’ve done some things that are wrong, but I want to turn from them and start a new life.  I believe You died on the cross for me, paying for my sins.  Right now, in the best way I know how, I give you my life, my sins, my mess ups.  Please come into my life, make me clean and pure, and live with me forever.  From this point on, I want You to be the Master of my life.  Take over every area and transform me into the person You desire me to be.  Thank you for coming into my life.  Thank you for forgiving me of all my sins.  In Jesus’ Name I ask these things.  Amen.”  

If you do this, you will have begun putting down the best, strongest foundation anyone could ever hope to have!  It’s the start of overcoming your depression.