blog - posted on April 3, 2020 by Rip

Dealing with Depression & Anxiety

I see a LOT of people dealing with depression and anxiety during these perilous times. So maybe my story and conclusion in life could help someone out there:

As a person who grew up with CRIPPLING Anxiety, Depression and Addiction (seriously, ask my family…I was in therapy by 13,) this is my conclusion and what I have found to be TRUE:

Depression and Anxiety come because our physical bodies, minds, hearts, and souls are in a state of discontent. They are not where they want to be. They are longing for a different (usually higher state.) Whether we consciously know this and can articulate it or not. It can be a longing to have control….and can range from anything like not liking the body we’re in, to wanting more money (to feel financially safe,) to wanting the partner who can fill that void and validate us. The list goes on and on. But again, depression and anxieties come because a part of us is in a state of discontent.

This is what I have come to find true: The Bible tells us that when God created us, He placed Eternity in our hearts (you can read it for yourself in Ecclesiastes 3:11.) Well, what does that mean? It means that our hearts long for and desire Eternity (with Him.) So no matter what we chase in this world…money, fame, relationships, drugs, etc…trying to fill that VOID (need for eternity)…we will come up empty. Every single time. This is why you see your famous celebrities, who seemingly “have it all,” still searching in life…ending up depressed and lost.

Whenever I see someone depressed, more times than not, I can point out exactly as to why they are. Here’s another reason why society as-a-whole suffers from massive anxiety and depression: They not only are separating themselves from God, our Creator who knows us best, but they are also trying to PLAY God through science (I’m not debunking science or saying it’s a bad thing. It’s HOW you use it.) But you see them all the time: Making up their own versions of God based on how THEY want Him to be rather than we HE says He is. This elevates them to a god pedestal themselves. You see everything they’re trying to do now in the world: using it to try and clone people, using it to try and get men pregnant, scientists trying to find ways to inhabit new planets, you have artificial intelligence. ALL things that go against God’s design. And this isn’t pleasing to God.

The ironic thing is, people I see depressed most are those who follow the Progressive movement. If you read the book “Wild at Heart” By John Eldredge, he outlines how God designed men to be hunters/gatherers and masculine men, yet still loving at the same time- much like Jesus. When Judas led the soldiers, chiefs, and Pharisees to come get Jesus for His arrest, He went out and asked them what they wanted. They replied “Jesus of Nazareth”. He boldly claiming, “I am He.” knowing what awaited Him (death.) God made men the way He did and He made women the way He did with the psychology and biology that He did: Men to be masculine hunters and gatherers and women to be feminine, loving caretakers. Now keep in mind, this ISN’T me saying women have to stay at home an take care of the kids and all that yada-yada or saying a man has to be an alpha a-hole. That’s where most misinformed people coin the term “Toxic masculinity.” But ‘toxic masculinity’ is an oxymoron. The 2 can’t co-exist…it’s a conundrum. A TRULY masculine male (like Jesus) isn’t toxic. They are strong and centered in their masculinity, but still loving and respectful of others. The confusion comes into play when people like narcissists get confused with the “masculine” trait when in all reality, they’re weak (Beta.) Which reinforces my statement that toxic masculinity can’t exist, it’s an oxymoron. But this all circles back to my point about Depression and anxiety. You see in the world right now, the whole feminist movement and so may men becoming emasculated from what God created them to be (there are actual legit feminist movements out there that are valid but a majority of them are toxic which makes the others look bad.) Men aren’t being the strong men this world needs them to be which is pushing the whole masculine-feminine dynamic out of whack and forcing women into their masculine while men are becoming more feminine. And you wonder why society as-a-whole collectively is depressed. This goes against God’s design and a couple of decades of a progressive movement won’t change hundreds or thousands of years of Biology since the beginning and caveman times. When God gave us The Blueprint to life, His word, he didn’t leave anything out. To say times change, society changes etc and His Word is no longer applicable is to say God was incapable of seeing the future and to say this is to say He truly isn’t God to begin with. And we, as-a-whole are not in the state our minds, bodies, and souls are truly designed and needing to be in. Enter: Depression and anxiety.

This is also where addiction comes into play. We try to fill in that void to cover up the pain. The hit of dopamine seems to take the edge off just for a little bit but then it’s back to the same old routine. And it ended up solving nothing, in fact only make things worse, and then we enter into the downward spiral of destruction…needing more and more. But if we circle back around and remember that nothing outside of eternity will fully satisfy our hearts, we can finally start to understand how we can take this enemy head-on.

This is what I did: I fully surrendered my life to Christ a few years ago. And I don’t just mean calling yourself a Christian or “going to church.” I did that my whole life, too. I mean actually surrendering your heart to Him (this is separate from but could also be included in the giving of your heart to Him in terms of salvation.) See, I gave my heart to Christ as a child myself…but I never really FULL surrendered my life and cares to Him. I gave my heart to Him but then went on going about my life living my life for me. I still tried to control my life and sought all the things the world has to offer. But my heart was craving Eternity with God. Enter: Anxiety & Depression. You ever have one of those relationships where your heart is ripped out from your chest and you are groveling for the other person begging for them back out of desperation?? That’s the kind of pain and desperation it took me to surrender to Him. Jesus tells us ‘whoever doesn’t receive The kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ A young child is destitute of ambition, pride, and haughtiness and is, therefore, a good example for us. Children are characteristically humble and teachable. They aren’t prone to pride or hypocrisy…they are usually giddy with excitement. This is how we should approach God with our need for Him. This is how I did it about 4 years ago. I did it because I hit my breaking point and absolute pleaded with Him for comfort to ease my broken heart. Since then, I have been on a journey to seek Him, his Kingdom…an only those things that matter in eternity (what my heart truly craves.) All the worldly earthly things are futile anyway…a chasing after the wind. If you want to get to know God…dive into His word, The Holy Bible. God and His word will never contradict one another. Don’t seek other idols…Seek His face, obey His word, repent your sins, and glorify Him in all that you do. After that, He will slowly and surely change your heart and give you that everlasting comfort and Peace you desired. When you truly get to know Him and what His word promises…you will find peace in everything. When you know this world is all temporary and will end but there’s greater in store, it brings a sense of peace that’s indescribable. You don’t hold so tightly to the things in this world that once gripped you. Into my new journey, I felt God leading me to give up the biggest thing in my life that I sought relief from over Him. And that was an addiction to sex and masturbation. A few weeks ago I just hit 1 year Free of masturbation (Lustful sin) and that alone has alleviated an insurmountable amount of Depression. Something that gripped me for a quarter-century!!!

I’m not here to pass judgment on any of you. I have many friends from all walks of life that I love dearly. Some are like family. Biblically, I’m only allowed to exhort and pass righteous judgment on those others in Christ who are in error/slipping…not on non-believers. But you want to know why these things are going on…and I’m telling you. These are just some of the things I have come to conclude. I could go expound much more on these things as well as many more, but I think you get my point.

Our purpose on this earth is to serve God and other people (how we are designed) NOT ourselves (This goes against how we’re designed.) This is why it’s imperative to divorce our “emotions” and pay attention to God’s word. In fact, that’s exactly why The Bible tells us to guard our hearts because it’s deceitful. Again…the more we chase our desires and serve ourselves…the more our body, mind and soul drifts from what it was designed to do: serve God and others. Enter: Anxiety & Depression. God loves You. He doesn’t want you to suffer from it. But He also won’t force Himself on those who don’t want Him either.

When Jesus said He is The Way, The Truth, and Life…He WASN’T lying!!! He IS The Way (I tried MY way my whole life and failed), He IS The Truth (I have found His claims in His word and teachings to be ABSOLUTE TRUTH even when I rejected it when family members tried shoving it down my throat as a kid) and He IS The Life (He has given me a whole new life! One free of the things that gripped me my whole life: anxiety, depression, and addiction!!! AMEN! ALL GLORY TO GOD!)

I understand this message is going to unnerve some people. But I urge you to ask yourself why? WHY is this post bothering you?? There are others out there who get this already. And there are those who this is going to make think. This is for you. If it impacts one person, my job was done here.