Hope and Peace: 30 Days of Healing for Depression & Anxiety

By Christopher James Brazelton

There is hope! Hope and Peace provides practical, Christ-centered advice and biblical teaching from an author who knows firsthand what it feels like to live with depression and anxiety. Follow the author through 30 days of uplifting devotional messages from God’s word selected specifically to speak to readers struggling with depression and

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heroic Roleplaying Press
• Release date: Nov 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781087848198

Book preview

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Understanding Depression and Anxiety

Key Principles

Day 1: Ecclesiastes 1:2

Study Questions

Day 2: Ecclesiastes 1:18

Study Questions

Day 3: Ecclesiastes 2:17-19

Study Questions

Day 4: Philippians 4:8

Study Questions

Day 5: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Study Questions

Day 6: Ecclesiastes 3:15

Study Questions

Day 7: Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

Study Questions

Day 8: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Study Questions

Day 9: Romans 12:15-16

How to Ask for Help

How to Help

Study Questions

Day 10: Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

Study Questions

Day 11: Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

Study Questions

Day 12: 2 Peter 1:5b-8

Study Questions

Day 13: Ecclesiastes 5:15

Study Questions

Day 14: Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

Study Questions

Day 15: Matthew 6:27 & 34

Study Questions

Day 16: Ecclesiastes 6:9

Study Questions

Day 17: Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

Study Questions

Day 18: Ecclesiastes 7:14

Study Questions

Day 19: Ephesians 2:4-10

Study Questions

Day 20: Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

Study Questions

Day 21: Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

Study Questions

Day 22: Hebrews 12:14-15

Study Questions

Day 23: Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

Study Questions

Day 24: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

Study Questions

Day 25: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Study Questions

Day 26: Ecclesiastes 10:12-14

Study Questions

Day 27: Ecclesiastes 10:18

Study Questions

Day 28: Ecclesiastes 11:4

Study Questions

Day 29: Romans 8:1-4

Study Questions

Day 30: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Study Questions

Notes

Introduction

Day 3

Day 8

Day 9

Introduction

Abundant life in Christ does not make us immune to depression and anxiety.  Sometimes God miraculously heals these afflictions, but just as often healing seems delayed—or denied.  We must, like the Apostle Paul, learn to live with our infirmities1.

Thankfully we do not need to suffer from depression and anxiety without relief.  God gives us wisdom from the scriptures to help us navigate the difficulties of living with depression and anxiety.  This book explores some of those scriptures, focusing on the Book of Ecclesiastes (with a few digressions along the way).  By studying these scriptures over the course of thirty days, I hope that God will give you the same comfort that He has given me.

Understanding Depression and Anxiety

Everyone experiences occasional bouts of sadness and unease, and the scriptures in this book may help you persevere through the difficult experiences that prompt these feelings.  However, I write primarily for those who, like me, live with the persistent mental disorders of depression and anxiety.

Depression means much more than feeling sad.  Pain, loss, and unfavorable circumstances prompt feelings of sadness that pass with time.  The National Institute of Mental Health defines Depression as a mental disorder characterized by some or all of the following symptoms lasting for two or more weeks2:

Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood

Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

Irritability

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

Decreased energy or fatigue

Moving or talking slowly

Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still

Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

Appetite and/or weight changes

Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

In contrast to the low moods felt by most people, depression may manifest or worsen without any clear external cause.  Depression can strike even when life goes well.  Get help and diagnosis from a qualified medical professional if you experience any of the above symptoms.

Anxiety means much more than worry in response to stress.  The anxiety experienced by myself and others with anxiety disorders differs both in severity and duration.  The National Institute of Mental Health defines anxiety (or generalized anxiety disorder) as "excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health, work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances3. Anxiety symptoms can include any or all of the following:

Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge

Being easily fatigued

Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank

Being irritable

Difficulty controlling feelings of worry

Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep

Panic attacks; i.e., sudden periods of intense fear that come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes

The symptoms of depression and anxiety overlap with each other and with many other ailments.  Consequently, proper diagnosis and treatment require consultation with a qualified medical professional.

Key Principles

Over the next thirty days, we will study the wisdom of the scriptures with respect to depression and anxiety.  Keep in mind three essential principles as we begin our journey:

1. Seek Professional Help

No book can take the place of personalized counseling and diagnosis from qualified medical professionals.  If you have been diagnosed with (or think that you might