Out of the Darkness of Depression and Into the Spiritual Light: Triggers That Can Ignite Depression and the Scriptures That Can Calm the Storms

By Joyce Nanette Johnson

Out of the Darkness into the Spiritual Light examines the core emotions that can become triggers leading to the despair and downward spiral of depression. The book has ten chapters, including "Envy and Jealousy," "Money Worries," and "Not Obtaining Your Dreams." Each chapter examines the core reality or delusion of each depressive state and has direct scriptures woven throughout that review what the Bible says for spiritual enlightenment, study, and benefit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685703905

Book preview

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Out of the Darkness of Depression and Into the Spiritual Light

Triggers That Can Ignite Depression and the Scriptures That Can Calm the Storms

Joyce Nanette Johnson

ISBN 978-1-68570-389-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-390-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Joyce Nanette Johnson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Envy and Jealousy

Money Worries

Having Defeatist Thoughts: It Will Never Get Better

Reliving the Past

Not Obtaining Your Dreams

Physically Tired: Is It the Mind, Spirit, or Body?

Loneliness

I Hate My Job

Family Drama and Holiday Nightmares

Conclusion

Special Scriptures for Quick Reference

King James Bible: All Biblical Scriptures

About the Author

Introduction

What are you so depressed about? I have been asked that question by family members, friends, psychologists, psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and even by myself. Perhaps you also have pondered that question from deep into the black ink of night all the way into the glaring daylight of the sun. Depression can make you feel like you're spiraling downward into a dark tunnel and the only air available is restrictive and being forcibly pumped into your lungs. Depression can overtake your mind and soul and leave you feeling helpless and weak. The monster feeds on despair, hurt, anger, isolation, and fear. It can ensnare not only your mind, but if not addressed, it can also become a coiled snake that slithers into your body and starts affecting your body with various health issues.

I do not speak from a position of a psychotherapist, a certified medical counselor, nor a spiritual leader. I speak from the authority of being a person who has suffered years and years from being in binds and chained with the condition of depression. If you have cried for everything, anything, and nothing, I am one of you. If it seems that despair has seemingly cut off your airways and it seems that to just move your arm is an insurmountable task, I am one of you. My years of suffering from this debilitating condition have unfortunately made me certified, holistic, and professional of this condition.

I have been hiding for years, but now I am ready to come out of the secretive shadows and face my fears in the hope that this revelation and journey will help someone else. My secret is that I have survived for years behind a mask of depression. I always had a smile on my lips, strut in my step, quick sarcastic wit. I was a published writer and successful woman homeowner who was also known as a fashionable lover of clothes. Nobody knew my undisclosed condition of depression except for one or two close friends or relatives. This book is my personal coming out of the depression closet party.

What about you? Have you been hiding for years and years also?

Do you suffer in silence, mechanically going through your day just to survive?

The signs of depression are many and diverse. To some, sleep is sometimes illusive at best and nonexistent at worse. You become a ghostly apparition of your former self with dark circles under your eyes, courtesy of no sleep at all. You're tossing and turning. No position is comfortable as your mind goes deeper and deeper into the tunnel of despair.

Then there's the opposite symptom of the lack of sleep where you are starting to use excessive sleeping to escape from life. Your mind has excused itself from the day-to-day calamity of a hamster spinning wheel of life, and your mind is now completely zoned out. You just don't want to think anymore. You and your mind have had enough of life, and you have tuned everything and everybody out.

You live only to sleep. Your thinking revolves around how quickly you can return to your darkened crypt and remove yourself from the day-to-day daily grind of merely thinking about anything. Solitude can become your only friend and solace, and eventually, you become a prisoner of your own soul.

You become a child who wants only the protection of covers to hide under from the monsters at bay. Perhaps you might have added another danger of using sleep-induced medication. Dependence and addiction to prescription drugs are now rampant and have claimed as many lives as street drugs have. Now you are not only being a victim of depression, but you are also opening yourself to the possibility of the dangers of adding drugs to an already-toxic volatile environment.

Then there's the mysterious pains and ailments that seem to have begun a massive attack on your body. Pow, pow, there's a pain in the lower back. Bam, bam, there's a major head-rocking migraine. Bubbling nausea joins in the acrobatic parade in your stomach. Your body is reacting to the depression, and it is losing the battle. You have become or created being your own casualty in this battle.

Yes, the vortex of depression can overtake your mind, your body, and most importantly separate you from the power of God's miracles and blessings. Your spiritual relationship with God has been put on hold. For it is the theft of your spirituality that the enemy is trying to rob you of. Depression is just one of the many arsenals in the devil's army. But make no mistake; it is a mighty weapon.

Let's face it. Sometimes life has just plain beat us up. We are not always successful in our families, relationships, accomplishments, or lack thereof, and Lord knows I've never been happy in any of the tireless, joyless jobs that I've had. But we trudge through, sometimes wondering how we got into the particular mess that we're in at the moment. Thinking, calculating, attempting to find that small open window of success.

With depression, however, there is no trudging through. You cannot think or imagine a plan of action that might rectify the situation. Your