Does relidgeon actually help?

[Phillip111]

For the last couple of weeks I have had really bad depression which just spirals down further and further everyday. And ive got to the point where I feel is there an actual point to life. Ive never really been a relidgeous person but im willing to try anything to stop this. As believe it or not i dont want to die, knowbody does.

So any help will be appreciated

Thanks guys

Phill

[War5475]

Well i dont know about religion. But i know God helps.
every person is born with a hole in them. This hole serves two purposes just as we are a temple built by God.

2 Corinthians 6:16 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you[a] are
the temple of the living God. As God has said:


" I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."

So we are his temple he dwells within us! but this hole we have can also be filled with other things. Drugs, alcohol, pagan religions, pornography, materialism, you name it and you can put it in there. It all helps for a while. The problem is its like fitting a round peg in a square hole. Only God can properly fill this hole. And untile he dwells witin us we will never be happy or feel complete.

All these things in this world can make us temperaly happy but only Gods light can light and guide our lives.

JOHN 8:12

12. Then spake JESUS again unto them,saying,
I Am The Light Of The World:He That
Followeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.

So the answer is in Him. Follow and seek him and you shall find peace and happyness

Matthew 7:7


"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.

SO i pray a prayer of peace and understanding for you. /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

God BLess...


Keith.

[Adam Knowlden]

Religion can't help, but a relationship with Christ certainly can!

Have you asked Christ into your heart buddy?

That is the first step. :-)

When Christ comes in, He does not promise all your problems will go away, but He does promise to be there with you and see you through every aspect of your life.

Trying to do it on your own is impossible.

[Phillip111]

Ive already found its an impossible task by yourself. I havent tryed asking christ but its worth a try.

thank you

[Venom]

Good posts, guys.

It also helps immensly to share your burdons with others, and most importantly, to place them on God.

So it would help to discuss your problems, preferably with some Christians (such as on these boards) that can point you to scripture for answers to your problems. /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Mavrick]

there is the proverb i read some where on this site i think--
Pray to God but row for land.

becuse, God WILL help you, but God wont do <u>everything</u> for you.

but beliving in christ, and putting effort into it will improve you ten fold

[l0stsheep]

Hey Phil,

I know exactly how you feel. For a lot of my life, I have suffered from depression and I few years ago I actually thought about killing myself. It was a horrible experience and I wish it for nobody. But I am so glad you have asked this question.

Religion, I feel, isn't what you are looking for. I think you are looking for something that will add a meaning, a purpose and a happiness to your life. And also a relief from your feelings of depression. This better life, I feel, can only be gotten through a relationship. (like said above) And that with the person who gave you life, who knows what life is all about. So lets not worry about religion. Lets not worry about what church to go to, what rituals to do, and so on. Whats important is you getting to know God, and through Him, having a life that will make you very happy and content.

Believe it or not, this depression can actually serve a good purpose. Although it is really hard, it has caused you to search for the answer for your life. And this can be a life changing moment for you.

When I was really depressed, I felt very empty. I felt alone, sad, and down all the time like my life was just meaningless. I wanted something that would make me happy, and stop all the depression. I found that in Jesus, Phill. And I'm serious.

Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."(John 7:37,38) When I read that a few years ago, I found it to be profound for 2 reasons. The first reason was because that’s exactly how I felt. It’s a metaphor, sure, but I was THIRSTY. I needed something that felt essential to life, just as one is thirsty for water which is essential for living. I felt like something was missing that shouldn’t be missing. The second reason I thought that was profound was because of who was making the offer. You see, everthing in life, I feel, is offering to fill our thirst. Whether it’s a spouse, a friend, money, fame, a new car, a drink, or even a passion in hobbies or a sport. All these things are designed to make us feel whole. And anyone who has been alive can attest to the fact that these constantly fall short of what they are promising us. So I was pleasantly shocked when Jesus offered to make me whole. Because now we have not the creation, but the creator himself saying, “I know how you feel. I know how you are searching for something more. And you can find it in me.” And isn’t that such an honor? God is talking to you, Phill. The one who called the 80 year old Moses, the one who met with Abraham, the God who was friends with King David, this very same God, who measures the Universe with distance between his thumb and index finger, is telling you He can make you whole. Do you believe Him? What do you think? Can the God who created the Universe create a happy life for you? Can the God who stilled the storm, still the one inside your heart? He’s parted a sea, walked on one too. He’s raised people from the dead, and healed the deathly ill. And this very same God is looking to you and is asking, “Are you thirsty?” “Is there anyway, Phil, that I can help your life?” Don’t believe me? Well then I think you should give Jesus a try and see if I’m right.

Jesus said: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28, 29) When I read Jesus ask for those who are “weary,” I immediately thought of myself. And that kind of sounds like you.

But how do you get this peace? How do you get this feeling of wholeness? Well, it originates with Jesus. Notice in both of those passages, Jesus said, “Come to Me.” Finding rest, finding fullness, everything starts with coming to Jesus. And I think this would be a great place for you to start. And I feel this happiness comes from 1. Knowing the God who made you. And 2. Knowing that no matter what happens to you in life, you are going to Heaven and you will be living with God and with happiness for the rest of eternity. Any thinking man can see that he will die one day. Then what? We try to hide from that fact with toys, relationships on earth, parties and plans about how we will live. But the simple fact is that we will, at one point, have to let go of the life we have now. And along with Him giving you a better life now, Jesus offers the assurance of Heaven in the life to come. Do you have that assurance? Now imagine what it would feel like to be able to go to sleep tonight with it. What helped me with my depression was finding Jesus and knowing that with Him I will go to Heaven. It helped because it took the pressure of present life. I knew that my friends could leave me, I could be poor, loved ones could die, and I could have a miserable life, if that’s what was in store for me, but no matter what I would go do Heaven. I found peace in knowing that an ETERNITY of happiness was in store for me, no matter what I did here on earth.

So, Phil, do you want that peace? Do you want the peace that comes from knowing that Jesus will change your life now, and change your life for eternity? That change is offered in Christ Jesus. And I know, He did that all for me.

If you do, I think it would be amazing if you prayed to accept Christ and watch Him work wonders for you. If you want to, you can respond here, and we can give you a prayer to pray to God asking Him to come into your life. Now a prayer is just a special word for just talking. You would just be talking to God and asking Him into your life, just like you would be talking to a friend. Or you can PM me, or any of the mods, and we can help you through Private Messages, if that would be more comfortable for you. Or if you want to talk to any of us through email, as well, that is a great option too.

[William Ustav]

Great post, lostsheep. Simply great.

And Phil, I can only speak for myself here, so if you ever feel you need to discuss something privately, or have any questions but don't want to start a new thread for any reason, feel free to always pm me, and I'll try to help and try to direct you to where you can find answers.

Peace!

[War5475]

Ohh yes phillip thats a definate about the pm. Man im almost allways near a computer even late at night. /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Giladvalkor]

These are all GREAT Posts guys. It's nice to be among so many Good Christian People. I know what you are going through Phill. I myself have the same problem sometimes. Mostly for me I'm trying to figure out my life and get it going in a direction that I will be happy with. I'm a 29 year old guy who still hasn't figured out what I want to do with my life yet. This kinda scares me and gets me depressed sometimes. I get to the point sometimes where I don't even want to workout. I mean I'm not getting any younger and what really scares me is waking up in 10 or 15 years from now and realizing that I am in the same spot as I am right now. Working out really helps me though. It gives me something to focus on. Also all of othese posts are Great, but go back up and READ L0stsheep's post. It's a very good post and really makes you think. GOD is with us all, we just have to put our hand out and accept him.

Giladvalkor

[Adam Knowlden]

Good points lost sheep, and everyone else!

[Phillip111]

Thank you guys especially Lost sheep your post was very compelling and I am going to take you up upon the offer for a prayer.

And once again Thank you everyone, If I ever need to talk to anyone I know where to come as everyone here has been far more accomodating than alot of people in my life.

Thank you

Yours in gratitude

Phill

[Phillip111]

Thank you Lostsheep for enquiring about me. Im startin to feel a little bit better. I cant reply any other way as I cant find your email address and I cant pm yet.

But Im definately going to try the prayer you sent me and im going to start reading the passages you recommended

Thank you

Phill

[Adam Knowlden]

You can find refuge here bro.

Lostsheep can PM you his e-mail, but you're almost to 150!

Glad to hear you're doing better bro.