“ ‘Depressed?’ Let’s Activate Joy and Take a ‘Deep-Rest’ ”

By: Nancy Abiera

 

In this time of global crisis, it is so easy to be trapped in the pit of SADNESS (Stress, Anger/Anxiety, Disappointment/Depression, Negativity, Envy, Sorrow and Soul-Searching). Many have lost the inner peace and joy while some are confused in their minds. The cases of various mental illnesses sky-rocketed.

I, too, was “depressed” in the deep valley of sorrows to the point that I hit rock bottom. That’s the bad news. I reached that point and I had nowhere to go down but up. That’s the good news. I got so weary of the SADNESS. . . Depressed faced Deep-rest and I met the God in me and me in God. I was awakened and made a conscious choice. I took a leap of faith trusting that God is the way, the truth and the life. I took a “deep-rest” in His power and strength. My soul was so stressed out and restless until my spirit rose up and rested in thee. Psalm 23 came alive. In the valley of death to self, I encountered God, giving me a new and renewed life. I received these revelations of truth. “I have been crucifi ed with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live now in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

In John 7:37b-38, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. The one believing in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Out of his belly will fl ow rivers of living water.’”

We all heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine”. It actually originated from the Bible! Proverbs 17:22—“a merry heart really does a spirit, soul and body good like medicine.” For truth be told, there are spiritual, emotional and physical benefi ts of joy and laughter. Science supports these biblical truths! Laughter is anti-stress, anti-anxiety, anti-fear, anti-depression, etc. Laughter changes us individually and corporately. Joyfully laughing is so contagious changing the environment, creating positive outlook promoting good mood. It lowers blood pressure, and makes healthy cells with anti–aging and longevity benefi ts. Laughter deep down originating from the belly springs up like the streams of river of joy, so refreshing/freeing.

Below are biblical truths/ benefi ts of laughter/joy…

Genesis 21:6: “And Sarah declared, ‘God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.’” In short, when joy or laughter is shared, it multiplies. My Uncle Pete laughs always not because he always got the joke. There are many times, he had no clue what the joke is but he laughs anyway. LOL.

Job 8:21: “He will once again fi ll your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” I use the acronym JOY as J-Jesus is the source of joy; O-Obedience is key to enter into joy/laughter; Y-Yield to Jesus and merge/submit to His leading. Life with Jesus is exciting and joyful when we focus our attention on the real purpose of what life is all about.

Psalm 98:4: “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!” Joy and laughter are vocal and body expressions of prayer. They are like tears as liquid prayers no amount of words can describe. Thus, shouts to the Lord are likened to cheers prayers to our always victorious and winning team with God.

Psalm 126:2: “We were fi lled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’” We laugh not because of the circumstances happening all around us but we rejoice in the Lord always for the things He had done, can do and will do. Even if “Men meant it for evil, God meant it for good”. Genesis 50:20

Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Depressed people may be deceived (due to limiting beliefs of lies, fear-driven, weak and shamebased. The thought of past failure is projected in the future while the present is fi lled with negative self-fulfi lling prophecy. Catch these when saying . . . “I knew it! See. . . I told you so. . .(Sabi ko na nga ba!) We get what we expect and we expect what we get.”

Ecclesiastes 3:4: “A time to cry and a time to laugh.” We can cry out, but also have tears of joy by laughing that cannot be contained. There was one time I was crying out to God in so much sorrow that I ended up writing songs. My son, Jeff had the same experiences. The results were him writing various inspirational spoken word poetry that are now popular on Youtube. (To be continued in the next issue)