Defeating the Spirit of Depression

Satan is using depression to control the minds and hearts of believers and unbelievers. We must be aware that depression is a spirit and not just a chemical reaction. That spirit (a living being) is working to create chains of bondage in the mind, will and emotions.

We must guard our hearts from every form of depression and not allow that depression to suppress what God has placed on the inside of us. Depression is not your lot in life. And you do not need to remain in that place of depression. You can escape.

How? The scriptures are very clear: Put on the “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”. Is 61:3, NKJV. Yes, depression is a heavy yoke that seeks to weigh us down. That heavy yoke is rooted in hidden unexpressed and frustrated anger.

Often, we try to cover anger, especially as believers, with phrases like “that’s okay!” When, in reality, it’s not okay. Our anger exposes a pain or boundary crossed revealing a transgression. Yet, rather than confronting the transgressor and requiring repentance, we say, “that’s okay”.

Years of saying, “that’s okay,” to what is obviously not okay can build up over time and create internal unresolved turmoil. When that happens, depression raises it ugly head because we’ve given place to it. Instead of allowing our anger to confront hidden sin, we’ve resolved those sins through an ungodly means by allowing it.

Eli allowed his sons to sin in God’s house. But Eli’s sons weren’t the only ones judged. God also judged Eli because he allowed his sons’ sins. In 1 Samuel 2:30 ESV, God said, “I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.’”

Eli dishonored God by honoring his sons more. When we allow others to depress us through our anger at their sin, we are placing them before God. In doing so, we are dishonoring God. We honor God by being true to Him.

"We honor God by being true to Him."

We mustn’t allow hidden unexpressed anger to lead us into a place of dishonor. Instead, we must choose to honor God above others, express our anger in a righteous way and allow the praises of God to fill our hearts and lives.

When we place the garments of praise on over our anger, showing honor to the one who is truly worthy of honor, we are acknowledging that he is greater than our anger, any person who has upset us and depression that would seek to enslave us.

We are no longer slaves but sons. We are no longer bound but free. We have new garments placed on us like those placed on Joshua, the son of Jozadak, the high priest, who stood before the accuser, Satan, clothed with filthy garments of depression. Listen to what God says to him, and us, “See that I have taken from you your evil and I shall clothe you in fine garments” Zech. 3:4, Aramaic Bible in Plain English.

When depression tries to cloth you, remember, you have had your filthy garments removed and you are now clothed in fine garments of praise which have been given to you to overcome the spirit of depression working in our world today.

-Dr. Scott Wallis