All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Spiritual, medical, God given?
Not sure where to put this but I've been doing reading and questioning some things in relation to the depression I've endured. It seems there are so many varied viewpoints and well...I wonder. When someone tells their side of the story, that's "their" truth. Then another tells theirs and that's "their" truth. But we often hear that the real truth lies somewhere in the middle. So does this also apply to the beliefs of people? Here is what I mean....
http://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/spiritual-warfare-and-adrenal-fat... speaks of spiritual warfare which causes stress and the stress can cause this adrenal fatigue issue which makes the battle even harder, we stay exhausted. And I know I've been fought on so many fronts, both internally and externally for so long, it has messed with my health, my sanity even it seems at times. I've been so very stressed on all fronts with extreme issues that most of us will experience one or another, but these are all at once, on top of one another, continually for years ongoing. And the health issues it causes creates even more stress.
Then there’s this: http://jenchristopherson.hubpages.com/hub/Mental-illness-is-it-spir... This guy believes the spiritual battle is the cause of mental illness (as the world perceives it) but that he feels God uses that to show Him things. And well....throughout my bouts of depression, I come out with something most times it seems. So...is he right?
And then there is http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Hope_Encouragement/k-o/olia.htm. This girl writes about her battle and how she would pray and still not feel relief all the time, which is what I’ve gone through. Yet I’ve been told you praise through it and satan has to flee. Yet is the persistent feeling satan always? Is it flesh, is it something God is allowing to change us? She believes it is all satan doing it.
So? Who is right or is the truth somewhere in between? Can there be medical AND spiritual reasons, and/or the medical created by the spiritual battle? Can the feelings of insanity be what pushes us to learn contentment or other things God wants us to see?
Just wondering on others’ opinions on this since there are so many varied views. I don’t claim to know the truth yet, but for me, and from what I experience, I believe mine has been three-fold...spiritual, God allowed, and medical all rolled into one. I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits all rule so those who say it is all spiritual may be falling short of other issues and those who claim it’s all medical certainly aren’t looking at the likely spiritual aspects of it. I think the truth is in between.
What do you think?
Views: 244
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Carla on
-
Hi Seek,
The best answer I have for you is 'I don't know'. I believe there can be many aspects to the who/what/why of it all. and I just don't think there is a simple response for it.
We do battle the flesh. There are medical explanations sometimes, but not all the time. The spiritual realm is very real. God has overcome it all, but we are still walking it out here on earth. We have lots to learn, and sometimes we learn our best during difficulties (often). If everything went well all the time would we see our need for a Saviour? I know I wouldn't. The truth is it's a difficult world with many trials, but there are still many wonderful things here as well.
God is bigger than it all...
Here's a cliché which rings true. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Blessings, Carla
-
Permalink Reply by Seek on
-
If everything went well all the time would we see our need for a Saviour?
That's exactly something I had considered. Perhaps God allows these things so that we DO seek after Him. Maybe He knows that if we didn't struggle, we would simply forget to call on Him.
-
-
perhaps...
and then there are people who look to the troubles in the world and ask questions like "if there is a God then why is there so much suffering?" They try to use the suffering in the world to justify their atheistic beliefs... 'no good God would allow these horrible atrocities to occur...'
The answer of coarse is to share the gospel with them so that they will understand it. The suffering and horrible state the world is in is proof of our fallen state and of sin.
-
-
We struggle because we forget to call on him.
Not applicable in my situation. Sorry.
-
-
"I thank the Lord that, even though things were so wrong in my life here, I finally was brought to the realization of what all those struggles were about. There are some wonderful things from your painful past, things with a beauty you may have not realized at the time."
~Ravi Zacharias
We trust that God is carrying us through even the most of desperate of circumstances, even when things do not seem to make sense. It's not that we haven't cried out to Him... we trust that He is acting on our behalf even though we don't presently see any evidence of it. We walk by faith and not by sight... one day we will see the beauty and perhaps the purpose in the suffering also.
-
Permalink Reply by Miss Kitty on
-
YES, I DO AGREE, IT CAN BE THREE FOLD. SO MANY OF US TODAY SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN OUR LIVES. HOWEVER, GOD GIVES ALL OF US GIFTS, SOME ARTIST, SOME ATHLETES, SOME SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS AND SO ON. I HAVE SEEN THE LORD HELP US OR HEAL US IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. SOMETIMES HE CHOOSES TO INSTANTLY HEAL US AND OTHER TIMES HE USES MEDICATION AND COUNSELORS. I TAKE MEDICATION AND AT ONE TIME DID SEEK COUNSELING FOR THINGS I WAS HAVING TO DEAL WITH. NOW, WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD AND MEDICATION IT HELPS ME GREATLY. SO IF WE ARE REALLY BEING BOMBARDED FROM ALL SIDES AND WE HAVE PRAYED OVER IT, ASKING HIS DIRECTION AND THIS IS WHERE HE LEADS US, THEN I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH TAKING MEDICATION OR SEEKING GODLY COUNSELING. WHEN THINGS GET TO A POINT TO WHERE IT IS REALLY INTERFEREING WITH OUR WALK, OUR FAMILY, THE QUALITY OF OUR LIFE, THEN GOD GAVE US INTELLEGENCE TO STOP AND GET THE HELP HE IS PROVIDING WHETHER MEDICATION, COUNSELING, WHAT EVER HE HAS PUT ON YOUR HEART, HE WILL BACK IT UP. THANK YOU JESUS FOR ALL THE MANY RESOURCES YOU HAVE PROVIDED SO THAT YOUR CHILDREN MAY GLORIFY YOUR HOLY NAME!!! AMEN
-
-
I've been trying medications now for over a year and a half. They have helped, yet not completely. And I just began seeing a Christian counselor who is also helping me discover some things. Add to that, the doctor has FINALLY found a cause for a lot of my ailments that have become so overblown over the last few years. I'm on a treatment now that doesn't seem to be working but there are other alternatives if this one does not work. It can be a cause for my ears being plugged up, sinus infections, ear infections, ear pain and bleeding, nose bleeds, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, jaw pain, dental pain, etc. etc. And of course the lack of good quality sleep is not a help with depression. If one is always exhausted, it is so much harder to fight a battle in the mind, along with the external battles going on right now around me as well. And it may be that fight that pulls me into the depression. They've been treating all the symptoms with medications since about May of 2012, but now they're trying to treat the cause.
-
Permalink Reply by Tammy on
-
I know this is a tad late in the discussion, but all of these physical ailments would make anyone depressed. Sooner or later it wears & tears on the emotions plus all of the responsibilities that you carry as a single parent and those tasks are even harder with your child. You have to follow through on all of those things with the physical ailments. I know it probably feels you're walking this journey alone. I can see where all of this could get to you & then on top of that, have some chemical imbalance that causes the depression as well. Lord I just lift up Char. She tries faithfully to cling to Your words. She trusts that You know best for her although sometimes we would like it to be different. Touch her body Lord. Allow them to find what is wrong with her physically. You're our great physician & Lord. To You always be the glory. In Jesus Name
-
-
LOL! Try telling the doctors that! They hear of depression and immediately start blaming all the ailments on IT. And when I try telling them that the problems with sleep and the sinus issues have been ongoing long before the depression, they tend to just shut their hearing off before you get to that point. I've had these issues since in my 20's. But they got worse when I hit 40, and for about 4 years now, they've been horrendous. But I didn't have these depression bouts until early in 2011. And at that time, I was going through several very painful situations, along with financial issues, all hitting at once along with the already failing health. But it seems easier on the doctors to blame it on you and say you're causing it because of getting depressed, than it is to diagnose it. But they'll be glad to take your money though.
Thanks for the prayer. I always say I can use all I can get sometimes.
-
-
Have they considered hormones or anything to that affect. I mean, we are getting a tad older & our bodies change unbelievably. But then again, if you've had these things since you was in your 20's, that would have nothing to do with it. Oh well. So much for that diagnosis. If you need any more, just contact oh doc Tammy here.
-
-
It's sinus related definitely, but they keep trying to treat it with nasal sprays....and keep failing to get results. Now I've had a low level depression for a long time on and off, nothing major. But these since 2011 have been VERY major, plus this sinus issue worsening, both causing sleep issues. It may be hormones that have exacerbated both situations. But what do we know? We're just the non-edumacated hypochondriacs with deep pockets ya know. How dare we second guess doctors. LOL
Welcome to
All About GOD
The Good News
Meet Face-to-Face & Collaborate
© 2024 Created by AllAboutGOD.com.
Powered by
