The solution to depression

Interviewer: We have touched on something that is fairly widespread-depression. Many people go through bouts of it, and some never seem to be able to shake it. Are You saying that the Devil causes depression? I don’t mean to be difficult here, but that almost sounds medieval.
God: Yes, modern mental sciences would label this superstition. Let Me just make one or two points here and then your readers will need to draw their own conclusions. First, I am real and the spiritual realm in which I dwell is real. I am trying to help mankind to find everlasting love, life, and happiness. Second, there is an inferior but still extremely powerful opposition led by the Devil. He tries his damnedest to frustrate mankind from achieving these goals either by offering alternatives that don’t really satisfy in the long run, or by trying to make people just plain miserable. Wouldn’t it seem that people suffering from depression are the sad targets of his designs?
Interviewer: The Devil and his demons and all-it seems a bit far-fetched. Aren’t there a lot of causes for depression that don’t have their roots in the spiritual realm? For instance, there could be bereavement or the loss of one’s job or a financial or medical calamity.
God: It is very true that these can trigger depression. I sympathize greatly that the loss of a loved one, receiving bad news about your health, or losing one’s financial stability are all difficult experiences that can deeply hurt and can make one very sad. However, there is a distinct difference between mourning, or receiving bad news, or grappling with personal difficulties, and depression. Sad things happen in life. That is part of the living experience, and from those things a great deal can be gained in the way of learning empathy and compassion. That is not a negative experience in the long run. But depression is when a person has given up hope. The Devil has taken a crisis and turned it into a disaster seemingly beyond repair.
Interviewer: You seem to be giving him a lot of credit.
God: Not credit, blame. Unfortunately, a lot of people like to stick Me with the blame for things that go wrong. I am enjoying an opportunity to lay the blame at the real culprit’s door.
Interviewer: Well, what can be done about it? Placing the blame is not necessarily a cure.
God: No, it is not a cure, but realizing the cause can go a long way toward achieving the cure. The Devil can be beaten.
Interviewer: How?
God: Through My power, which is available to each and every person.
Interviewer: I assume You are alluding to prayer here.
God: Prayer can activate My power and focus it on the target. I do answer prayer, as I explained in a previous conversation we had.
Interviewer: Yes, but medication can be beneficial for these people, can’t it? If the cause is spiritual, then why would medication work?
God: It is true that medication can sometimes help relieve the symptoms, but it doesn’t cure the cause.
Interviewer: What do You say to the research on this subject that has shown that some people are this way because of chemical causes?
God: In some cases, yes, there is an imbalance, but this is not the general trend. If there is a chemical or hormonal imbalance in the body, there can be a degree of emotional uneasiness, where Satan finds occasion to plant negative or disparaging thoughts in the mind. It helps vastly to realize that these thoughts, which in turn lead to depression, come from the enemy of one’s soul, who is seeking to discourage and drag you down. They are not reality.
So you see, the truth of the matter is that the root cause of deep depression is spiritual, even though the symptoms may be psychological or physical. If you treat the problem in the spiritual by prayer and getting the depressed person to understand Me and receive Jesus in his or her heart, then I guarantee there will be positive results. Let’s move on to something more positive.
Interviewer: Well, I will heed Your wishes and leave this subject, but I will add that there will undoubtedly be some who disagree with You.
God: Perhaps. But the fact remains that there is a solution to depression through faith in Me and My love.

Personal destiny

Interviewer: What about people who already have received Jesus into their hearts and yet at times feel depressed?
God: Again, I say that the best antidote is prayer. It is a tremendous help to those suffering from depression to realize that these negative and despairing thoughts come from the evil side of the spirit world. My truth, My love, My light is much stronger, and as soon as people let that in, it will start to wash out the darkness of the Devil’s despair. But it often will take time and considerable perseverance to see this whole process thro-ugh. That’s why prayer and reading My Word, and seeking advice from those who deeply believe in Me, all help to combat this.
Interviewer: To finish up on happiness, then, am I right in concluding that knowing and loving You and loving and helping others is the key to happiness?
God: That is well summed up.
Interviewer: The next subject on my list is “success.” I think most people want to be successful in life, even though their definitions of success vary. Lots of people would like to be rich or to achieve fame so that they are admired by others, perhaps even idolized. What do You regard as success?
God: To find and achieve your purpose for existence.
Interviewer: You have defined this earlier as loving You and loving others. Is that it?
God: If you do those two things, you will be a success. However, every individual has his own personal destiny which, if fulfilled, would make him even more successful.
Interviewer: That is interesting. We come preprogrammed to perform some great task, reach some great goal?
God: It depends on what you mean by “great.”
Interviewer: Becoming president or prime minister or something like that.
God: I pity anyone wanting to become a head of state. No, that is greatness in man’s eyes, which does not necessarily correspond with My idea of greatness.
Interviewer: Which is?
God: To be of great service to mankind.
Interviewer: But being a world or national leader would be of great service to mankind, wouldn’t it?
God: I think that most people tend to think that politicians are more likely to be of great service to themselves or to the political system. Even the most idealistic politician is soon forced into compromise, and some are even corrupted by the political system. I think everyone is more likely to agree that someone like Mother Teresa is truly great.
Interviewer: She was a saint in every sense of the word, but You don’t expect us all to attain that level of service and dedication, do You?
God: What a wonderful world it would be if everyone would, don’t you think?
Interviewer: So You would have us all be like that?
God: If all were like that, then there would be no need for all to be like that. I am not expecting such heroics of everyone, but it would be wonderful if more were like her.
Interviewer: So she is Your idea of success.
God: She succeeded in her calling. She would not be persuaded from it, but pursued it with every ounce of spiritual and physical vigor that she could muster. I know that all people will not and could not do what she did, but they can do something to make the world around them a better place for others. I have designed mankind so that the giving of themselves to help others is the most satisfying thing that people can do. It makes every other measure of success pale by comparison.
Interviewer: If that is the case, why aren’t more of us doing it?
God: Many do-a few in great ways, most in small ways. The thing that holds people back is selfishness.
Interviewer: But we are all selfish to some degree or another. It is human nature, the instinct for survival. If You intended us to be altruistic, which You have explained You would prefer, why did You program mankind with selfishness?
God: This world is a proving ground. Although there is selfishness inherent within man, there is also the ability to rise above it. Every individual has within him the potential to be a great force for good, if he only would.
Interviewer: Very interesting! Another area that most of us like to be successful in is in relationships. Relationships are myriad, of course, but is there a general rule for success?
God: Yes! Humility!
Interviewer: I thought You would say love.
God: Humility is love put into action. It regards the well-being and happiness of others as more important than one’s own. Therefore humility is the key.
Interviewer: By definition, the opposite of humility is pride. Does it then stand to reason that pride is what will cause a relationship to fail?
God: Exactly!
Interviewer: But a sense of pride is ingrained in us since birth.
God: Pride builds walls between people. Humility builds bridges. It reaches out to others.
Interviewer: But we are told of the importance of self-esteem.
God: Having an appreciation of self-worth is good. Low self-esteem can and does lead to problems. However, I ask you to go further than this and esteem others more than yourself. That doesn’t mean you should think less well of yourself.-That is a mouthful, isn’t it? It means you should regard others as having at least some attributes or talents that are better than your own. That is pretty hard to do if you are stuck on yourself, so you must make an effort to look for the good side of others.