Sad but not True - pt. 2

(a series on dealing with depression)

Feelings are not truth. When we say that feelings are real but not truth, what does that mean? First, let’s get a good working definition of “truth.” Truth should be something that does not change. Truth should be something that can be applied at all times, in all places, to all people. Truth is that which is fact or reality, not that which is opinion or perception. The bible states in Psalm 119:160, “The sum of your word is truth.” Now, if we don’t believe what the bible says, then we should discard everything in it including what it says about love, mercy, forgiveness, heaven and right vs. wrong. If we believe what the bible says then we can place our confidence in God and his word as truth - truth by which to gauge every aspect of our lives. Francis Schaeffer said, “If Christianity is really true, then it involves the whole man, including his intellect and creativeness. Christianity is not just "dogmatically" true or "doctrinally" true. Rather, it is true to what is there, true in the whole area of the whole man in all of life.” Therefore, absolute truth is based on the very nature of God, who doesn’t change or lie, expressed through his word which is intended to guide, shape, nurture and transform us.
I will personally confess to you that most of my life has been spent struggling with the negative, defeating, belittling thoughts and feelings that stem from depression. When those emotions hit, they are very real. They cause real pain and leave real scars. So how do we process the idea that these emotions are real but not truth? Understanding this is critical to our game plan for dealing with depression. As a matter of fact, it is the core of our defensive strategy. Let’s look at an example to help us get a better understanding. Imagine you are walking down the sidewalk and you recognize a familiar piece of paper lying on the ground. You reach down to pick up a $100 bill! You realize there is no one around that could have dropped it and you begin to smile. The celebration of your good fortune begins to go off like fireworks in your mind. You may feel thrilled, excited, joyous or even relieved if you needed that money for an overdue expense. Once you decide what to buy with the $100, you happily go to the store and make your selection. As you proceed to pay for your item the cashier does something strange - she calls for a manager. As it turns out, the $100 bill is a counterfeit and now you are being detained for questioning by the police. Uh oh... I bet you’re not happy and joyous and excited now. We can learn two important things from this example. 1) Emotions can change in an instant and 2) emotions are based on perception not necessarily on truth. Because our feelings are fickle and erratic, unlike God who is unchanging, we can decisively say that feelings are real but not truth. Next in this series, we will lay out the differences between the offense and defensive parts of our game plan for dealing with depression.
"Father, sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17

Sad but not True - pt. 1

(a series on dealing with depression)

We make way too many decisions based on our feelings alone. People that have suffered with depression, whether situational or clinical, can attest to a wide range of overpowering emotions - fear, anger, despair, loneliness, anxiety and hopelessness. All of these feelings are very real and have undeniable effects on your mind, body and spirit. A train running out of control through the middle of main street couldn't cause as much damage as those feelings when they are in full force. We've all been there. I've been there, yesterday, as a matter of fact. I bought the t-shirt then got depressed because I spent money I shouldn't have so I returned it. Now I'm depressed because I really liked it and wish I had kept it (a little humor for your morning - very little, lol). I would like to discuss our game plan as a team. We are all on the same playing field, fighting the same enemy, so let's go over some offense and defense. The first thing we need is a mission statement to give us a solid reference point to look back on. Here it is: Feelings are not Truth. Memorize that, think about it, analyze it. In part 2 of this series, we will unpack our mission statement and see how it will apply to our game plan.
"Father, sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17