1. GROWING THROUGH LIFE’S CHALLENGES
depression and anger

2. Jeremiah’s battle with depression and anger

3. Growing through life’s challenges
Facts about depression:
What is depression?
Signs and symptoms
Causes of depression
My experience of depression

4. Overcoming Depression God’s Way
Remember that our centre of gravity is God and his master plan.
Be honest with God about our feelings.
Renew your love for God and commitment to his work.
Maintain a lifestyle of praise and worship.
Be contented to rest in the security of God ‘s perfect will.

5. Overcoming Depression God’s Way
Remember that our centre of gravity is God and his master plan. (Jeremiah 1:4-19)

6. Jeremiah1:4-5(NIV) 4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

7. Jeremiah 1:6-7(NIV) 6 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

8. Jeremiah1:1(NIV) The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

9. Jeremiah 16:1-2 (NIV) 1 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “You must not marry and have sons or daughters in this place.”

10. Jeremiah1: Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11. Jeremiah1: The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. 12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

12. Jeremiah1: The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north,” I answered. 14 The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. 16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.

13. Jeremiah1:18 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.

14. Jeremiah1:19 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

15. Jeremiah1:10 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

16. Overcoming Depression God’s Way
Remember that our centre of gravity is God and his master plan.
Be honest with God about our feelings.(Jeremiah 12:1-6)

17. Jeremiah12:1-2(NIV) 1 You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? 2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

18. Jeremiah12:5-6(NIV) 5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? 6 Your brothers, your own family— even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.

19. Overcoming Depression God’s Way
Remember that our centre of gravity is God and his master plan.
Be honest with God about our feelings.
Renew your love for God and commitment to his work.(Jeremiah15:15-21)

20. Jeremiah12:16(NIV) 16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty

21. Jeremiah12:17(NIV)
17 I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.

22. Jeremiah12:18(NIV) 18 Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?

23. Jeremiah12:19(NIV) 19 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

24. Jeremiah15:20-21(NIV) 20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the Lord. 21 “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel.”

25. Overcoming Depression God’s Way
Remember that our centre of gravity is God and his master plan.
Be honest with God about our feelings.
Renew your love for God and commitment to his work.
Maintain a lifestyle of praise and worship.(Jeremiah20:7-18)

26. Jeremiah20:7a(NIV) 7a O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived;

27. Jeremiah20:8(NIV) 8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.

28. Jeremiah20:9(NIV) 9 But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

29. Jeremiah20:7b(NIV) you overpowered me and prevailed
Jeremiah20:7b(NIV) you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.

30. Jeremiah20:11-13(NIV) 11 But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12 O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. 13 Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

31. Jeremiah20:14-18(NIV) 14 Cursed be the day I was born
Jeremiah20:14-18(NIV) 14 Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! 15 Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you—a son!” 16 May that man be like the towns the Lord overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. 17 For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. 18 Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?

32. Jeremiah20:12-13(NIV) 12 O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. 13 Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. How do we overcome depression God’s way?

33. Overcoming Depression God’s Way
Remember that our centre of gravity is God and his master plan.
Be honest with God about our feelings.
Renew your love for God and commitment to his work.
Maintain a lifestyle of praise and worship.
Be contented to rest in the security of God’s perfect will.(Jeremiah 26:14-15)

34. Jeremiah26:14-15(NIV) 14 As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

35. Jeremiah29:11(NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

36. Jeremiah’s growth through depression&anger
Jeremiah came to know and share God’s nature and heart beat.

37. Jeremiah2:21(NIV) 21 I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?

38. Jeremiah45:4(NIV) 4 ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the land.

39. Jeremiah’s growth through depression&anger
1.Jeremiah came to know and share God’s nature and heart beat.
2. He placed his centre of gravity on God and his master plan.

40. Jeremiah’s growth through depression&anger
1.Jeremiah came to know and share God’s nature and heart beat.
2. He placed his centre of gravity on God and his master plan.
3. He came to know that God will always fulfil his word.

41. Jeremiah 31:27-28
27 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord.

42. Jeremiah 1:18-19
18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

43. Jeremiah’s growth through depression&anger
1.Jeremiah came to know and share God’s nature and heart beat.
2. He placed his centre of gravity on God and his master plan.
3. He came to know that God will always fulfil his word.
4. He finally attained total victory over depression and anger.

44. Jeremiah 31:26
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

45. Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV) 5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

46. Hebrews 12:5 (NIV) 5 “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

47. Psalm 116:1-9 (NIV) 1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, save me!” 5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. 7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 8 For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.