Some of us didn’t get what we needed from our parents growing up. Not understanding or comprehending this, life took off, we began having children, going to college, getting married, or finding our careers early. Before we could find Christ and heal from our disappointments, our misunderstandings, our rejections and situations that caused us hurt or pain. Some of us were single parents or were married with children, however we had the understanding that, when we have children our life is no longer about self, so we have always been in fight or flight mode. We laid aside our needs, our wants, our self care, and focused solely on our child or children. Some of us didn’t complain, we did what we had to do when we had to do it.

We got out, we hustled we joined the rat race called the hustle and flow of life. We got wrapped up in the cares of this world while in the rat race and added baggage to our journey. We added baggage of debt, chaos, poverty, toxic relationships. I mean the list goes on and on. We added so much, that we lost focus of all dreams, hopes and future plans, and some of us lost our minds.

We settled into lives that were beneath us, beneath who we really were. who we were called to be. We settled, giving up on ourselves, losing our original color our original fragrance that makes us unique, that makes us different from everyone else. We lost our creativity and our drive. Our drive to leave a unique creative bright mark on this dark world. Life has a way of beating us down causing us to live a bleak, colorless life filled with hurt, disappointment and setback.

To come out of depression we have to get to a point to where we can at least think ourselves happy. In Acts 26: 2 Paul said “I think myself happy.” We are oppressed in every area in our lives and in every way possible it seems. Lets be like Paul and think ourselves happy. As you think yourself happy just know it will not be easy. Evil will be elevated in your life. People will rub you the wrong way and sometimes even take you for granted. It will look like nothing works out for you. It will look like there is no favor in your life. It will look like you always lose in situations and the world is against you. Please do not believe that. This will not be easy, but it will be worth it. We have to learn not to get weary in well doing. Galatians 6:9.

Weariness comes with Fatigue and frustration. Fatigue and frustration will cause you to give up on yourself and others. We are now in a season where we have to let go of our past. Our past fears and disappointments, failures and rejections. We have to release the ones we hold blame for whatever it is we needed but did not get. It’s time for us to begin to form our own relationship with Christ and learn his different facets. We have to let go of past memories and moments and quiet ourselves to hear him speak. A person can be quiet and still be loud. I have experienced it a lot with my husband. My husband wasn’t saying a word, yet I could hear his spirit. To hear Christ, we have to quiet our spirits, quiet our thoughts and focus on him alone. Christ is real and really does love us. We have to find those scriptures in the bible like John 3:16 that states “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, and Ephesians 2:4 which says but God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. We have to find, and meditate on these scriptures and believe them.

To break free of depression, oppression and any bondage we must first believe with all our heart, that there is a God in heaven that loves us, and he is mindful of us and he wants a relationship with us. We have to believe with all our heart and mind he genuinely loves and cares for us. we have to begin building a relationship with him by spending time in his word and praying to him and learning how he wants us to worship him. Now remember, he is not a man, God cannot lie. He can’t lie, and he can’t go back on his word, it is impossible. He just can’t! If he did, EVERYTHING he has said and done will crumble and fail.

We have to focus on Christ and tap into Christ’s love. Our world is noisy and chaotic, but when Christ speaks, he speaks in a still small voice. We have to get in a quiet space (in our minds) to hear him. A person can be quiet and still be loud. I have experienced it a lot with my husband. My husband wasn’t saying a word, yet I could hear his spirit. To hear Christ, we have to quiet our spirits, quiet our thoughts and focus on him alone.

God will fight for us. He will kick down walls, break down barriers, and move mountains for us, but we have to be in the right mindset and be able to hear him clearly in order for him to do that. He will tear down lies for us. He will leave the 99 just for you. Just for the one who has gone astray. He did it before, he will do it again. You are the apple of Christ’s eye. He cares so much for you.

Do you know what depression is? It is an attack on your mind. Depression will have you only thinking of yourself. It is when you get out of yourself and begin to see the world is bigger than just you, it is when the scales fall off your eyes, you begin to see you are a part of a bigger picture. There is more to life than who hurt you or who hurt your feelings, or who said what about you. No matter how bad the situation, you went through what you went through for a reason, and now someone else needs you. They need your story and your strength, to make it out of their situation. It may not be as bad as yours, or it may be worse than yours. No matter, you are the key to their freedom.

I have decided that I want to be defined by a vision of the future me rather than by memories of the past. You have to understand your life is a story and pondering on past hurtful moments and past memories will only keep you in bondage. It will keep your mind in depression.

To come out of depression, or low self-esteem, or to break free from anxiety (which is only fear that something could happen), you have to change the way you think, you have to change your mindset, and, because you have allowed your mind to think a certain way for so long, it will be difficult, however not impossible.

You have to make a decision that enough is enough. You have to be tired of the “woe is me”. You have to want to be free from the prison of the past. You have to be fed up of your mind constantly running and beating you down. You have to decide, today is the day you will get up and begin to fight back.

What helped me overcome depression, and low self esteem is I found motivational speakers to speak into my life. To get you started, here are a few speakers. Les Brown, Zig Ziggler, Eric Thompson with APOC Ministry, Dr. Joe Dispenza.

Begin writing affirmations for yourself and speak them every morning. This is a fight for your mind. Mark 8:36 says, “For what does it profit a man, to gain the world, and to lose his soul.” Your soul is your mind, your will, and your emotions. Speak them until you begin believing them. Then when you believe them, continue to speak them. After your confidence increase, begin to level up your affirmations. Begin to create vision boards and goals for yourself, your finances, your family. It is time for you to break free. Christ does not want to walk around feeling oppressed, depressed with low self work. He doesn’t want us walking around feeling defeated. No! We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37.

As you are going through this journey, please don’t feel like you are alone. Thatis a lie straight from the pits of hell. You are not alone, you have more support than you know. In spite of what you may think, that is not the case. Don’t believe the lie from the enemy.

If you would like prayer, feel free to reach out. You can reach my prayer team by emailing itsanewme513@outlook.com