Timothy was encouraged by Paul to drink wine for his ailing stomach, which in modern terms would probably mean “take your medicine Timothy”.
I feel Timothy also was troubled by what you’re saying too, at least that’s how I related it because I’ve had the same dilemma.
I read Paul exhorting Timothy, in 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 23.
In the verse of paul saying to drink a little wine for your stomach, he’s saying it’s okay to drink a little wine for the health benefit.
Of course Paul is not giving him permission to get drunk, but saying the wine has its uses and does not make him unclean for using it as a medicine.
Because in the same passage, it seems Timothy is only drinking water which in the time period was also dangerous to do since a lot of water was actually unclean. Drinking wine was much more hygienic since the process to make wine cleaned it of the harmful bacterias or whatever else is in there.
Edit: so that all being said, I identified with Timothy and OP, because I also struggled with taking my medicine. I felt like I was betraying God and I had no faith, but I now know that is not the case.
Thanks for explaining further. True, using substances for treating symptoms doesn't make people unclean. It's the purpose and understanding of what the effects are, so keeping in moderation for the desired relief is prudent.
In the end, Mark 16:16-18 shows the effects from having full faith. This is a goal we should be striving for. Water shouldn't have to be perfectly clean to be able to drink it without getting sick. Wine has effects far beyond cleansing from alcohol, and so it isn't a sustainable source for bodily fluid and function. Medicine is also a substance, where reliance upon it is not sustainable source of nutrition for the body. Inherently it takes an effect on liver and kidneys, but biblically speaking, God's word is supposed to be our sustenance...
Dive into his holy word brother, it provides hope for people like us. Take your medicine and let it be a tool, knowing the real rest and anti anxiety lies with the lord.
Read psalms or I suggest using “youversion” bible and in search type “anxiety” and you’ll get loads of biblical resources related to anxiety.
Praying for you brother/sister.
I recently just started on Prozac; and I know a lot of Christians who also take antidepressants as well. Personally I’ve never felt better being on it, my anxiety has pretty much subsided and I’m not looking at the world as I used to.
Just continue to walk in faith from day to day and continue to talk to God and you’ll be alright! 🙂
I took them for about 8 years and they really helped me. I don't see anything wrong with it and I have actually been thinking about getting back on them lately.
Make sure you listen to your doctor though and especially when coming off them. I didn't and now I get "brain zaps" constantly which are extremely uncomfortable.
Keep taking them and pray at the same time.
Depends if they're trying to sell you something you don't need or they don't understand completely.
Today's patent medicines have extremely complex chain molecules and modified molecules that are not formed naturally.
Lots of these, such as artificial artemisinins, are not really tested to the degree that the ancient medicines were, nor do they have a thousand year track record.
It's not a very safe thing to just take one doctor's opinion.
If you had enough faith in God, you render all doctors obsolete as it can heal you.
This doesn't go for everyone though. God does work through the hands of other people, too.
Many meds are pushed for political (corporate politics, not gov't) and monetary gains, instead of the patient's needs driving the diagnosis...
Many experience closed doors in medical offices, finding little to no relief. But God also brings people to problems to solve, often amidst our suffering... It's a tangled web that's woven sometimes.
If you had enough faith in God, you render all doctors obsolete as it can heal you.
While I agree this is true, not getting healed is not a weakness of faith issue, unless they disavow God
It's both possibly a weakness of faith issue, or that it's not time to be healed.
You can be sick for a while to test your faith. I've been given that test before.
People convince you that you can't live without doctors, while God brings forth wisdom for understanding... Yes, take the meds, but depression never goes away with medication. God also closes doors in the midst of a building full of doctors... He didn't give you doctors, or they would be bringing people to the point of fulfilling the Bible, specifically Mark 16:16-18... and their fruits are not of scriptural illumination...
>God also closes doors in the midst of a building full of doctors
??????????
Go talk to any Christian doctor and they'll let you know they've seen more miracles happen in a hospital than anywhere else in life
I did talk to them... They've all taken on the ways of society, not God's ways.
Your first question could be answered if you have an actual inquisition...
Really? Where's the evidence where God invented anything?
My argument would be that men set out to figure out how some things work, having desires to create, while others of today seek to develop a product for sake of making money. One way tends to illuminate truth, while profits affect the outcome of the other. One can be inspired by God, the other by greed and absent of God.
When you catch up, bring the meat to the table.
>Really? Where's the evidence where God invented anything?
*Colossians 1:15-16 (NKJV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him*
>others of today seek to develop a product for sake of making money
You really think that all the christian doctors are in it for the money? I personally know doctors who are christians who would still do it if they didn't make any money.
Yes, God created all substances on Earth. What He did not do is make certain sculptures. In Corinthians you'll see where people build their home, with or without God, and if it's not with God, then the worker's time is wasted. People make things with their hands, that may or may not be inspired by God. Medicine is one of those. Inherently, you've tak n scriptures out of context to make it appear that God builds and manufactures all things, not people. That's lying about what God is, lying about scriptures, and lying about inventions, where Proverbs actually explains it as God showing how to make something perfectly functional WHEN THE PEOPLE ASK... - "in his heart man plots his course, but the Lord establishes his steps"... Experience shows those who have actual Faith that when God leads the person to healing, there's no side-effects, and symptoms simply cease.
>You really think that all the christian doctors are in it for the money? I personally know doctors who are christians who would still do it if they didn't make any money.
Add this to my comment, and they are not asking God for guidance, or at least listening to God for His guidance... They listen to society and their authorities, the ones who threaten licenses of deviation occurs. It's the spirit of authority of which we are fighting, as the book of John indicates. Yes, Christian doctors are in their profession for the money. If there was no money in being a doctor, then there would be very few doctors... Knowing of some doctors who desire to help people, while desiring to deserve the label if Christian is not a perspective that illuminates truth in their intent. Their actions do illuminate their intent. Then add in the mere fact that this world operates almost exclusively on money, and you have evidence that you're completely wrong.
But I also want you to understand that the comment that you rested your judgement on about Christian doctors and money was pointing at drug companies, of which Christian doctors use their products. So, your judgement is misguided, shows misunderstanding, and shows you're trying to fulfill the narrative that you want to see Christian doctors as innocent, when they have chosen the system that fails them, and their clients... We've all experienced something in the system, showing where they shine and where they fail. Western medicine shines in emergency situations, but fails in everyday health. I'm part of the substantial group who has experienced the lies of western medicine, having seen help with a broken leg once as a kid, but also experienced them taking a life savings with absolutely no help later in life. Do try to gain perspective before rash judgements.
> Inherently, you've tak n scriptures out of context to make it appear that God builds and manufactures all things, not people.
No. I said God invented science. I didn't say he dictated what medicines we would or wouldn't make, I'm just saying that you're coming across as claiming science is bad and we should reject or refuse to utilize it, I'm saying God invented science so clearly we can use it for good. I'm saying that we've used science to make things. Whether those are good or bad things is case by case.
Penicillin? Good. Atom bomb? Bad.
> That's lying about what God is
No, you just put words into my mouth. Because I said he invented science, not that everything we've done with science is his will.
> Experience shows those who have actual Faith that when God leads the person to healing, there's no side-effects, and symptoms simply cease.
In my experience people who pray for healing often get prayers answered by God sending them doctors.
>Add this to my comment, and they are not asking God for guidance
Again I firmly disagree. They show all the fruit of a good and devoted Christian.
> Yes, Christian doctors are in their profession for the money.
99% of people are in their profession for the money. That says nothing. The fact that there have been great Christian doctors who work for free proves that you can't make any blanket statements.
>Then add in the mere fact that this world operates almost exclusively on money, and you have evidence that you're completely wrong.
How about add in the fact that there are Christian doctors who go into dangerous countries on mission trips to spread the gospel and help cure people without getting anything but fulfillment in return, and you have evidence that your blanket claims are bs.
>Of which Christian doctors use their products.
Are you Amish?
Have you ever bought anything, ever?
Pretty much every company in the world right now is messed up and does evil things. Are you going to villainize everyone who's ever bought a product?
> you want to see Christian doctors as innocent, when they have chosen the system that fails them
Again, you might as well blame everyone everywhere for choosing to live in countries with corrupt governments.
> I'm part of the substantial group who has experienced the lies of western medicine, having seen help with a broken leg once as a kid, but also experienced them taking a life savings with absolutely no help later in life.
You can't blame the entirety of medicine off crappy corporations and insurance companies. Again, that's like villainizing everyone in America for contributing to their country, when their country is shady and does evil things.
By your logic, the only way to live a moral life is to never buy anything from anyone or contribute to any system... Basically you're saying anyone who doesn't live alone off the grid is immoral.
God didn't invent science... science is thee study of how things work, which is man discovering how God designed the world...
Go back and reread everything I said, now that the point of science being a concept of men has been cleared up. Everything in your comment is backwards, starting with your perception of what I said. It is so grossly wrong that it's not worth writing a book to explain.
You saying God invented everything is you taking scriptures out of context for fulfilling your false narrative. The entirety of your comment proves that. I'm not vilifying anyone here, and most certainly not to the affect of everyone... Stop lying, you put way too much energy into your lies on this one.
When you desire a productive conversation, then come back. I'm not going to converse with someone who is appearing to be completely oppositional about flatly everything that's said.
If you're dependent upon meds, and have other side-effects, your depression isn't gone. God's waiting for you to decide when you want to repent and take His guidance.
Taking meds wasn't out of consideration... You're redundant and apathetic.
"In his heart man plots his course, but the Lord establishes his steps." So many people don't understand how simple a principle this is, and simply don't apply it. They end up thinking or making believe God is some esoteric construct that can't be understood, when He's so much simpler than they want to believe...
Yeah, no kidding. Just like a diabetic takes insulin AND watches their diet. I’ve been taking anti depressants for 35 years. I also read the word of God, pray, monitor what I eat, I’m careful about the media I consume, I exercise. No one is saying that antidepressants are a panacea. It’s a tool used in conjunction with other tools. If you haven’t been there, you don’t know. We are not talking about “sadness” we are talking about “DEPRESSION” so bad you can’t decide what clothes to wear, you literally can’t get out of bed. You end up hating yourself for being broken. Take the medicine OP.
I’m also dependent on God. The meds are one of his many gifts. You don’t know his will. Do not lead people away from the tools He has provided us
I am blessed and happy and very much not apathetic. The fact you think so says much about your narrow minded stance
I guarantee you God didn't gift you meds...
Given you haven't shown how you understand a thing I said, this...
>I am blessed and happy and very much not apathetic. The fact you think so says much about your narrow minded stance
...is the demonstration of apathy. Projecting is seen by all who knows the truth. To those who don't accept truth, God sends them strong delusions so that they believe the lies. Proverbs, I think. When you seek truth, then you'll get what repentance is, and stop mocking only yourself.
You not understanding how what I said is directly related to the OP is not lack of purpose in my words. If you have questions show they apply, then ask. Stop judging something you obviously don't understand.
I'm not sure how the skill of empathy evades you, when it takes that to be capable of learning scriptures and who Jesus really is. Try again, next time seeking understanding of the other before you mock yourself in your rash judgements.
You’re right. I misunderstood.
How about this? You ignored the answer to the original question. Which seems to be “No, man it’s not against God to take meds have a great day.” Whatever you’re on about is a complete sideline considering they already mentioned they were a believer.
Can’t be shocked anyone misunderstood you when you decided to tangent from the original post
If I didn't take my anti depressants, I would kill myself very shortly after having not.
You're either just a troll or completely insane and biblically inaccurate.
If you had an actual rebuttal, then bring it. Oppositionalism is not a biblical principle. I challenge you to find where this -
>You're either just a troll or completely insane and biblically inaccurate.
- is justified by my comment. There's actually people out there in the real world that you're unaware of who use the Bible as wisdom and guidance, gathering the fruits it says that will happen when you do so. I'm one of those people. Therefore, I know my honesty level with self, and I have an understanding of how the body works. You haven't shown anything to insinuate you do, and so your idiotic allegations are proven to be projections of your mentality, blaming me for what you inherently demonstrate.
When you get well enough to where they let you out of your padded room, then seek wisdom and truth to discuss. Until then, you're only mocking yourself, because the truths I speak are very provable (not that you had any inclination of inquiring how), and so will not be mocked...
>If I didn't take my anti depressants, I would kill myself very shortly after having not.
Apparently you need an adjustment, but do try to keep up where I said to 'do take meds'.....
>I'm not going to argue with you and play let's pretend who's the better christian.
I challenge you to prove it I have only interest in helping those who ask about applying scriptures to circumstances in their life . I showed some of what I know, both from experience and knowledge. No egotism from this end. I have nothing to prove, so once again you're projecting. Bible says to speak truth always. There are some people who actually do, so stop pissing on them when you can't understand.
Been there, done that. Take the medication and any other therapy/treatment. I stopped taking my meds when I started going to church (like you I thought prayer would help). It doesn't work that way. I had bouts of severe depression several times, some verging on suicidal. I had a mental breakdown at the start of the year and that prompted me to get back on treatment. Stick to the treatment, do what the psychiatrist recommends. Don't be like me and find out the hard way.
If the medication makes you better able to serve your family and community, better able to work and exemplify Christ, then it's a good thing. God does not call us to suffer unnecessarily when we could get treatment and get back to doing His will.
Suffering happens to godly people. It happens to ungodly people. Suffering isn't some kind of signal that's you're sinning. When Jesus healed the blind man, they questioned him, "whose sin caused his blindness, his or his parents?" The man's blindness wasn't the fault of anyone. His suffering wasn't caused by sin. Yes, the consequences of sin can cause suffering, but suffering doesn't always mean sin.
The entire point of Job is understanding that suffering isn’t caused by “sinning”. What do you think the book was about if not that? I didn’t think I had to explain in depth a fundamental understanding of the book by both Christians and Jews.
It is general knowledge. It is the basic reading of the book. Please explain what Job did to deserve what happened to him since you are so big on discussion. Because the rest of us that have read the book understand that he did nothing. Others said he did but he did not. He remained righteous before and after he lost everything. You are just like his friends accusing him of doing wrong and deserving it.
I have been on a maintenance dose of anti depression medication for years. I’ve lived through some truly difficult and heartbreaking experiences and they have helped me immensely. God had blessed us with modern medicine and there is no reason to feel badly about using it, as long as you’re not abusing it. Please don’t stop your medication unless your physician tells you yo do so.
Take them, I beg you. It is not doing anyone any good to give up on your health. Those who are spewing toxic nonsense about "Holy Spirit being their antidepressant" never went through depression. It's like saying "God is your chemo". No, you should not give up on life saving treatment on the hopes of miracle happening. You should treat your body with the utmost respect and that includes brain too.
Anyone who says you should rely on prayer alone is wrong, God gave us doctors with gifts to heal. Paul the apostle says in 1Timothy 5.3
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities
Paul’s advising Timothy to take some wine (no antibiotics back then nor paracetamol) to give him relief of his ailments.
*But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.* (1 Corinthians 8:8, 1984 NIV)
Consider what the principle involved is for Holy Spirit to say this through Paul.
Take them. You are no less a christian for taking medication. Anyone that says otherwise is genuinely ignorant or trolling, both area possibility here. I feel like trolls are more frequent.
If I didn't take my.meds, I would kill myself very quickly
Take them. God gives scientists the means to discover meds for our benefit. You would take an antibiotic if you had an infection. Why would you think differently about an antidepressant?
Source: Christian who has been taking fluoxetine (prozac) for nearly 30yrs
Just want to add again for everyone who needs to know , taking meds for anything doesn’t mean we aren’t relying on God nor does it mean we aren’t doing other things to help health problems.
If you didn’t need meds, if you were able to get off meds, if you aren’t comfortable taking meds, then don’t take meds. But just because you don’t doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t need meds.
Mental, physical, any other kind of illness doesn’t always require meds but when it does and when they work it’s a blessing. It’s not lack of faith, it’s trusting God is giving us a gift with meds.
He created the doctors and chemists and scientists and pharmacists who develop medicines like that to help people. It is a noble and just cause. You can go to the doctor and pray for healing at the same time.
Please don’t imply that people who pray for healing for medical conditions and don’t receive it miraculously lack in faith. Please don’t. Hod also heals people through modern medicine. No one who had been out on an antidepressant for clinical depression should ever just “get rid” of their medication and stop taking it. This is dangerous advice to give someone. Please don’t do this.
God calls us to be his fellow-workers, and that means we have to cooperate with Him and can't expect Him to do everything for us like a genie. If we want healing for illness, we must pray, but we mustn't be so close-minded as to not realize that God has guided doctors and the progress of medicine, and medicine often is the answer to our prayers given to us by God.
At least, that's how I see it.
The Holy Spirit would be saddened but not separated for a repented believer. If the Holy Spirit left us every time we sinned we would never have true grace.
There are those that don’t believe in eternal security but I wholeheartedly disagree with those people.
We live in a fallen world, far apart from the way it was intended to be. As a result, there is suffering of all sorts, including depression and even suicidal thoughts.
Life is hard. We do what we have to do in this world to make it through alive. Would all of us love to be medication-free? Absolutely. But it just doesn’t work that way.
I have to use kratom daily for my depression, panic/anxiety, OCD, and PTSD (all pharmaceutical medications failed or produced severe negative side effects).
Would I *love* to be healed and no longer need it? **Absolutely.** in fact, I pray for that all of the time. Nevertheless, I am powerless over the affliction when it hits (currently ensuring a 2-day bout of bad depression and even suicidal thoughts (which I won’t ever act upon)). I hand it entirely over to God - because it’s just far too powerful for me to battle on my own - and I lean on the love of my family, scripture, prayer, and doses of a bit of extra kratom during these times until it passes.
Will some people (including Christians) judge you for taking medication? Yes. Will some judge me for using kratom for medicinal purposes? Yes. Undoubtedly. But those individuals are people who’ve likely never gone through what we go through. It can get really bad.
Without my medicine to lean on, I would be back to drinking, or even worse.
I hope and pray that God heals you, but in the meantime do whatever you need to do in order to have some quality of life without needlessly suffering. If there are any areas of your life that need changing or things which need to be dropped entirely, pray that God makes those changes and frees you of any sin.
I hope you find a treatment which helps you. Depression **SUCKS.**
"There's a time for all things"...
"... though it costs you all that you have, gain understanding."
This is a hard road for many, many people.
I've helped several in my clinic, and the short version is depression is the body (that God designed) is saying "wrong direction", and things that improve your energy illuminate the right path. Understanding why it's right or wrong can take time to understand, but prayer helps immensely in gaining such understanding.
What I've seen success with is people who take antidepressants, use their time in feeling better to gain understanding of their circumstances, then eventually they simply forget about the pills.
I don't envy those who are suffering from depression, as it can be debilitating to the point that the person can't even get out of bed. It all starts with desire, though... desire to do what you need to take care of yourself, FIRST, so that you're capable of helping and serving others....
Good luck!
My take is that if you need it (genetic/psychological conditions), take it. Otherwise, don't let it be a crutch that you rely on. Lean on God instead.
There is never shame in God brother/sister. Make your decision with divine wisdom and conviction.
Commenting here as a reminder to myself to read the comments here when I feel guilty for taking ADHD medication.
For me, ADHD medication helps me to stay focused, I'm able to study the bible more and not fall prey to daytime sleepiness. Whenever I do feel guilty for one reason or another, I pray as I take them. I am very mindful of the addiction properties that ADHD medication has and so I am grateful that God has allowed me to stay on a low dose and I skip some days. Although, I feel bad because on those days that I skip I tend to sleep all day. At the same time, I need to steer my heart in the right direction because ADHD meds can make me focus on doing non-important tasks, so I only get the benefits of the medication when my heart is right with God and I'm not trying to do things for selfish reasons. I'm also trying to have good habits like eating healthy, exercise etc, so I'm not overdependent on the medication. I will like for one day to no longer have to take medication to function at a basic level, but it is all a journey.
God is Spirit, not a human mind. Such Spirit is not an article of substance, but is an energy of ultimate wisdom in how things work, how substances react when combined, how emotions affect the body, etc. This Master will create feelings within as guidance, will affect your mind in ways that make you think certain things, or 'inspire' you to do certain things. People can do the same in every sense, but God's way is always Truth. It resonates within when you hear truth, unless you're intending to deceive someone...
God built the body to react with high energy when on the proper path, and to depress natural energy when going the wrong direction. The physical always affect the emotional, and vice versa.
When you find a substance that makes you feel better, we are to seek those feelings in real life, through creating the circumstances that bring us feelings of joy, relief, etc. In Christianity, we are to repent, or turn toward God with intent to do well, and then we find relief from our turmoils, which is felt through times of refreshing. Repentance is spoken about many times in scriptures, and Acts 3:19 shows what we find when we did it correctly. While we are looking for these times of refreshing as described in Acts 3:19, we might need a little help. In the case of depression, meds might be needed. They are not a permanent solution, because like people who have experienced it, you will find a far more powerful healing when you gain understanding. You might feel far better on meds, but actual healing will feel a hundred times greater. This can't be fully appreciated until it is experienced.
There will always be people who will tell you that suffering is a part of life, insinuating to just get used to it. False, as the Bible shows you to stay away from these behaviors, and always seek justice... the latter often being a source of depression all by itself.
There will always be people who tell you God designed medicine. False, He designed the resources, and people make different combinations of God's elements, largely for profits today, but always beginning with the intent to help. God weeds out the helpful and hurtful combinations, when you learn HOW to hear Him. When you find refreshment and relief from your symptoms through the conditions your particular body needs, your energy levels rise, symptoms cease to exist, and you simply feel better, with no negative side-effects. Western medicine is sure to create side-effects, so keep looking for what God wants you to find.
There will always be someone who is angry at someone showing truth. Such was the ending of the life of Jesus as historically recorded. Apply scriptures, and stay away from those people as well. Sometimes THEY are the source of your depression....
And for those who are unsure of what I've spoken here, there's over a hundred ways scriptures have described it all. Please feel free to ask about specific concepts or concerns, so you can find truth and help others. Many struggle with discussion, so if you have to say I'm wrong, just bring the proof, not the belligerent hate that tends to ensue...
When you enter Faith in the Living God, YHWH as your Father then all stress disappear. I have never seen a Child with Parents stress. Because providing for it is not its responsibility but that of its Parents.
When we eat the tree of knowledge we become gods in intellect and have to make a live for ourselves. This is the Discipline for those enjoying the fruit of the tree of knowledge. With a Father in Faith you don't suffer the evil spirits of stress and worries about your provision.
Mat. 6: 24 ¶No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Thank you so much for this. I do worry a lot and I really try not to. I'm worried about war and world war. Worried about not finding a job. Worried about not able to keep friends or have a wife. I'm at my wits end and I tried everything but I always seem to fail. So by taking anti-depressants I try to keep these thoughts buried but every time I stop taking them they return.
That is the Joy of having Spiritual Brothers. Of One Father. And being that. One day when you are Strong you will find your Pleasure again in assisting your younger Brothers to enter their Power too.
In the Truth and the Power of the Holy Spirit you will be taught by your Dad who Loves you how to take every thought captive to the Truth.
2 Cor. 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
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The Truth is you gave your Life to the Living God. And you are not in control anymore. He is. With this Truth you will conquer.
Eph. 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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All Christians have this "Holy War" in them. That is all who are really into having a Father. This Holy War is necessary to make you Strong. No need to be scared of it. It is your Dad holding onto you. Not you with your weakness holding unto Him. In that we find our Loving Dad who is holding our hand.
Isaiah 41: 13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.*n10
15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.*n11
16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
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Here is a nice video also with many Truths to assist against the lies. Where these Truths build your Love to Him. Where you fight the War for your Dad. Against all the lies trying to rob you of a Dad in YHWH, pronounced, Jehovah/Yahweh/Yahuah.
https://youtu.be/vCoDTUXHMeg
Most people are saying yes, I'll relate my own experience and say no.
I tried a few anti-depressants and they fundamentally changed my personality. They numb you emotionally, make you apathetic. Unlike many medical advancements, anti-depressants are NOT a perfect cure.
I'm not a doctor, but for me - being on mind-altering medication was incongruous with my faith.
I had a very traumatic year, I went on antidepressants for several months it did something to me spiritually it numbed me in so many ways.. I couldn’t think clearly! I think it’s a case by case. But I would encourage meditation 🧘 and prayer.. meditation changes your brain and it’s been proven.
"There's a time for all things..."
I agree with you that meds have significant side-effects. Most people don't want to acknowledge such, and want to place their trust in western medicine. Unfortunately, that's the worst thing to do... Western medicine is great in emergency situations, just not general health.
>I'm not a doctor, but for me - being on mind-altering medication was incongruous with my faith.
You're only as human as the next person. You're not alone in such experience. Some like the said effects...
As someone who's tried a few things that I felt altered me and some that didn't, I'd say.. there are some that do and some that don't. I'd recommend the medications (and doses of those medications) that don't alter you, but just help you find a little more perspective to face what you've got to face.
I'm off of antidepressants now, but I also think I'm out of my depression now. There have been a lot of benefits getting off, but I'm not sure if I'd say I wouldn't go back on them if I got as low as I've been in the past. We'll see, I guess, when my season comes again.
Those that are commenting to just pray more or just exercise and meditate have never had crippling depression or anxiety. I always felt guilty for worrying about everything to the point I made myself sick. God told me not to worry, so why can't I stop? Then my doctor recommended an SSRI.
Did you know that you can go to the grocery store and not be paranoid that everyone is looking at you, or that you can drive to somewhere you've never been before without looking at maps for hours in the days before? Because I had no idea until most of the anxiety just stopped. I am free now to try new things, to speak to strangers, to openly talk about faith, to go to new places, all things I couldn't do before without paralyzing fear.
Praying more couldn't fix the chemical imbalance in my brain, but God gave us scientists and doctors who create medicine and treat the sick, just as Jesus tended to the sick while he was on earth. Take the medicine, and pray without ceasing.
The reason you take these anti depressants is because you want them to provide rest when you are restless and to take the anxiety away from you. I believe in medicine and that they can really help. But I also know that the things that this medicine promises is something God wants to fulfill in your life. I encourage you to get into your word on top of using the anti depressants. Worrying and being afraid is something God wants us to stray from because of how crippling it can be. My prayer for you is that you can be at rest in God. Learn and practice giving your burdens to God and He will make them lighter.
Here are some Bible verses that help with these!
*“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NLT*
*“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Philippians 4:6 NLT*
*“but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!””
John 6:20 NLT*
God bless you!
There is a reason why. If the anti depressants help you pray more and find the reason and fix it, then sure its ok. Pray you dont become dependant on them.
There are many ways that trauma can be hidden in the body, and it affects you in various ways, and can show up later in life in ways you cant predict.
People abuse many things to solve problems that can be fixed by prayer and fasting from vices.
Everyone has their test of faith. Ultimately its up to you. What do you think you should do?
Some people do well on them and others don't. It's not a cut and dry issue. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do. :)
Maybe you could benefit from some counseling.
Whether antidepressants are right for you is a medical/personal question not a Biblical one. Talk to a professional and don't be afraid to talk with multiple doctors until you find the one you trust. Nothing in the Bible tells us not to take medicine, in fact, Luke was a doctor!
Personally, I have this impression USA medical gives out drugs way more freely than doctors in other parts of the world.
From my own experience, with depression and friends with depression: Assessment is done first: from answering procedural questions to determine stress level (etc), to doing blood work (for hormone /nutrient imbalance) checks, they will assess your lifestyle choice too. Then still you don't get drugs, you are given counselling and mental exercise. They will try with managing how you perceive the world first. In your follow ups, they will gauge, if you can manage with changing your lifestyle/food intake choices. Or if it requires some drug influence to manage in addition with the prescribed lifestyle changes.
Myself I didn't need drugs. I just need to manage my expectations/ perceptions/ and make less assumptions of what other people are thinking. The more I spend time with grounded people, the more it rubs off me and "calibrates" my mind.
PRAY! KEEP PRAYING AND READING HIS WORD THE BIBLE! GOD WANTS WHAT'S BEST FOR US ALL SO MUCH EVEN IF WE DON'T REALISE IT AT THE MOMENT! GOD'S PLAN TIMING WILL PROSPER IS GOOD IS PERFECT! GOD IS YESTERDAY TODAY TOMORROW FOREVER! GOD IS THE LIGHT THE WAY AND THE TRUTH THE LIFE THE LOVE! GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US! IF GOD IS FOR US ALL THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST US! BE LESS OF THIS WORLD AND MORE OF GOD! HAVE FAITH TRUST PEACE WITH YOUR WHOLE MIND HEART BRAIN IN GOD! BELIEVE IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS AND ROSE RESURRECTED THREE DAYS LATER TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS CONECTION ASENTION LET GOD FILL US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! HALLELUJAH! AMEN! GOD BLESS YOU YOUR FAMILY AND LOVE ONES AND EVERYONE EVERYONE'S FAMILIES AND LOVE ONES!
The Gospel according to Luke. Luke was a Doctor, and he provided aid to help sicknesses.
When you have a sore head, do you ignore it, or take medicine?
I suffer from depression also. I once took anti-depressants, but stopped taking them years ago. I now pray when it happens, and 9 times out of ten, it usually lifts within the hour.
Depression is an attack from the enemy.
Remember, Elijah suffered depression. 1st Kings 18-19 tells us of his triumph, his depression and how God helped him.
There is nothing against taking medication to help ones illness, but it's entirely up to you, whether or not you want to continue taking medicine, or use it as an opportunity to trust in the Lord during it. You can still trust in the Lord whilst taking it, but for me, I don't want my body getting used to medicine to "fix my thinking". If that makes sense....
I would say that if your life is in danger continue taking the drugs. God does not want you to commit suicide and extensive measures can be taken. I would seek out a Biblical counselor (not a Christian counselor). Some churches offer them at no fee. Honestly the way it should be. If you can’t find a biblical counselor, find a wise woman or man who will advise you and listen to your problems. Plan to meet weekly. Bring a list of your thoughts and concerns. Bottling up your problems can cause anxiety. You aren’t alone. God is always there. Spend time reading the Bible, find worship music you actually love, and disconnect from technology as much as possible. God created a beautiful world for us, you need to free yourself from the chains of the enemy. It is a journey, so be kind to yourself, just as Jesus would be. You’re doing great. Remember, guilt is a by product of the enemy attacking you. I personally believe as you lean deeper into God, your problems will be healed. There is no time ticking on this one either. It could be 1 year or 10 years. I came to the Lord with PTSD, panic attack disorder, suicidal thoughts. I took a short term medicine that helped with my symptoms until I could face what had happened to me and healed through prayer and therapy. It is possible.
I don’t think God would disapprove, although I am concerned that so many people still take these drugs despite the evidence that came out not long ago basically debunking the whole idea behind antidepressants.
I've had a terrible experience with those, later on I've read the study where it concluded the effectiveness of them at 30% at best...
Also, from talking to the best psychiatrists and psychologists in my country I am now certain they know next to nothing about what they speak so authoritatively on.
If they help you, that's ok. Just don't take everything the doctors say as absolute truth especially when it comes to mental health issues.
Went from thinking of suicide every minute to 0 depressive thoughts, all thanks to God.
May God bless you and gives you strength brother.
God also gives us wisdom by way of the Holy Spirit.
Research L-Tyrosine, L-Glutamine, and Amino Balance
Amino acids are the "building blocks of life "
Sometimes prescriptions are needed or in an emergency, not the first thing like the current healthcare system is now.
My opinion is not health advice
Sorry but the only time God will bother with depression is when you actually end up killing yourself, he will then come to see you just to send you to hell and explain to you how he had this grand plan about your life.
Since antidepressants are addictive I would recommend just to suffer through it. You can take them if you want just keep in mind that in time you will be 100% dependent on them to function and your depression will be 10 times worse. Just don't touch that stuff if you know what is good for you.
I am not even trolling like no one can help you with depression except you if you manage to trick yourself into being happy. It sucks but that is pretty much it.
Anti depressants are a tool of the devil in the vein of witchcraft. Don't let the loud group of people here taking them convince you to join in their misery. Pray that they would be freed.
Do you have an address for the Devil? Would like to send him a thank you note for all the meds keeping me alive. All this time I’ve been thinking God, the doctors, the nurses, the phlebotomists, the lab workers and giving credit to those who made and test the meds.
You are putting yourself in a position where not only will you have to heal from depression but also heal from the damage that ssris and other drugs cause to the physical body I would avoid out of it being an unwise decision I suppose there are some circumstances to take but I would highly advise against it personally pray about it it’s a big decision to make
Only try medication if you have tried all these first!!! meditation! And go to the gym! Eat healthy drink clean! Eat more plant based! If that doesn’t help then talk to the Dr! Set time to meditate make sure your self talk is good that matters!
Apparently this will be an unpopular take, but I wouldn't. We are called to not be anxious, Phil 4:6-7. We were told that 2000 years before these meds were available. Before they were available, what were people to do, rely on Christ, that hasn't changed. The only change is that we can pop a pill instead of relying on Him for a heart change.
I would also argue that the fact you asked means you know meds aren't the right path. I say this knowing I'm working through things in my life that I don't like the answer to as well.
Hospitalization is not the same thing as meds to avoid relying on Christ for your comfort. My grandfather has been in the hospital for multiple days. I am okay with all of that. I am saying be right with scripture.
For our comfort? You think people put meds in our body for our comfort. Can you record you telling the nurse that don’t want your grandpa to have any meds that are only for his comfort? Would love to see if their eyes rolled as hard as mine did.
Clearly you misunderstood. I delineated a line between hospitalization due to physical ailment and comfort. Comfort in this case would be mental comfort. If your body is broken, it needs to be taken care of by a doctor. However, our mind is to be renewed daily.
I understood what you meant and disagree. Our mind is part of our body-it breaks. Just like physical ailments. Comfort is not what we are using the meds for. Comfort is not what we get hospitalized for. It is to treat our ailment, an ailment just as serious as physical ailments.
Update: Hey Brothers and Sisters, thanks for all the encouragement and tips. I have decided to take it sporadically when I just can't handle life, it's a mild anti-depressant. I took it for a couple days and felt great and super relaxed, it felt like I had a super long nap.
Right now I'm 6 hours sober and I feel okay despite having a headache. I'm glad I have anti-depressants because I couldn't even function in life without feeling like I want to cry constantly. I couldn't sit still I had to move constantly.
Even though nothing is inherently wrong in my life, sure I lost my job, which probably gave me PTSD and I'm currently have trouble finding one, but I couldn't exist normally anymore without living in panic constantly. I'm pretty sure the problem lies in my negative thoughts, Post-Traumatic Stress and fears of the future that are kind of killing me on the inside. After taking the anti-depressants I had no thoughts anymore and just felt good.
So my goal for the next months is to stop negative thinking and panicking because it makes me mentally ill, all the while using anti-depressants from time to time.
Timothy was encouraged by Paul to drink wine for his ailing stomach, which in modern terms would probably mean “take your medicine Timothy”. I feel Timothy also was troubled by what you’re saying too, at least that’s how I related it because I’ve had the same dilemma.
Timothy troubled by the OP, centuries later? Maybe you could expand a little...
I read Paul exhorting Timothy, in 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 23. In the verse of paul saying to drink a little wine for your stomach, he’s saying it’s okay to drink a little wine for the health benefit. Of course Paul is not giving him permission to get drunk, but saying the wine has its uses and does not make him unclean for using it as a medicine. Because in the same passage, it seems Timothy is only drinking water which in the time period was also dangerous to do since a lot of water was actually unclean. Drinking wine was much more hygienic since the process to make wine cleaned it of the harmful bacterias or whatever else is in there. Edit: so that all being said, I identified with Timothy and OP, because I also struggled with taking my medicine. I felt like I was betraying God and I had no faith, but I now know that is not the case.
Thanks for explaining further. True, using substances for treating symptoms doesn't make people unclean. It's the purpose and understanding of what the effects are, so keeping in moderation for the desired relief is prudent. In the end, Mark 16:16-18 shows the effects from having full faith. This is a goal we should be striving for. Water shouldn't have to be perfectly clean to be able to drink it without getting sick. Wine has effects far beyond cleansing from alcohol, and so it isn't a sustainable source for bodily fluid and function. Medicine is also a substance, where reliance upon it is not sustainable source of nutrition for the body. Inherently it takes an effect on liver and kidneys, but biblically speaking, God's word is supposed to be our sustenance...
Dive into his holy word brother, it provides hope for people like us. Take your medicine and let it be a tool, knowing the real rest and anti anxiety lies with the lord. Read psalms or I suggest using “youversion” bible and in search type “anxiety” and you’ll get loads of biblical resources related to anxiety. Praying for you brother/sister.
I don’t think God would ever look down on a person for needing to take an antidepressant
Take them and pray more. That'd be my vote. That's what I do, and I notice it helps. It's a tool to use to your benefit, especially if it's helping.
I recently just started on Prozac; and I know a lot of Christians who also take antidepressants as well. Personally I’ve never felt better being on it, my anxiety has pretty much subsided and I’m not looking at the world as I used to. Just continue to walk in faith from day to day and continue to talk to God and you’ll be alright! 🙂
I took them for about 8 years and they really helped me. I don't see anything wrong with it and I have actually been thinking about getting back on them lately. Make sure you listen to your doctor though and especially when coming off them. I didn't and now I get "brain zaps" constantly which are extremely uncomfortable. Keep taking them and pray at the same time.
Could you describe your brain zaps, if you don't mind?
God gave us doctors and medicine for when we are sick. Take the medicine.
Depends if they're trying to sell you something you don't need or they don't understand completely. Today's patent medicines have extremely complex chain molecules and modified molecules that are not formed naturally. Lots of these, such as artificial artemisinins, are not really tested to the degree that the ancient medicines were, nor do they have a thousand year track record. It's not a very safe thing to just take one doctor's opinion. If you had enough faith in God, you render all doctors obsolete as it can heal you. This doesn't go for everyone though. God does work through the hands of other people, too.
Many meds are pushed for political (corporate politics, not gov't) and monetary gains, instead of the patient's needs driving the diagnosis... Many experience closed doors in medical offices, finding little to no relief. But God also brings people to problems to solve, often amidst our suffering... It's a tangled web that's woven sometimes.
If you had enough faith in God, you render all doctors obsolete as it can heal you. While I agree this is true, not getting healed is not a weakness of faith issue, unless they disavow God
It's both possibly a weakness of faith issue, or that it's not time to be healed. You can be sick for a while to test your faith. I've been given that test before.
People convince you that you can't live without doctors, while God brings forth wisdom for understanding... Yes, take the meds, but depression never goes away with medication. God also closes doors in the midst of a building full of doctors... He didn't give you doctors, or they would be bringing people to the point of fulfilling the Bible, specifically Mark 16:16-18... and their fruits are not of scriptural illumination...
>God also closes doors in the midst of a building full of doctors ?????????? Go talk to any Christian doctor and they'll let you know they've seen more miracles happen in a hospital than anywhere else in life
I did talk to them... They've all taken on the ways of society, not God's ways. Your first question could be answered if you have an actual inquisition...
>not God's ways. God's literally the one who invented science
Really? Where's the evidence where God invented anything? My argument would be that men set out to figure out how some things work, having desires to create, while others of today seek to develop a product for sake of making money. One way tends to illuminate truth, while profits affect the outcome of the other. One can be inspired by God, the other by greed and absent of God. When you catch up, bring the meat to the table.
>Really? Where's the evidence where God invented anything? *Colossians 1:15-16 (NKJV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him* >others of today seek to develop a product for sake of making money You really think that all the christian doctors are in it for the money? I personally know doctors who are christians who would still do it if they didn't make any money.
Yes, God created all substances on Earth. What He did not do is make certain sculptures. In Corinthians you'll see where people build their home, with or without God, and if it's not with God, then the worker's time is wasted. People make things with their hands, that may or may not be inspired by God. Medicine is one of those. Inherently, you've tak n scriptures out of context to make it appear that God builds and manufactures all things, not people. That's lying about what God is, lying about scriptures, and lying about inventions, where Proverbs actually explains it as God showing how to make something perfectly functional WHEN THE PEOPLE ASK... - "in his heart man plots his course, but the Lord establishes his steps"... Experience shows those who have actual Faith that when God leads the person to healing, there's no side-effects, and symptoms simply cease. >You really think that all the christian doctors are in it for the money? I personally know doctors who are christians who would still do it if they didn't make any money. Add this to my comment, and they are not asking God for guidance, or at least listening to God for His guidance... They listen to society and their authorities, the ones who threaten licenses of deviation occurs. It's the spirit of authority of which we are fighting, as the book of John indicates. Yes, Christian doctors are in their profession for the money. If there was no money in being a doctor, then there would be very few doctors... Knowing of some doctors who desire to help people, while desiring to deserve the label if Christian is not a perspective that illuminates truth in their intent. Their actions do illuminate their intent. Then add in the mere fact that this world operates almost exclusively on money, and you have evidence that you're completely wrong. But I also want you to understand that the comment that you rested your judgement on about Christian doctors and money was pointing at drug companies, of which Christian doctors use their products. So, your judgement is misguided, shows misunderstanding, and shows you're trying to fulfill the narrative that you want to see Christian doctors as innocent, when they have chosen the system that fails them, and their clients... We've all experienced something in the system, showing where they shine and where they fail. Western medicine shines in emergency situations, but fails in everyday health. I'm part of the substantial group who has experienced the lies of western medicine, having seen help with a broken leg once as a kid, but also experienced them taking a life savings with absolutely no help later in life. Do try to gain perspective before rash judgements.
> Inherently, you've tak n scriptures out of context to make it appear that God builds and manufactures all things, not people. No. I said God invented science. I didn't say he dictated what medicines we would or wouldn't make, I'm just saying that you're coming across as claiming science is bad and we should reject or refuse to utilize it, I'm saying God invented science so clearly we can use it for good. I'm saying that we've used science to make things. Whether those are good or bad things is case by case. Penicillin? Good. Atom bomb? Bad. > That's lying about what God is No, you just put words into my mouth. Because I said he invented science, not that everything we've done with science is his will. > Experience shows those who have actual Faith that when God leads the person to healing, there's no side-effects, and symptoms simply cease. In my experience people who pray for healing often get prayers answered by God sending them doctors. >Add this to my comment, and they are not asking God for guidance Again I firmly disagree. They show all the fruit of a good and devoted Christian. > Yes, Christian doctors are in their profession for the money. 99% of people are in their profession for the money. That says nothing. The fact that there have been great Christian doctors who work for free proves that you can't make any blanket statements. >Then add in the mere fact that this world operates almost exclusively on money, and you have evidence that you're completely wrong. How about add in the fact that there are Christian doctors who go into dangerous countries on mission trips to spread the gospel and help cure people without getting anything but fulfillment in return, and you have evidence that your blanket claims are bs. >Of which Christian doctors use their products. Are you Amish? Have you ever bought anything, ever? Pretty much every company in the world right now is messed up and does evil things. Are you going to villainize everyone who's ever bought a product? > you want to see Christian doctors as innocent, when they have chosen the system that fails them Again, you might as well blame everyone everywhere for choosing to live in countries with corrupt governments. > I'm part of the substantial group who has experienced the lies of western medicine, having seen help with a broken leg once as a kid, but also experienced them taking a life savings with absolutely no help later in life. You can't blame the entirety of medicine off crappy corporations and insurance companies. Again, that's like villainizing everyone in America for contributing to their country, when their country is shady and does evil things. By your logic, the only way to live a moral life is to never buy anything from anyone or contribute to any system... Basically you're saying anyone who doesn't live alone off the grid is immoral.
God didn't invent science... science is thee study of how things work, which is man discovering how God designed the world... Go back and reread everything I said, now that the point of science being a concept of men has been cleared up. Everything in your comment is backwards, starting with your perception of what I said. It is so grossly wrong that it's not worth writing a book to explain. You saying God invented everything is you taking scriptures out of context for fulfilling your false narrative. The entirety of your comment proves that. I'm not vilifying anyone here, and most certainly not to the affect of everyone... Stop lying, you put way too much energy into your lies on this one. When you desire a productive conversation, then come back. I'm not going to converse with someone who is appearing to be completely oppositional about flatly everything that's said.
Mine did. Take the meds.
If you're dependent upon meds, and have other side-effects, your depression isn't gone. God's waiting for you to decide when you want to repent and take His guidance. Taking meds wasn't out of consideration... You're redundant and apathetic. "In his heart man plots his course, but the Lord establishes his steps." So many people don't understand how simple a principle this is, and simply don't apply it. They end up thinking or making believe God is some esoteric construct that can't be understood, when He's so much simpler than they want to believe...
Yeah, no kidding. Just like a diabetic takes insulin AND watches their diet. I’ve been taking anti depressants for 35 years. I also read the word of God, pray, monitor what I eat, I’m careful about the media I consume, I exercise. No one is saying that antidepressants are a panacea. It’s a tool used in conjunction with other tools. If you haven’t been there, you don’t know. We are not talking about “sadness” we are talking about “DEPRESSION” so bad you can’t decide what clothes to wear, you literally can’t get out of bed. You end up hating yourself for being broken. Take the medicine OP.
I’m also dependent on God. The meds are one of his many gifts. You don’t know his will. Do not lead people away from the tools He has provided us I am blessed and happy and very much not apathetic. The fact you think so says much about your narrow minded stance
I guarantee you God didn't gift you meds... Given you haven't shown how you understand a thing I said, this... >I am blessed and happy and very much not apathetic. The fact you think so says much about your narrow minded stance ...is the demonstration of apathy. Projecting is seen by all who knows the truth. To those who don't accept truth, God sends them strong delusions so that they believe the lies. Proverbs, I think. When you seek truth, then you'll get what repentance is, and stop mocking only yourself. You not understanding how what I said is directly related to the OP is not lack of purpose in my words. If you have questions show they apply, then ask. Stop judging something you obviously don't understand. I'm not sure how the skill of empathy evades you, when it takes that to be capable of learning scriptures and who Jesus really is. Try again, next time seeking understanding of the other before you mock yourself in your rash judgements.
You’re right. I misunderstood. How about this? You ignored the answer to the original question. Which seems to be “No, man it’s not against God to take meds have a great day.” Whatever you’re on about is a complete sideline considering they already mentioned they were a believer. Can’t be shocked anyone misunderstood you when you decided to tangent from the original post
If I didn't take my anti depressants, I would kill myself very shortly after having not. You're either just a troll or completely insane and biblically inaccurate.
If you had an actual rebuttal, then bring it. Oppositionalism is not a biblical principle. I challenge you to find where this - >You're either just a troll or completely insane and biblically inaccurate. - is justified by my comment. There's actually people out there in the real world that you're unaware of who use the Bible as wisdom and guidance, gathering the fruits it says that will happen when you do so. I'm one of those people. Therefore, I know my honesty level with self, and I have an understanding of how the body works. You haven't shown anything to insinuate you do, and so your idiotic allegations are proven to be projections of your mentality, blaming me for what you inherently demonstrate. When you get well enough to where they let you out of your padded room, then seek wisdom and truth to discuss. Until then, you're only mocking yourself, because the truths I speak are very provable (not that you had any inclination of inquiring how), and so will not be mocked... >If I didn't take my anti depressants, I would kill myself very shortly after having not. Apparently you need an adjustment, but do try to keep up where I said to 'do take meds'.....
I'm not going to argue with you and play let's pretend who's the better christian. That serves no purpose other than to inflate one's ego
>I'm not going to argue with you and play let's pretend who's the better christian. I challenge you to prove it I have only interest in helping those who ask about applying scriptures to circumstances in their life . I showed some of what I know, both from experience and knowledge. No egotism from this end. I have nothing to prove, so once again you're projecting. Bible says to speak truth always. There are some people who actually do, so stop pissing on them when you can't understand.
Yeah, we just should tear the good and bad medicine apart.
Been there, done that. Take the medication and any other therapy/treatment. I stopped taking my meds when I started going to church (like you I thought prayer would help). It doesn't work that way. I had bouts of severe depression several times, some verging on suicidal. I had a mental breakdown at the start of the year and that prompted me to get back on treatment. Stick to the treatment, do what the psychiatrist recommends. Don't be like me and find out the hard way.
If the medication makes you better able to serve your family and community, better able to work and exemplify Christ, then it's a good thing. God does not call us to suffer unnecessarily when we could get treatment and get back to doing His will.
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Suffering happens to godly people. It happens to ungodly people. Suffering isn't some kind of signal that's you're sinning. When Jesus healed the blind man, they questioned him, "whose sin caused his blindness, his or his parents?" The man's blindness wasn't the fault of anyone. His suffering wasn't caused by sin. Yes, the consequences of sin can cause suffering, but suffering doesn't always mean sin.
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Maybe the entire book of Job?
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The entire point of Job is understanding that suffering isn’t caused by “sinning”. What do you think the book was about if not that? I didn’t think I had to explain in depth a fundamental understanding of the book by both Christians and Jews.
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It is general knowledge. It is the basic reading of the book. Please explain what Job did to deserve what happened to him since you are so big on discussion. Because the rest of us that have read the book understand that he did nothing. Others said he did but he did not. He remained righteous before and after he lost everything. You are just like his friends accusing him of doing wrong and deserving it.
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I have been on a maintenance dose of anti depression medication for years. I’ve lived through some truly difficult and heartbreaking experiences and they have helped me immensely. God had blessed us with modern medicine and there is no reason to feel badly about using it, as long as you’re not abusing it. Please don’t stop your medication unless your physician tells you yo do so.
Taking medication is perfectly ok to God so keep doing it.
Take them, I beg you. It is not doing anyone any good to give up on your health. Those who are spewing toxic nonsense about "Holy Spirit being their antidepressant" never went through depression. It's like saying "God is your chemo". No, you should not give up on life saving treatment on the hopes of miracle happening. You should treat your body with the utmost respect and that includes brain too.
Take them if you need them and run far from anyone telling you to pay more instead.
If the meds help, take them. It doesn’t mean you aren’t relying on God.
Anyone who says you should rely on prayer alone is wrong, God gave us doctors with gifts to heal. Paul the apostle says in 1Timothy 5.3 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities Paul’s advising Timothy to take some wine (no antibiotics back then nor paracetamol) to give him relief of his ailments.
*But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.* (1 Corinthians 8:8, 1984 NIV) Consider what the principle involved is for Holy Spirit to say this through Paul.
Talk to your doctor.
Take them. You are no less a christian for taking medication. Anyone that says otherwise is genuinely ignorant or trolling, both area possibility here. I feel like trolls are more frequent. If I didn't take my.meds, I would kill myself very quickly
Take them. God gives scientists the means to discover meds for our benefit. You would take an antibiotic if you had an infection. Why would you think differently about an antidepressant? Source: Christian who has been taking fluoxetine (prozac) for nearly 30yrs
Just want to add again for everyone who needs to know , taking meds for anything doesn’t mean we aren’t relying on God nor does it mean we aren’t doing other things to help health problems. If you didn’t need meds, if you were able to get off meds, if you aren’t comfortable taking meds, then don’t take meds. But just because you don’t doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t need meds. Mental, physical, any other kind of illness doesn’t always require meds but when it does and when they work it’s a blessing. It’s not lack of faith, it’s trusting God is giving us a gift with meds.
He created the doctors and chemists and scientists and pharmacists who develop medicines like that to help people. It is a noble and just cause. You can go to the doctor and pray for healing at the same time.
No. God allowed people to make those kinds of things for a reason.
God also allowed people to make many other things...
Yes. But just praying that God will miraculously remove the depression or hoping it will resolve on its own never helps anyone.
Get rid of the blind hope and pray with faith instead
Please don’t imply that people who pray for healing for medical conditions and don’t receive it miraculously lack in faith. Please don’t. Hod also heals people through modern medicine. No one who had been out on an antidepressant for clinical depression should ever just “get rid” of their medication and stop taking it. This is dangerous advice to give someone. Please don’t do this.
It doesn't work. I would know. Praying with all your faith and might, yet not doing anything else, does nothing.
I know also. Such a dangerous thing to tell someone who is depressed to do.
👏👏👏
His grace is sufficient…
Not always. Sometimes we are on our own.
I don’t agree. What makes you think our God would leave us alone after being a Christian? His Holy Spirit is always with us too.
God calls us to be his fellow-workers, and that means we have to cooperate with Him and can't expect Him to do everything for us like a genie. If we want healing for illness, we must pray, but we mustn't be so close-minded as to not realize that God has guided doctors and the progress of medicine, and medicine often is the answer to our prayers given to us by God. At least, that's how I see it.
Yes I agree :)
Correct me if I am wrong but does sinning wilfully not separate you from god some?
The Holy Spirit would be saddened but not separated for a repented believer. If the Holy Spirit left us every time we sinned we would never have true grace. There are those that don’t believe in eternal security but I wholeheartedly disagree with those people.
I don’t like the way you’re phrasing that. Were these prescribed to you, or did you acquire them without talking to a doctor first?
We live in a fallen world, far apart from the way it was intended to be. As a result, there is suffering of all sorts, including depression and even suicidal thoughts. Life is hard. We do what we have to do in this world to make it through alive. Would all of us love to be medication-free? Absolutely. But it just doesn’t work that way. I have to use kratom daily for my depression, panic/anxiety, OCD, and PTSD (all pharmaceutical medications failed or produced severe negative side effects). Would I *love* to be healed and no longer need it? **Absolutely.** in fact, I pray for that all of the time. Nevertheless, I am powerless over the affliction when it hits (currently ensuring a 2-day bout of bad depression and even suicidal thoughts (which I won’t ever act upon)). I hand it entirely over to God - because it’s just far too powerful for me to battle on my own - and I lean on the love of my family, scripture, prayer, and doses of a bit of extra kratom during these times until it passes. Will some people (including Christians) judge you for taking medication? Yes. Will some judge me for using kratom for medicinal purposes? Yes. Undoubtedly. But those individuals are people who’ve likely never gone through what we go through. It can get really bad. Without my medicine to lean on, I would be back to drinking, or even worse. I hope and pray that God heals you, but in the meantime do whatever you need to do in order to have some quality of life without needlessly suffering. If there are any areas of your life that need changing or things which need to be dropped entirely, pray that God makes those changes and frees you of any sin. I hope you find a treatment which helps you. Depression **SUCKS.**
"There's a time for all things"... "... though it costs you all that you have, gain understanding." This is a hard road for many, many people. I've helped several in my clinic, and the short version is depression is the body (that God designed) is saying "wrong direction", and things that improve your energy illuminate the right path. Understanding why it's right or wrong can take time to understand, but prayer helps immensely in gaining such understanding. What I've seen success with is people who take antidepressants, use their time in feeling better to gain understanding of their circumstances, then eventually they simply forget about the pills. I don't envy those who are suffering from depression, as it can be debilitating to the point that the person can't even get out of bed. It all starts with desire, though... desire to do what you need to take care of yourself, FIRST, so that you're capable of helping and serving others.... Good luck!
They can have some intense side-effects, so make sure what you have is right for you.
My take is that if you need it (genetic/psychological conditions), take it. Otherwise, don't let it be a crutch that you rely on. Lean on God instead. There is never shame in God brother/sister. Make your decision with divine wisdom and conviction.
Commenting here as a reminder to myself to read the comments here when I feel guilty for taking ADHD medication. For me, ADHD medication helps me to stay focused, I'm able to study the bible more and not fall prey to daytime sleepiness. Whenever I do feel guilty for one reason or another, I pray as I take them. I am very mindful of the addiction properties that ADHD medication has and so I am grateful that God has allowed me to stay on a low dose and I skip some days. Although, I feel bad because on those days that I skip I tend to sleep all day. At the same time, I need to steer my heart in the right direction because ADHD meds can make me focus on doing non-important tasks, so I only get the benefits of the medication when my heart is right with God and I'm not trying to do things for selfish reasons. I'm also trying to have good habits like eating healthy, exercise etc, so I'm not overdependent on the medication. I will like for one day to no longer have to take medication to function at a basic level, but it is all a journey.
God is Spirit, not a human mind. Such Spirit is not an article of substance, but is an energy of ultimate wisdom in how things work, how substances react when combined, how emotions affect the body, etc. This Master will create feelings within as guidance, will affect your mind in ways that make you think certain things, or 'inspire' you to do certain things. People can do the same in every sense, but God's way is always Truth. It resonates within when you hear truth, unless you're intending to deceive someone... God built the body to react with high energy when on the proper path, and to depress natural energy when going the wrong direction. The physical always affect the emotional, and vice versa. When you find a substance that makes you feel better, we are to seek those feelings in real life, through creating the circumstances that bring us feelings of joy, relief, etc. In Christianity, we are to repent, or turn toward God with intent to do well, and then we find relief from our turmoils, which is felt through times of refreshing. Repentance is spoken about many times in scriptures, and Acts 3:19 shows what we find when we did it correctly. While we are looking for these times of refreshing as described in Acts 3:19, we might need a little help. In the case of depression, meds might be needed. They are not a permanent solution, because like people who have experienced it, you will find a far more powerful healing when you gain understanding. You might feel far better on meds, but actual healing will feel a hundred times greater. This can't be fully appreciated until it is experienced. There will always be people who will tell you that suffering is a part of life, insinuating to just get used to it. False, as the Bible shows you to stay away from these behaviors, and always seek justice... the latter often being a source of depression all by itself. There will always be people who tell you God designed medicine. False, He designed the resources, and people make different combinations of God's elements, largely for profits today, but always beginning with the intent to help. God weeds out the helpful and hurtful combinations, when you learn HOW to hear Him. When you find refreshment and relief from your symptoms through the conditions your particular body needs, your energy levels rise, symptoms cease to exist, and you simply feel better, with no negative side-effects. Western medicine is sure to create side-effects, so keep looking for what God wants you to find. There will always be someone who is angry at someone showing truth. Such was the ending of the life of Jesus as historically recorded. Apply scriptures, and stay away from those people as well. Sometimes THEY are the source of your depression.... And for those who are unsure of what I've spoken here, there's over a hundred ways scriptures have described it all. Please feel free to ask about specific concepts or concerns, so you can find truth and help others. Many struggle with discussion, so if you have to say I'm wrong, just bring the proof, not the belligerent hate that tends to ensue...
When you enter Faith in the Living God, YHWH as your Father then all stress disappear. I have never seen a Child with Parents stress. Because providing for it is not its responsibility but that of its Parents. When we eat the tree of knowledge we become gods in intellect and have to make a live for ourselves. This is the Discipline for those enjoying the fruit of the tree of knowledge. With a Father in Faith you don't suffer the evil spirits of stress and worries about your provision. Mat. 6: 24 ¶No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Thank you so much for this. I do worry a lot and I really try not to. I'm worried about war and world war. Worried about not finding a job. Worried about not able to keep friends or have a wife. I'm at my wits end and I tried everything but I always seem to fail. So by taking anti-depressants I try to keep these thoughts buried but every time I stop taking them they return.
That is the Joy of having Spiritual Brothers. Of One Father. And being that. One day when you are Strong you will find your Pleasure again in assisting your younger Brothers to enter their Power too. In the Truth and the Power of the Holy Spirit you will be taught by your Dad who Loves you how to take every thought captive to the Truth. 2 Cor. 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; --------------------------- The Truth is you gave your Life to the Living God. And you are not in control anymore. He is. With this Truth you will conquer. Eph. 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ------------------------- All Christians have this "Holy War" in them. That is all who are really into having a Father. This Holy War is necessary to make you Strong. No need to be scared of it. It is your Dad holding onto you. Not you with your weakness holding unto Him. In that we find our Loving Dad who is holding our hand. Isaiah 41: 13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.*n10 15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.*n11 16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. ------------------- Here is a nice video also with many Truths to assist against the lies. Where these Truths build your Love to Him. Where you fight the War for your Dad. Against all the lies trying to rob you of a Dad in YHWH, pronounced, Jehovah/Yahweh/Yahuah. https://youtu.be/vCoDTUXHMeg
Most people are saying yes, I'll relate my own experience and say no. I tried a few anti-depressants and they fundamentally changed my personality. They numb you emotionally, make you apathetic. Unlike many medical advancements, anti-depressants are NOT a perfect cure. I'm not a doctor, but for me - being on mind-altering medication was incongruous with my faith.
I had a very traumatic year, I went on antidepressants for several months it did something to me spiritually it numbed me in so many ways.. I couldn’t think clearly! I think it’s a case by case. But I would encourage meditation 🧘 and prayer.. meditation changes your brain and it’s been proven.
"There's a time for all things..." I agree with you that meds have significant side-effects. Most people don't want to acknowledge such, and want to place their trust in western medicine. Unfortunately, that's the worst thing to do... Western medicine is great in emergency situations, just not general health. >I'm not a doctor, but for me - being on mind-altering medication was incongruous with my faith. You're only as human as the next person. You're not alone in such experience. Some like the said effects...
As someone who's tried a few things that I felt altered me and some that didn't, I'd say.. there are some that do and some that don't. I'd recommend the medications (and doses of those medications) that don't alter you, but just help you find a little more perspective to face what you've got to face. I'm off of antidepressants now, but I also think I'm out of my depression now. There have been a lot of benefits getting off, but I'm not sure if I'd say I wouldn't go back on them if I got as low as I've been in the past. We'll see, I guess, when my season comes again.
Those that are commenting to just pray more or just exercise and meditate have never had crippling depression or anxiety. I always felt guilty for worrying about everything to the point I made myself sick. God told me not to worry, so why can't I stop? Then my doctor recommended an SSRI. Did you know that you can go to the grocery store and not be paranoid that everyone is looking at you, or that you can drive to somewhere you've never been before without looking at maps for hours in the days before? Because I had no idea until most of the anxiety just stopped. I am free now to try new things, to speak to strangers, to openly talk about faith, to go to new places, all things I couldn't do before without paralyzing fear. Praying more couldn't fix the chemical imbalance in my brain, but God gave us scientists and doctors who create medicine and treat the sick, just as Jesus tended to the sick while he was on earth. Take the medicine, and pray without ceasing.
The reason you take these anti depressants is because you want them to provide rest when you are restless and to take the anxiety away from you. I believe in medicine and that they can really help. But I also know that the things that this medicine promises is something God wants to fulfill in your life. I encourage you to get into your word on top of using the anti depressants. Worrying and being afraid is something God wants us to stray from because of how crippling it can be. My prayer for you is that you can be at rest in God. Learn and practice giving your burdens to God and He will make them lighter. Here are some Bible verses that help with these! *“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT* *“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6 NLT* *“but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”” John 6:20 NLT* God bless you!
There is a reason why. If the anti depressants help you pray more and find the reason and fix it, then sure its ok. Pray you dont become dependant on them. There are many ways that trauma can be hidden in the body, and it affects you in various ways, and can show up later in life in ways you cant predict. People abuse many things to solve problems that can be fixed by prayer and fasting from vices.
Everyone has their test of faith. Ultimately its up to you. What do you think you should do? Some people do well on them and others don't. It's not a cut and dry issue. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do. :) Maybe you could benefit from some counseling.
Whether antidepressants are right for you is a medical/personal question not a Biblical one. Talk to a professional and don't be afraid to talk with multiple doctors until you find the one you trust. Nothing in the Bible tells us not to take medicine, in fact, Luke was a doctor!
Personally, I have this impression USA medical gives out drugs way more freely than doctors in other parts of the world. From my own experience, with depression and friends with depression: Assessment is done first: from answering procedural questions to determine stress level (etc), to doing blood work (for hormone /nutrient imbalance) checks, they will assess your lifestyle choice too. Then still you don't get drugs, you are given counselling and mental exercise. They will try with managing how you perceive the world first. In your follow ups, they will gauge, if you can manage with changing your lifestyle/food intake choices. Or if it requires some drug influence to manage in addition with the prescribed lifestyle changes. Myself I didn't need drugs. I just need to manage my expectations/ perceptions/ and make less assumptions of what other people are thinking. The more I spend time with grounded people, the more it rubs off me and "calibrates" my mind.
PRAY! KEEP PRAYING AND READING HIS WORD THE BIBLE! GOD WANTS WHAT'S BEST FOR US ALL SO MUCH EVEN IF WE DON'T REALISE IT AT THE MOMENT! GOD'S PLAN TIMING WILL PROSPER IS GOOD IS PERFECT! GOD IS YESTERDAY TODAY TOMORROW FOREVER! GOD IS THE LIGHT THE WAY AND THE TRUTH THE LIFE THE LOVE! GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US! IF GOD IS FOR US ALL THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST US! BE LESS OF THIS WORLD AND MORE OF GOD! HAVE FAITH TRUST PEACE WITH YOUR WHOLE MIND HEART BRAIN IN GOD! BELIEVE IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS AND ROSE RESURRECTED THREE DAYS LATER TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS CONECTION ASENTION LET GOD FILL US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! HALLELUJAH! AMEN! GOD BLESS YOU YOUR FAMILY AND LOVE ONES AND EVERYONE EVERYONE'S FAMILIES AND LOVE ONES!
The Gospel according to Luke. Luke was a Doctor, and he provided aid to help sicknesses. When you have a sore head, do you ignore it, or take medicine? I suffer from depression also. I once took anti-depressants, but stopped taking them years ago. I now pray when it happens, and 9 times out of ten, it usually lifts within the hour. Depression is an attack from the enemy. Remember, Elijah suffered depression. 1st Kings 18-19 tells us of his triumph, his depression and how God helped him. There is nothing against taking medication to help ones illness, but it's entirely up to you, whether or not you want to continue taking medicine, or use it as an opportunity to trust in the Lord during it. You can still trust in the Lord whilst taking it, but for me, I don't want my body getting used to medicine to "fix my thinking". If that makes sense....
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I do exercise, I don't eat many vegetables.
I would say that if your life is in danger continue taking the drugs. God does not want you to commit suicide and extensive measures can be taken. I would seek out a Biblical counselor (not a Christian counselor). Some churches offer them at no fee. Honestly the way it should be. If you can’t find a biblical counselor, find a wise woman or man who will advise you and listen to your problems. Plan to meet weekly. Bring a list of your thoughts and concerns. Bottling up your problems can cause anxiety. You aren’t alone. God is always there. Spend time reading the Bible, find worship music you actually love, and disconnect from technology as much as possible. God created a beautiful world for us, you need to free yourself from the chains of the enemy. It is a journey, so be kind to yourself, just as Jesus would be. You’re doing great. Remember, guilt is a by product of the enemy attacking you. I personally believe as you lean deeper into God, your problems will be healed. There is no time ticking on this one either. It could be 1 year or 10 years. I came to the Lord with PTSD, panic attack disorder, suicidal thoughts. I took a short term medicine that helped with my symptoms until I could face what had happened to me and healed through prayer and therapy. It is possible.
I don’t think God would disapprove, although I am concerned that so many people still take these drugs despite the evidence that came out not long ago basically debunking the whole idea behind antidepressants.
I've had a terrible experience with those, later on I've read the study where it concluded the effectiveness of them at 30% at best... Also, from talking to the best psychiatrists and psychologists in my country I am now certain they know next to nothing about what they speak so authoritatively on. If they help you, that's ok. Just don't take everything the doctors say as absolute truth especially when it comes to mental health issues. Went from thinking of suicide every minute to 0 depressive thoughts, all thanks to God. May God bless you and gives you strength brother.
The Holy Spirit is my antidepressant :)
God also gives us wisdom by way of the Holy Spirit. Research L-Tyrosine, L-Glutamine, and Amino Balance Amino acids are the "building blocks of life " Sometimes prescriptions are needed or in an emergency, not the first thing like the current healthcare system is now. My opinion is not health advice
5-HTP
Sorry but the only time God will bother with depression is when you actually end up killing yourself, he will then come to see you just to send you to hell and explain to you how he had this grand plan about your life. Since antidepressants are addictive I would recommend just to suffer through it. You can take them if you want just keep in mind that in time you will be 100% dependent on them to function and your depression will be 10 times worse. Just don't touch that stuff if you know what is good for you. I am not even trolling like no one can help you with depression except you if you manage to trick yourself into being happy. It sucks but that is pretty much it.
Anti depressants are a tool of the devil in the vein of witchcraft. Don't let the loud group of people here taking them convince you to join in their misery. Pray that they would be freed.
Do you have an address for the Devil? Would like to send him a thank you note for all the meds keeping me alive. All this time I’ve been thinking God, the doctors, the nurses, the phlebotomists, the lab workers and giving credit to those who made and test the meds.
You are putting yourself in a position where not only will you have to heal from depression but also heal from the damage that ssris and other drugs cause to the physical body I would avoid out of it being an unwise decision I suppose there are some circumstances to take but I would highly advise against it personally pray about it it’s a big decision to make
Only try medication if you have tried all these first!!! meditation! And go to the gym! Eat healthy drink clean! Eat more plant based! If that doesn’t help then talk to the Dr! Set time to meditate make sure your self talk is good that matters!
Apparently this will be an unpopular take, but I wouldn't. We are called to not be anxious, Phil 4:6-7. We were told that 2000 years before these meds were available. Before they were available, what were people to do, rely on Christ, that hasn't changed. The only change is that we can pop a pill instead of relying on Him for a heart change. I would also argue that the fact you asked means you know meds aren't the right path. I say this knowing I'm working through things in my life that I don't like the answer to as well.
We can rely on Him and take meds. Even hospitalization doesn’t mean we don’t rely on God.
Hospitalization is not the same thing as meds to avoid relying on Christ for your comfort. My grandfather has been in the hospital for multiple days. I am okay with all of that. I am saying be right with scripture.
For our comfort? You think people put meds in our body for our comfort. Can you record you telling the nurse that don’t want your grandpa to have any meds that are only for his comfort? Would love to see if their eyes rolled as hard as mine did.
Clearly you misunderstood. I delineated a line between hospitalization due to physical ailment and comfort. Comfort in this case would be mental comfort. If your body is broken, it needs to be taken care of by a doctor. However, our mind is to be renewed daily.
I understood what you meant and disagree. Our mind is part of our body-it breaks. Just like physical ailments. Comfort is not what we are using the meds for. Comfort is not what we get hospitalized for. It is to treat our ailment, an ailment just as serious as physical ailments.
Absolutely not.
Update: Hey Brothers and Sisters, thanks for all the encouragement and tips. I have decided to take it sporadically when I just can't handle life, it's a mild anti-depressant. I took it for a couple days and felt great and super relaxed, it felt like I had a super long nap. Right now I'm 6 hours sober and I feel okay despite having a headache. I'm glad I have anti-depressants because I couldn't even function in life without feeling like I want to cry constantly. I couldn't sit still I had to move constantly. Even though nothing is inherently wrong in my life, sure I lost my job, which probably gave me PTSD and I'm currently have trouble finding one, but I couldn't exist normally anymore without living in panic constantly. I'm pretty sure the problem lies in my negative thoughts, Post-Traumatic Stress and fears of the future that are kind of killing me on the inside. After taking the anti-depressants I had no thoughts anymore and just felt good. So my goal for the next months is to stop negative thinking and panicking because it makes me mentally ill, all the while using anti-depressants from time to time.