Fearless Conversations – Anxiety & Depression 

Sr Pastor Rufus Smith at Hope Church

102517
Depression can affect anybody including Christians. 

No documented data about discouragement. 

Anxiety produced by anticipation of future events. 

Phobia

Panic
Depression produced by moods of sadness, fear, discouragement, worry, dread, grief. 

Job, David and several others mentioned in the Bible dealt with anxiety, depression…
Compartments of Your Soul: 

1. Volition

2. ‎intellect

3. ‎conscious

4. ‎emotion

5. ‎self consciousness 

6. ‎vocabulary

7. ‎memory
• Old sin nature

• Holy Spirit
Gen 1:26 — Gen 1:27

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed man from thedust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.
“Whatever circulates in me the most, will impact my soul the most.” Rufus Smith
Remedies for emotional ailments like anxiety and depression: 
1. Encouragement from the Holy Spirit and other people. 

Jn 14:26 — Jn 14:27

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
 2. Doctrine

 ‎ Mat 6:25 — Mat 6:34

Therefore I tell you, stop beingperpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to thespan of his life?

And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field andlearn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all hismagnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?

For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these thingstaken together will be given you besides.

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
3. Forgiveness

Proverbs 28:13

He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.
4. Self – awareness

5. ‎Medicine

6. ‎Prayer 

Phi 4:4 — Phi 4:7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. Praise 

Phi 4:8 — Phi 4:9

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Psa 27:1 — Psa 27:14

The LORD Is My Light and My Salvation

Of David.

​ The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me

to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;

be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

O God of my salvation!

For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

but the LORD will take me in.

Teach me your way, O LORD,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me,

and they breathe out violence.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living!

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!
8. Serving others

9. ‎Physical care such a eating, rest, exercise
Psa 43:1 — Psa 43:5

Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

​ Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause

against an ungodly people,

from the deceitful and unjust man

deliver me!

For you are the God in whom I take refuge;

why have you rejected me?

Why do I go about mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?

Send out your light and your truth;

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill

and to your dwelling!

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy,

and I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.