Taking Action Against DepressionSample

Day 1: Breathe in Life

During my darkest days of depression, all I wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep. I didn’t have an ounce of motivation to do anything. I felt like I didn’t have a reason to live, and I was constantly battling suicidal thoughts. By the grace of God, that’s no longer my story. I am now full of hope and purpose.

Since you are reading this devotional, I want to encourage you that you will overcome depression and you will be full of hope and purpose with God’s power and your participation. The steps I took first required the desire to take action against depression, and you have already demonstrated that you want to take action by reading this devotional so congratulations! That is something to be proud of because you are making the decision that you don’t want to be stuck in depression but triumph over it. The remaining steps I took to overcome depression will be discussed over our next few days together.

Today, I would like for you to be conscious of your breath. You do it automatically, but take a deep breath, hold for two seconds, and release. That’s God’s breath in you. Job 33:4 even says, “the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” As long as you are breathing, you still have life, and God is not done with you. He has a plan for your life to prosper you, not to harm you, but to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Therefore, I want you to know that God has a purpose for your life despite the depression you're currently facing. I know it’s hard to fathom right now, but God says in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” God knows what you are going through in this moment and how you are feeling. He knew what you would face today, and He still has a precious plan for your life. So breathe in and out, knowing that the Almighty God’s breath is inside of you and will empower you to be victorious over depression.

Prayer point:

Heavenly Father, Almighty God, thank you for your breath inside of me. Thank you for giving me life. Lord, I pray that you empower me to be victorious over depression. I ask that you comfort me and strengthen my mind. I thank you for blessing me with the mindset to take action against depression. May you deliver me, in Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.