8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsomeand gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].Philippians 4:8
I was reflecting on the above verse in my sleep as I collectively thought about the world news events from the past month. Isis beheadings with the threat of more beheadings to ordinary aide workers, Ebola deaths and the threat this disease has as it spreads are some of the disturbing reports that drove me to despair.
Since the world trade towers attack on September 11th, 2001 more people have been diagnosed with depression.
In one research study on Stress, depression and anxiety, A survey of New York City residents in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks found high levels of both depression and posttraumaticstress disorder (PTSD) among respondents and documented an increase in substance abuse. The authors of this article which you can find at this link (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24251,) go on with these comments:
Stress has long been recognized as one of the most powerful triggers for drug craving and relapse to drug abuse. Research has shown that survivors of disasters are prone to stress-related problems such as PTSD and depression. People who experience major trauma and those with PTSD or depression may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to relax, cope with stress, or relieve symptoms. "This study is one of the first to capture data on the effects of traumatic events on substance abuse patterns," says Dr. Jacques Normand of NIDA's Center on AIDS and Other Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse.
The consequences of all these images of this war are having devastating effects on all of us and we do not necessarily need to be on the front lines of the battlefield to feel them.
Simply listening and watching the world news tonight can have an equally devastating impact on all of us. You might recall ABC news anchor, Peter Jennings died from cancer not long after 911. He said that he began smoking again to cope with the stress associated with the events following September 11th.
There is a battle going on inside each of us. The question is are we going to let all of these collective images, win our minds? After our families traumatic loss I made a determination to keep trudging one foot print at a time and continue to go to church. I made a determination to not be a quitter and not not give up. I had no choice. Drugs were not going to be an option for me to cope with the monster that lied within me. I decided that I would equip my mind on the words of Jesus and while doing so I would I constantly remind myself of God's pass blessings on my life.
Now, please keep in mind that going to church will not necessarily mean your depression will be lifted and you won't ever need medication again, but going to church will allow you to make connections with other people who struggle like you are struggling. I remember one pastor describing the church as a hospital for the sick and when he did so I suddenly had this image not of successful bound people trying to look perfect with perfect families, but people who came because they needed to find hope for their soul.
Jesus Christ does not want to see any of you to perish under the stress of war and the bombardment of images from that war. He paid the price for all of that pain and suffering so that we might come under the influence of His Holy Spirit which dwells in each of us when we have receive Christ in our hearts
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16
We were meant to be with other believers. Our churches were set up to be a mini representation of what heaven will be like, a body of believers that come together to praise and worship our Creator King Jesus Christ. As we establish our roots in the church we will find opportunities to share our pain and suffering with one another. The more we share with others what we are going through the more we will be healed from such afflictions and the less we will need to rely on illicit drugs to cope with that stress.
The bottom line is this: God has given us the ability to survive any propaganda war brought against us by the forces of darkness. Dwell on the goodness of the verses in the bible and you will find rest for your soul
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