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I have always struggled with depression—well, I would probably call them depressive episodes.

Normally they strike in February or March—when there isn’t much daylight and winter is getting long. Most of the time these episodes last only a day or two, but other times—they last for weeks.

I know I’m not the only one who finds herself stuck inside the darkness of depression from time to time.

Sometimes life just sucks—it gets hard—and then harder yet.

You just start to feel like the light has gone out.

But as believers in Christ, we know that the darkness NEVER wins. The light never actually goes out—we just have to focus on the Light to see it.

Setting the Battle Lines

About a year ago, I realized I needed a plan for when depression started to creep in. To help me focus on the Light.

I turned to God’s Word—His promises.

I began to write out a single scripture in full each day and meditate and pray about what God was trying to teach me.

And you know what happened?

I started to believe—with my whole heart—in what I was reading.

The Battle Plan

Now I have a list of 30+ scriptures that I write out when I feel depressed or anxious. It seems like such a simple concept, but what it’s doing is handing the fight back to God and letting Him take over.

Writing out these scriptures reminds me that I can’t do anything in my own strength alone. The toughest part for me is admitting that it is depression because there is such a negative stigma attached to that word.

But what I have learned is that not everyone with depression is suicidal. I have never wanted to die, but I have wanted to hide under my covers for a couple of days. Ya know what I mean?

I don’t want to breeze past this part—some people who suffer from clinical depression do need to seek counseling (everyone should get counseling, anyway—in my opinion) and if you do feel suicidal—don’t keep that to yourself. Call someone or tell a friend.

These are the verses that pull me back into the sun–that remind me that the Joy does come in the morning.

Scripture Writing Plan: Overcoming Depression

Day 1: Romans 8:18

Day 2: Psalms 37:23-24

Day 3: John 16:33

Day 4: Nehemiah 4:20

Day 5: Psalms 42:5

Day 6: Hosea 6:1

Day 7: 2 Timothy 1:7

Day 8: Philippians 4:13

Day 9: Isaiah 41:10

Day 10: Philippians 1:29

Day 11: Psalms 56:3

Day 12: 1 John 4:18

Day 13: Luke 12:22-26

Day 14: Psalms 27:1

Day 15: 2 Corinthians 2:4

Day 16: Philippians 4:6-7

Day 17: Joshua 1:9

Day 18: Isaiah 35:4

Day 19: Psalms 55:22

Day 20: Mark 6:50

Day 21: 1 Peter 3:14

Day 22: Deuteronomy 31:6

Day 23: Zephaniah 3:17

Day 24: Deuteronomy 3:22

Day 25: Psalms 91:1-16

Day 26: Proverbs 31:25

Day 27: Matthew 6:27

Day 28: Psalms 94:19

Day 29: 1 Peter 5:7

Day 30: Joshua 24:15, 18

Day 31: Psalms 103:10

What do you do when depression strikes? What’s your battle plan?

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