Overcoming the Spirit of Heaviness

We know that life is not usually easy and, at times, it can offer up some significant challenges. Often we are burdened by responsibilities and live in a world of broken lives and relationships. All of this, and more, can cause us to feel anxious, burdened and/or even depressed. How do we save ourselves during these seasons of our lives from being overwhelmed, downcast, and perhaps even hopeless?

Psalm 42:5-6 says:

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;

therefore I will remember you

from the land of the Jordan,

the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

The key is to focus on God, not our circumstances. We need to remember that He is knowledgeable and mindful of our situations even before we pray. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to "cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us".

During times when we feel overwhelmed with darkness, we must surrender to Him and force our minds, wills and emotions to turn to God.  We must purposely put our hope in Him. At first, this is not easy, and it is even counter-intuitive, yet this is exactly what Dr. Jesus orders for us to overcome.

Tragically, the average person lives their lives based upon their emotions. They let emotions dictate their outlook and, in many cases, even their faith. As believers, we are called to live a life where our faith dictates to our emotions, not the other way around. This is what David said and did when he commanded his soul to put his faith in God. In may sound odd, but there are times when we must literally tell ourselves what to do. The soul (our mind, will, and emotions) must never run our lives. Instead, our spirits must dictate to our souls how to live, what to think. Of course, this requires that we exercise the discipline to grow our spirits strong by obeying God and His Word.

Romans 10:17 says: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ".We build our faith by hearing the Word of God. If we want strong faith, it comes by continually reading, claiming, quoting, and praying God's Word. It is also very important that we proclaim/speak God's Word in our lives, situations and circumstances. Psalm 42:5 is an example of David speaking the Word of God to Himself. That is a very wise thing to do. We aren't just to read God's Word and think, "Oh, how nice". No, we actually speak God's Word and let it dictate to our lives and situations - we make everything obey and conform to His Word. Not only is every knee to bow before God, but also every thought, emotion, act, etc.,. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

One of the most powerful and effective ways to overcome negative emotions (depression, despair, worry, anxiety) is to praise and worship God. Again, this forces us to get to focus on Him and off our own lives and circumstances. It isn't that our lives and circumstances aren't important, it is rather that by focusing on God we can, with His help, cause everything to come into proper perspective. We also accomplish something very powerful when we worship. Worship is an act, on our behalf, of reverence and humility. This act is greatly received and rewarded by our King. He loves it when His people worship Him because it gives rightful honor due to His name and because He is the Great Lover of our souls. When we enter into His presence we are one mind and spirit with Him. It is here that we are renewed and strengthened. When we leave His presence, we come back into our realities transformed by His reality. Worship also releases our chains and breaks the spiritual strongholds in our lives. It literally releases the very power of God upon us and through us. Psalm 84:10 says, "better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere". 

Many people have testified to overcoming dark circumstances, incurable diseases and breaking spiritual bondages by worshiping and praising God. Worship is not a method of success. It is all about walking in deeper relationship, intimacy and power with God. 

The prophet Isaiah prophetically speaks of Jesus when he says in Isaiah 61:1-3:

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor. 

Isn't God wonderful! He is our Overcomer! His Spirit causes us to overcomes all heaviness.