things as unresolved anger, resentment, real or imagined wrongs, selfpity, guilt, or immorality. Give assurance of your interest and your desire to help find solutions.
2. Ask if he or she has ever trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If appropriate, present "Steps to Peace with God," page 11. Remember that it would be a disservice to the inquirer to minimize in any way the seriousness of sin. In order for him or her to experience forgiveness, there must be recognition and confession of sin.
3. Share the section on "Assurance," page 15. Emphasize that this experience with Christ offers real hope. It should bring new awareness and understanding to the battle against depression.
4. Encourage reading and studying the Bible. This will teach the will and ways of God. It will bring the person's thinking in line with God and will result in inner peace (Isaiah 26:3).
5. Recommend that the depressed person learn to pray and to do so daily. Through prayer we confess our sins and are renewed. We learn to experience God's constant presence and approval. We worship as we praise and thank Him. And we express our own needs and those of others.
6. Suggest that he or she cultivate friendships with people who will provide support and encouragement. Such friends may be found in a Bibleteaching church, a Bible class, or a Christian singles' group. This fellowship may also provide opportunities for Christian service, in which concerns are focused on the needs of others.
7. Encourage seeking out a qualified pastor or Christian psychologist for continued counseling in order that all the facets of the depression may be dealt with in the light of Scripture.
For the Christian:
1. A Christian may suffer from depression in reaction to adverse situations, defeats, and setbacks such as a death in the family, a rebellious son or daughter, or loss of employment:
A. In such cases you should always offer a loving word of
encouragement, such as: "You are not alone in your suffering." "God cares and will not leave you alone." "The Lord Jesus not only bore our sins but also our sorrows and heartaches."
B. Suggest that the present depression might be due to an inability to
trust God fully in all circumstances of life. Rededication to Christ