The biblical cure for depression

+( American empire is built on capitalism. Specifically, Neo-liberal capitalism, which has over the last forty to fifty years become more global Neo-liberal capitalism. Basically, coming out of the world wars and the great depression, private-lead capitalists had a chance to rebuild and recoup. This led to a great leap in growth and development. The growth was mainly within the United States and Europe, which by the 1970s began to slow down. Such was not unusual within the capitalist system as it is growthspurt driven. There had been growth spurts within America, but after the 1970s, these growth spurts took an unusual turn, and the growth spurt went out of America. More specifically capitalist interest went to Asia and other parts of what is now called the global South. Capitalism was looking for places where wages were cheaper and environmental protection laws more relaxed and, in some cases, non-existent. The newly-independent Asian countries were eager to provide jobs for their people and the American, European and Japanese corporations were eager to get cheap labour and get excess to the Asian markets. This meant that huge numbers of jobs moved from the old centers of capitalism in North America and Western Europe to the new centers within Asia and the global south.

NEW CENTERS OF CAPITALISM

The new dynamic centers of capitalism become China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and so on. A remarkable process of growth occurred. Everything was made in China or Taiwan. This explosive growth outside America had the terrible effect of hollowing out the best-paid jobs in America. The hard 1( of the primary goals of depression, is to bring you to a point of silence. Most of us know what depression is, and few can claim that they have never experienced depression of any kind. Certainly the psalmist was depressed when he wrote 3VDOP ; and since he knew what depression was, and we know it also. Today I wish to go through the cabins of our hearts because I know I am not the only one who has been silenced by this disease. We all go through difficult situations. Our life goes through ups and downs. The happiness in our lives is controlled by the happenings around us. But God promises to keep our hearts and minds guarded with his heavenly peace. The Bible says in 3KLOLSSLDQV , “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make work of the unions in raising the living standards of the average working Americans soon became their downfall as the jobs soon moved to Asia and the global south. Hardworking Americans lost their jobs as their own capitalist 10 per cent moved to cheaper non-unionised new centers of capitalism south. America lost its steel factories, Auto factories, Aluminum production, and the basic industry of the country, all went with high-paying jobs.

CAPITALIST

The middle-class jobs disappeared. The capitalist was only interested in the bottom line, the ability to compete globally and bring in more profits. Inequality grew as the 10 per cent, who owned the factories grew richer outside the country and the rest of the American working class got poorer.

Those American and Western European capitalists that chose to stay and support their countries’ workers had to compete globally with those in China, India and we all know that was an impossible battle to win because of low wages abroad and a lower standard of environmental your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God (that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, (that peace which) stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (is yours).”

PROBLEM

You might say you are going through a terrible problem, and no one can solve it. How can this peace guard my heart? The answer to the question comes from the above verse from the protections.

The second dynamic was that the new centers of capitalism soon took ownership of their own means of production. Once the locals acquired the technology, and their own resources, new capitalists outside America and Western Europe were soon competing with the old capitalist using their technology, local knowledge, and expertise to gain an upper hand on the old capitalist.

AMERICAN SELF DESTRUCTION

History tells us that empires are not destroyed by outside forces but self-destruct from within. The Roman empires’ coffers were being drained by both the colonies outside and at home. Finally, in a bid to keep from losing their power, Roman leaders entered into highly expensive wars. This was the final economic crippler and the empire self-destructed.

The US has about 750 overseas military bases in more than 80 countries, and Washington elites are pushing the country ever closer to conflict with China over Taiwan. March 19-20, 2023 marks 20 years since United States (US) forces

Bible. The peace offered by God is beyond human logic. It comes from God himself. What do we have to do to receive this peace? All we have to do is pour out our hearts to Jesus with a sincere and humble attitude about the problems we go through and ask Him to lead us. Invite Jesus into our life and ask Him to lead us. There is nothing that is too hard for the Lord, even that little problem, porn addiction or whatever it is, He is able to deliver you from it, only if you let Him. invaded Iraq to oust ‘dictator’ Saddam Hussein, under the false claim that his regime was manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. The ensuing war, in which US ground presence peaked in 2007 with over 170 000 soldiers, caused massive death, destruction, and political instability in Iraq and the whole Middle East. The US$2 trillion price tag of the US war in Iraq is only a fraction of the total spending for those counter-terrorism efforts. The entire post-9/11 wars cost the US$8 trillion, Brown University’s project estimate. Since invading Afghanistan in 2001, the UShas spent US$2.313 trillion on the war, which includes operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan before just walking away. The US had committed nearly $80bn in aid to Ukraine. That’s according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks global spending on aid to Ukraine. On the American domestic front, there is an upsurge of militant labor movements. This is no surprise as they are reacting to the hard time the working middle class is facing. The high inflation

3HWHU says, “Cast all your cares (all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares about you (with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully).”move the focus from themselves to Christ and others.

Notice that depression affects us in at least four ways in reference with the book of 3VDOP &KDSWHU ; firstly, It overwhelms our spirit, The psalmist tells us this in verse 3. One dictionary definition of depression is ‘a lowering of the spirit’. How often some of us have experienced this! For some unaccountable reason we have found ourselves down in the depths our spirit has been defeated, dejected and overwhelmed.

MEMORY

Secondly, It awakens our memory. In verse 6 the psalmist tells us that in his time of depression he remembered the times when he had been able to sing, even in the night – but not now! When he compared that time with this time he longed that this time could be like that time – and the very memory of it made him more miserable! Thirdly, it robs us of sleep and lastly, it seals our lips. In verse 4, the psalmist says, “I was too troubled to speak!” Have you ever been in that condition? As I said in the begin that the primary goal of depression is to bring us to a point of

silence. In your circle, well-meaning friends might underestimate your emotional struggles and say, “Just pray and read your Bible,”. But what if you do all the ‘right’ things and are still depressed? We know Jesus is our only hope. However, we might not wake up every morning eager to dig into the Bible, pray to our Father and sing His praises. When you’re in the depths of depression, talking to God may be the last thing you feel like doing. Spiritual disciplines are called that for a reason, we have to train ourselves to do them, even when our hearts aren’t in it. So pray, read the Bible, worship and witness. He might not deliver you immediately, but God will respond. God can bring good out of this situation, He is God after all. “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” ²5RPDQV . As you encounter people struggling emotionally and mentally, be prepared to talk about your own experience. Have honest conversations with brothers and sisters in Christ. Connect with nonbelievers and think about how difficult it would be to navigate depression without the purpose that Christ provides. In all of this you need to know that you are not alone. Not even Jesus avoided despair during His time on earth.