I’m honored to participate in Thelma Wells’ blog tour for her new book, Ready to Win Over Depression.
A popular speaker and author, “Mama T” knows firsthand the pain of depression, which strikes more than 35 million Americans each year. Thelma’s mother was a severely deformed teenager with no husband and no place to go. She found work as a maid cleaning “the big house” while living with her baby daughter in servants’ quarters.
Thelma’s great-grandparents took her in and brought her to church, where she learned to love the hymns and praise songs.
However, when Thelma was taken to her grandparents’ home, her grandmother abused her, just as she had tormented Thelma’s mother. She was locked in a dark, smelly, insect-infested closet. While locked in the closet, little Thelma sang every hymn and praise song she could remember. Thelma says the Lord received her innocent praise and rewarded it with an abundant life of joy, protecting her from feelings of anger or bitterness.
Here’s an interview. (If you and/or a loved one are in a crisis situation and you need immediate assistance, please call your local emergency number or the mental health crisis hotline listed in your local phone book.)
In your introduction, you state that you’ve been there — you’ve been depressed. Tell us about that.
Yes, I have. This story is told in detail in the book. I had surgery several years ago and within a few days the incision split open and my intestines were exposed. This was probably by far the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. After a quick trip back to the hospital to repair the damage, I spent over a year bed-ridden, disabled, and recovering. I’m not the kind of person to lie down and take things slow, especially when it’s forced on me. Yet, in this situation I had no choice but to stop and heal. It wasn’t easy and I faced a lot of fears and I experienced situational depression during this time.
How do you define depression?
The influences that bring us down in our spirits can come from many sources and directions. Depression can be a complex picture. But let’s face it. The main reason we get despondent is simply because life happens. And nobody’s life is a constant procession of uplifting, rejuvenating, invigorating experiences. Everybody’s life has downers. We easily get off-balance in so many ways, and this hurts. The TV commercial that says, “Depression hurts” is true.
Does the Bible speak about depression?
It does in several places and we see it in the lives of David, Jeremiah, and Paul. Psalms 42 and 43 together represent the cry of a downcast soul—someone who is hurting and thirsting for God. Paul describes our loving Father as “God, who comforts the downcast” (2 Corinthians 7:6).
Hope is a key word used throughout the book, but especially in the last chapter. What does the mystery of hope mean?
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick…” (Proverbs 13:12). Hope and prayer always go together. In fact, prayer is the voice of hope. When there’s hopelessness, prayer dries up and blows ways. Real hope is huge! To have a biblical hope found in Ephesians 4:1-16 is to possess “living hope.” Our living hope is not in things, people’s opinions, positions, status, or any tangible findings of life.
No, it rests upon the spiritual and emotional stability of our minds on the only wise God, our Father, who can help us in our depressed states every day. This living hope is in Jesus, the Anointed One, whose job it is to redeem us for all things that oppress us. The only hope for the world is Jesus. The only help for the world is a touch from God.
Where can women connect with you further on this topic? Or, purchase a copy of this book?
I would love for them to visit my website at http://www.ThelmaWells.com, browse through the various events and other resources available, as well as sign up for my mailing list. I would also like to connect with people on the new Facebook page we set up specifically for this topic at http://www.facebook.com/readytowinoverdepression. Or they can find me on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/Thelmaw.
Again, let me say…if you or someone you know is dealing with depression, you are not crazy. God knows you’re not crazy. And He also has a perfect antidote for your depression. Nothing escapes Him, and he knows you far better than you know yourself. Isn’t that a relief and comfort?
A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by the author in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
