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Covering Up Depression
with a Smiling Face

Are you covering up depression with a smile? Do you feel depressed? Have you ever felt like giving up? You could have the illness known as depression.

Depression comes in "mild, medium and sever!" So many have mild depression and not realize that it is depression. A person with mild depression may get "down-in-the-dumps" for a short period and return to normal. . . Thinking, "Oh, it is just a bad day" and go on about their business.

We all have been depressed. May from being sick, or losing a loved one, or maybe just crappy weather. Be aware of you feeling and your state of mind. Learn and understand what depression is how it affects people.

Did your depression last for a couple of hours or for a couple of days or for a couple of years? What did you do about your depression?

These are questions that often go unanswered, even by the person with depression. The reason is that so many of the people they associate with have the same problem. So much so that… the person with depression sees this state of mind as normal. Covering up depression is sad but true.

Was Robin Williams Covering Up Depression?

The suicide of Robin Williams has brought this to our attention. Many, many articles and stories have been written about Robin Williams since his tragic death. He was one of the funniest men to entertain an audience.

We always saw him in front of an audience. We never had the opportunity to see behind the stage of his life. The outcome of his life indicates it was a very dark place for him. He must have suffered immensely.

The news of Williams' tragic death shocked the world. We believed his smile and his light-hearted humor. He sold to us his life of glamor and happiness through his smile that he presented to world, his audience. We believed the joy he portrayed while in front of his audience extended into his personal life. He was talented at covering up depression.

So many not only looked to Robin Williams as having it all but look too many other people of the public stage. They portray what they want us to believe and we believe what they portray. They sell us the idea that wealth, fame and status are synonymous with joy, happiness and peace. Not true for Robin Williams as evident by the ending his life.

Filling the Void in our Hearts

What are you seeking that you think will bring you joy, happiness, and peace? What are you looking for that will fill the void in your heart?

Are you or do you know people who are depressed? They spend their days and many spend their lives searching for possessions, relationships or accomplishments to fill the void in their hearts?

God can only fill the void in our hearts. Even back through ancient days, during the time of the Israelites, they sought to fill the void in their hearts by seeking out pagan gods, ritual sacrifices and physical pleasures.

They turned away from God and worship idols, only to find themselves in greater distress and trouble. "A back turned away from God, cannot receive God's blessing." God wants us to turn to Him, seek Him and put Him first in our lives. God is the filler of voids. . .But only when we invite Him into our hearts.

What are you Seeking?

The Old Testament talks a lot about idols. What is an idol? An idol is anything that comes between you and God.

What is your idol? What is it you put between you and God? Is it seeking possessions, or relationships, or success?

What has caused you to be depressed? What part does God play in your life? Is God a part-time God for you, i.e. just on Sundays? How often do you think about God during each day?

These happy faces of the entertainment world, as seen in front of their audience, sell us on their way of life of glamor and success. We come to believe their success brought them happiness. This leads many of us to seek this hollow, empty path to happiness. Then, when we aren't able to reach our self-imposed-expectation level of success and possessions, depression settles over us like a pall.

Then we play their game of covering up depression with a smile.

Depression Next Door

What about the neighbor next door? Do they not do much the same thing? They put on a happy face when you see them, tell you all the wonderful things happening in their lives…leaving out all the not so happy things. They parade out their new possessions… leaving out the amount of debt to get those possessions. This is a classical way of covering up depression.

Is their happy face a façade
or is it the real deal?

What can we do for ourselves and for those around us to enrich our lives and the lives of our neighbors? First, have an open heart to God and to those people around you. God is always available to us when we seek Him. Second, be available to our friends and neighbors, show concern and love. Loving our neighbor is one of the most powerful messages God lays out in His word.

Wait Upon the Lord

Psalm 40: 1-3 says: "I waited patiently for the Lord's help; then He listened to me and heard my cry. He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure. He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God."

And verse 4 continues, "Happy are those who trust the Lord, who do not turn to idols or join those who worship false gods."

Let God Fill your Void

Fill your void (depression) in your heart with the love for God. Turn to Him for relief and joy and happiness. Do not buy the "happy face of glamor and possessions" sold by Hollywood or even your neighbor down the street.

Reach out to God and let God fill your void instead of covering up depression with a fake smile.

Ask God For Help. He is ready.