"Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
Mind renewal is especially important when dealing with depression. When your thoughts, beliefs, and desires are set on glorifying God, you will begin to do the right things, such as serving others, and you will experience good results, such as relief from depressive feelings.
Consider what God says about your reason for living. Why did He create you? Search the Scriptures and make a list of the reasons God says He made you. To get you started, look up 1 Corinthians 6:20.
Remind yourself daily of your spiritual identity. The book of Ephesians gives you some great clues about who you are in Christ. Examine the book in depth, especially the first three chapters. Take notes, use various translations, and look up words you don’t know or understand in a concordance, such as Vine’s or Strong’s.
Do you know who you are in Christ? Check a concordance for words like “justified,” “sanctified,” “called,” “elect,” “blameless,” “holy.” Memorize the Bible verses that reveal how these words apply to you.
Look for God at work in your circumstances. Examine the life of biblical characters such as David, Samuel, Ruth, Naomi, King Saul, Samson, Elijah,characters such as David, Samuel, Ruth, Naomi, King Saul, Samson, Elijah, and Paul. These people were used by God and still testify to us today; how did they handle their crises and troubles?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. Hebrews 12:1-2a (NLT)
Do a study on what the Bible has to say about grumbling and complaining. Use both the Old and New Testaments.
What is your focus today? Do you just want to be “feeling better”? Instead, change your focus to “seeing Christ.” The goal of true change is to see only Jesus Christ. He is your answer. He is your comfort. He is your help in time of need. He is your light, your salvation, your all in all. He is your hope.
Paul said in Philippians 3:
“I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him.” Philippians 3:7-8 (NLT)
In Philippians 3:10, he said:
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
And in 1 Corinthians 2:2:
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
This is just a starting place! If you are struggling with sorrow without hope today I urge you to go ahead and do the simple exercises I have outlined for you here. Watch God work! It may not be immediate and remember the goal is not to feel better, but to glorify God!