I’m looking out of the window on my back porch right now. The sky is gray. The grass looks like it’s screaming for water. The trees look black against the barely lit clouds. It’s cold. Depression. I’ve dealt with it many times myself, and I see it more and more with other people these days. Whether it is on social media, or just on the news that someone else took their own life because they felt like life just wouldn’t stop letting them down, depression is possibly the most common psychological issue among people today. So what does it mean? How do we address depression in and with our faith? And what does the Bible have to say about dealing with depression? Well, to condense the discussion of depression into blog length rather than full on textbook length, I will briefly address three specific things about depression:
1. What kinds of depression one might feel.
2. Two solutions on how we can deal with depression as Christians
a) The Word as a healing power.
b) Medicine.
DEPRESSION:
Some depression stems from an internal issue such as self image or self worth. Some depression stems from outside sources such a family feuds, relationships, friendships, loneliness, etc. For the sake of time and space, this post will focus on a broad overview of depression as a whole.
MEDICINE: IS IT OK?
This breaks my heart, because sometimes the struggle we go through could easily be calmed through medical miracles that God Himself created. As I mentioned before, depression can come in many forms. For some, that includes chemical imbalances in the brain that need to be corrected. Do not test your Father by refusing medical care and relying on miracles that have already been given to us. If verbal therapy and avid prayer and devotion to the word still won’t get you out of your rut, then do not feel ashamed of taking medicine. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are charged with spreading His joy and His love with the whole world, but how can one do such a thing when their heart is heavy all the time? Your Father does not want you to suffer when you do not need to suffer! He has given us many gifts, which can help us to be glad and joyful in our profession of faith!
I want you to take away three quick points from this short summary on medicine:
a) God created those who created medicine to help those who suffer greatly from crippling issues. That is a miraculous thing.
b) Should medicinal healing be our first resort? Probably not. We should first give attention to the Word of God, which can comfort and save us from all pains.
However:
c) Biology is a thing, even if we don't agree entirely with theories it places on understanding God, anatomy is anatomy and medicine can help you heal if things really aren't getting better. You are not weak in your admission of needing medicinal help. In fact, you can save lives by encouraging others who need help to seek it. Let no one tell you otherwise. If medicine helps you to feel joy and comfort, you will pronounce the gospel to the world in a way much better than sadness and grief.
So... that disclaimer aside, let us delve into what should be priority number one for those who feel depression starting to take hold of their lives. God's word as healing power.
THE WORD: A HEALING POWER
“[He] comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” – 2 Corinthians 1:4/5
Christ endured suffering, even the suffering of depression and anxiety and dread in order that we might find comfort in Him during our trials. If we seek Him out during our trials, during our sadness, during our depression, then He will be there to give us a comfort and a hope that we are reborn and are not of this world.
“According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” – 1 Peter 1:3/4
Our sufferings are not in vain! God did not create evil. God does not control evil, except to banish it. In Job, it was not God who afflicted the sufferings upon Job and his family, God allowed those sufferings. God allows suffering, not to punish us, but to strengthen us in our faith in Him. God could give to us all that we need, only to see us turn away from our trust and reliance in Him to our reliance in wealth and power. Yet, that is contradictory to His love for us, and His desire to be close with us! So we are allowed to suffer for righteousness sake!
“For the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness take its full affect; that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:3/4
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” – James 1: 12
Our suffering is never in vein, not unless we needlessly suffer. To feel sadness and to feel the pressure of this world we live in is natural. There are two verses from James and from Proverbs which I think very clearly give us a defined way to avoid the hollowness that can come from suffering.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” – James 4:7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5/6
Both these verses I think summarize what the most helpful and healing miracle of all can be. The Word. I can feel hopeless, I can feel lonely, I can feel worn; but at the end of the day when I acknowledge God through His word, I feel washed and refreshed. You see suffering, causes us to realize that we are out of control. Suffering makes us feel like we aren’t strong enough; and it is my belief that too often we turn to other explanations and other fixes other than the plain and simple truth that God allows us to suffer because God just wants us to lean on Him with all our heart, and all of our mind, and all of our souls. Life hurts, a lot. Yet we live life for Christ, to bring the Kingdom to earth, and we lean on Him, who suffered for us to give us comfort in our suffering. There is no greater way to draw near to God than to draw near to His word. When we read His word, we “give no opportunity to the devil” to break in and take away the happiness that we receive in Christ (Ephesians 4:27).
To read the Word is to walk almost hand in hand with Jesus Christ. The gospels are a window to His teachings and His comfort.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus Christ is the comfort. Jesus Christ is the one who wipes away our tears. He is the shepherd that will guide us always towards the Kingdom and towards happiness. Remember also, that if you don’t give Him the chance to be there for you, you will not feel His love around you. The gospel, simply from opening up and reading the word purely, no notes, not highlighting, can change lives and change hearts. Christ is the friend that might not be there with you now. Christ is the comfort that doesn’t seem to find you. The promise we have been given is why we fight day-to-day and lean on Him always. This world is only the beginning. His ministry is the foreshadowing, a beautiful poem of love, that paints a picture of the Kingdom free of all suffering.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” – John 15:18/19
The world will try to bring us down. Conflict, sexual temptation, all desires of the flesh, violence, greed, wealth and all the other trials and conflicts that do not bode well with members of the Kingdom who have been chosen by their FRIEND who is Jesus Christ.
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” – John 15:15
The opportunity to have a one on one relationship with Christ is there for the taking. Your broken soul and body will be healed through your understanding of the Word and subsequent friendship with Him.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31
Christ will set you free, and though it might still hurt at times, you will know that all is not lost. There is always hope in Christ who’s name gives you strength (Proverbs 4:13). Never lose hope children, for your Father is always near to you. He hears your every weep; He catches every tear. He holds your heart and will give you peace; peace through every trial and every challenge. When the pressure of the world weighs down on you, remember that you are not of this place. That you walk by the savior of humanity, the creator of the world, and He will never let you fall. For He has said:
“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20
By: Will Gardner
Check out these videos related to depression and anxiety:
- Stones or Sand
- Peace in Suffering
- God Never Fails
- It's Ok
- Immanuel