“You’re a Christian! You shouldn’t be depressed!”
You may have heard this or something similar when you or somebody you love is suffering.
This statement is not only misguided but completely incorrect. God never once promised that we would not face hardships and sorrow. He promises that He will be with us when we do. (Psalm 34:18) The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. In (Isaiah 54:17) We see that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Make no mistake, the weapons will be formed against you, the promise is that they will not prosper. (Psalm 30:5) Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
The Bible is full of promises that you will overcome even the deepest sorrows. We need to shake off the stigma that Christians never get depressed and that we have somehow failed in our faith when we do experience these feelings.
But what does the Bible say about depression?
While the Bible does not directly use the word depression, many people experienced and struggled with anguish, despair, and sorrow so deep that they did not want to carry on living. Sounds a lot like depression, right? Elijah was so downcast that he cried out for God to take his life. (Kings 19:4) I have had enough Lord, he said. Take my life…Jeremiah cursed the day he was born. (Jeremiah 20:18) “Cursed be the day I was born…why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?”
Even King David who was God’s most beloved King poured out his broken heart and despair in the Psalms. He went through deep guilt and shame over his own sins and shortcomings.
What do all these men have in common besides their grieving? They were all great prophets and men that God used and loved. Favored and chosen men of God. Take a moment to pause and think about that. No matter what you are going through, God loves you. You are highly favored, chosen, needed, and loved. Your depression does not disqualify you from God’s love or His plan for your life. On the contrary, you are in a perfect place to see Him put into motion the plan He has for you. Dolly Parton said in her movie coat of many colors: “When life brings you to your knees you know you’ve really gotten somewhere. The only place to go from there is up.”
In Job we see what is probably one of the most obvious examples of depression in the Bible, but we are also presented with examples of how well-meaning friends and family can make a situation worse by trying to force their feelings upon Job. To give Job some credit here, he responds to them by saying he will not pretend to be okay for the benefit of those around him. For God sees his inmost being and knows his heart.
For me, this is probably one of the most beautiful and encouraging parts of the Bible. Job knew that he couldn’t fool God. You can come to God exactly how you are. Scars and sores open in the light. If you are feeling Cheated say so. If you are hurting, be honest. Cry out to God as if you are pouring your heart out to a loving friend that understands because He does. Some of my greatest moments of triumph and revelations in prayer have come when I have been completely honest with God. “Lord, this sucks so much! I feel betrayed and confused. I don’t understand why you are allowing this to happen.” Some people are afraid to tell God that they are angry with him because of their circumstances. You know what? God can take it. Not only can He take it, but He will use it to work within you and show you the way. (1 Peter 5:7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
You may be surprised to realize that even Jesus wrestled with sorrow over what God needed Him to do. In the garden, he cried out to God to take it away. (Mark 13:34) “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death…” God gave us a perfect example of our own emotions in Jesus, He never sinned but He went through every human emotion possible, despair, grief, sorrow, temptation… the list goes on. He overcame and dealt with every single emotion with the help of His Father. He laid out the foundation for us to work through all of our emotions.
By allowing Jesus to go through this instead of taking it away, God left us with another important message. Once you have overcome what you are going through, God will use it to show others the way.
The second thing all of these people have in common, including Jesus, was how they responded to these events. They all fell to their knees and prayed… and God answered them with love and compassion. You need not be ashamed of where you are in life right now. Jesus was there too.
God is not disappointed in you because you are experiencing depression, this is when you can experience God’s love in full. If you allow Him to, you can experience His comfort, peace, and love right where you are in the middle of the storm. God can, will, and wants to lift you out of your pit of despair. (Psalm 40:2) He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Don’t hide or feel ashamed or guilty of what you are going through. Reach out to someone you can trust. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or professional. Many have gone before you and made it through with God’s help. They came out on the other side stronger than they had ever been before. (Romans 8:28) Because we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
5 practical ways you can begin your journey of healing:
1. The first step to dealing with your depression is to stop feeling guilty or ashamed of your feelings and what you are going through, regardless of the circumstances that got you here. Acknowledge that what you are going through is a normal human emotion that many of us experience at some point in our lives.
2. Open up to a close friend, family member, or pastor that can help and guide you on your journey. You do not have to face this on your own. God never intended for us to walk alone. Moses needed help during the fight against the Amalekites. (Exodus 17:11-13) When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.… Isolation during depression can often worsen what you are going through.
3. Prayer is our direct line to God. Pray and be honest with God about what you are going through. None of us can go through the waters of depression on our own. The good news is that His power is sufficient for you and me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Make time during your day to not only talk to God but be still and listen for His prompts. (Psalm 46:10) Be still and know that I am God.
4. Although fasting is a great way to show your devotion and willingness to God, you may want to wait a bit until you are feeling physically fit to accomplish a fast from food. If you suffer from any physical ailments or conditions, you should always consult a medical professional before depriving your body of nutrition. God does not want you to compromise your health, mental or physical. He gave us professionals and medical advancements for a reason. To help us.
5. Read the Bible. Other than prayer, reading the Bible is how we understand God and His thoughts. If you don’t already have the Bible app on your phone, I would highly recommend downloading it and searching for biblical plans on depression and anxiety. (Deuteronomy 11:18) Take these words of mine into your hearts and souls.
By: Angelo Shamoon
For counseling and help with your depression or if you know a loved one struggling with depression that could use counseling CLICK HERE to get started!
Updated on April 2021