Should Christians suffer depression?

Sitting right now, I realize the enormity of this word “depression”. You’ve probably heard it so many times, and probably even equally read countless articles on it. I probably fear monotony more than you, but this time, this time I feel like we can’t get enough of this subject. With its growing commonness, depression is slowly underrated…..well, until its your brother going through it, or your sister hanging under that rope…let’s talk about it once more shall we?

So what is depression? According to the American Oxford dictionary: [uncountable] a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical symptoms such as being unable to sleep, etc….. Then there is clinical depression:a mental illness that causes feelings of sadness and loss of hope, changes in sleeping and eating habits, loss of interest in your usual activities, and sometimes physical pains.

And of course further there are stages, degrees and causes of depression.. And all these are important, but my focus today is solutions… However, first of course, if any of the above definitions describe anything you might be feeling seek for help! Tell a trusted friend, tell your mother, your father, tell a doctor or psychiatrist… There is abundant help… We start to go wrong the moment we are in denial or underestimate this terrible menace…the moment we entertain the thought that “it can’t happen to me“

So then to my object of discussion… Should Christians be going through depression? First allow me to draw the baseline that should be quite obvious… That there are 2 waring sides..there is a battle raging, for good and for evil… And of course even a 3year old will tell you good is for God and bad is for Satan… Now is depression a good thing or bad thing? Yes, you’re right…of course anything that threatens our mortality, that makes us sad is not good… To be bolder, I’m trying to say, depression is not of God..remember the verse:

James 1
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Previously we saw in Egypt a certain percentage of people are atheists because they don’t believe God would have created us to suffer. Now I completely agree with this fold, not in their belief of no God but in the belief that we were not created to suffer… You see, God’s very exclamation after each day of creation was that “It was good” and when it came to man, “It was very good!” But the moment sin came in, there was fear, anxiety and eventually death as well!

So back on track, down to history we look at the various patriarchs and men of God to answer our question. Did they face depressing times? Behold, Abraham climbing the mountain to sacrifice his son, turn your eye on the famous Job who lost everything, not to mention Elijah desolate in the wilderness and of course the man of sorrows, the word made flesh, at Gethsemane shedding sweat as blood drops among others… These are considered among the strongest in the faith, but behold their situations.. The holy writings themselves say in John16:33 “In this world ye shall have tribulation“. Thus far I believe it is clear, that as the sun shines to both the righteous and the wicked, tribulation/times of deep distress assail all alike. Thus an inspired writer nakedly puts it: Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement—days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. {PK 162}

But is there no line to be drawn between the believer and the nonbeliever? And if there be no difference then of what benefit is being called a Christian? It is clear that non is immune to hard times, but dear sister, dear brother, is there no balm in Gilead? Listen to the beautiful words:

Hebrews 4
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

So then oh soul are you weary and troubled, the sweet words come resounding, “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will you give rest.” Are you not strong enough to walk to him? Well he says then,” Behold, I stand at the door and knock.. “All you need to do is open your heart to Him, to take your requests to Him.. Have you no more faith, behold the man who said ” help thou my unbelief” and make it your prayer…He sends no one away… Have you been here awhile and seen no change, well tonight go pray again, go kneel again, and He says “Test Me“. And do you want to hear Him speak? Pray and listen to that still small voice, read His word and test Him in this! You don’t have to fight alone!

#let’s fight depression! Not just with words this time! May peace and sanity daily find you, and may you be able to maintain!!