CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEPRESSED?
It is high time we talk about this...
The topic of depression is one we must be sensitive to as Christians. We often prioritize physical illnesses, overlooking the severity of mental illnesses.
If someone suffers a physical injury like a broken arm in an accident, we are likely to pay attention to them. However, it is possible for someone to suffer an internal injury, for which, though not visible, a lack of urgent care can result in dire consequences.
The same is true of depression.
That you can’t physically see mental health challenges such as depression doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
The Bible gives precedence to the possibility of someone appearing fine externally even though all isn’t well. For instance, God told Adam he would die after eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, yet he lived over 900 years. From the day he ate the fruit until the day he died, Adam was spiritually a ticking time bomb.
Similarly, in medicine, a person can appear healthy yet have an underlying health challenge. This is why vital signs are examined during every hospital visit.
While some people are extremely sad and mistake that for depression, there are people who are clinically depressed but are either unaware, or are ignoring this reality.
Listen, we must understand that depression does not make an individual less of a Christian. They need as much attention and care as someone who has a physical ailment. A Christian can be depressed and we can play a vital role in their healing.
Here’s what to do if you know someone who is depressed:
Pray for them.
There is a kind of empathy and supernatural support that can help them move on and get better. As Christians, we have the spiritual responsibility to provide that.
Be Patient
Sometimes, we don’t really understand the depth of what people are going through, so we must learn to be patient with them and listen to them. Don’t assume you know what it feels like.
Help them see a doctor.
Walking in faith does not prevent you from seeing a doctor. We must encourage people who are depressed to seek clinical help.
For those who reject this offer, it’s our duty to help them see the need to. Despite your best intentions, depression is a mental illness requiring the personal involvement of the individual affected.
If a person will be healed of depression, they must be present and involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic process.
If you are depressed, here are things you must do and know:
You need to trust God in a present continuous way
This is important because your mind is involved. Sometimes, it won't all go away at once. So you must rely on God to help you power through it. Just like David says:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4
Your Feelings Don’t Define You.
You have a mind but you are not your mind. You must constantly separate how you feel from who you are. When you find yourself at odds with how you feel and who the word of God says you are, you must insist on the word of God!
Look into the word
When you look into God’s word, you will find people who have gone through the same thing and come out of it and that will give you the mental picture you need to power through.
Jeremiah, for example, was called the “weeping prophet.” He had his emotional struggles too. For instance, the Bible records him saying:
“Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! Let the man be cursed who brought news to my father, saying, A male child has been born to you! Making him very glad”(Jeremiah 20:14-15).
He clearly had emotional struggles but ultimately, he found healing. You can be healed!
Trusting God for the healing of your mind is not a walk in the park. It is a constant fight of not allowing feelings define you. It is not an easy way to live, but it is a possible way to live.
Dear struggling Christian, God sees you and will provide you with strength to forge ahead. You are not that depression, you are who God says you are!
Finally, I pray for you that the Lord Jesus will provide you with the strength to trust in him through this phase that you are in.
His word will be your guide and you mirror every day of your life.
And when your mind is raging with doubt, the word of the Lord will rise to the surface to silence those doubts.
Your healing is secured and sure in the mighty name of Jesus.
Amen!
To learn more about how to handle trials as a believer, follow the on-going 100 Days of Discipleship Challenge.
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Thank you so much for this.
There is nothing wrong with seeking professional medical help.
As a Christian who is recovering from deep depression, I struggled for years. Physical problems are one thing but MENTAL??? No, I shouldn't have these issues.
I felt that admitting that there was a problem made me less of a believer, and it said a lot about my 'faith'.
I believed I should be able to faith it away.
Finally, I sought medical help. The difference within a few weeks was like night and day.
It was after the intervention that I was able to calm down enough to bask in the Word, submerse myself in the Word, and gradually build up my mind. I reminded myself of who I am in Christ.
A balanced, biblical view on depression!