6 Truths About Depression and Faith

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There’s no shortage of troubling circumstances in life that can make you feel anxious and depressed. Whether you’re anxious about the future or depressed about the past, your negative emotions will prevent you from living the healthy life God wants you to enjoy right now. Depression can weigh heavy on you. Many Christians feel that their depression is a result of a lack of faith or spiritual shortcomings. Those times when we feel our faith is fruitless can be incredibly frustrating. The more we believe we’ve fallen short, the more we think God can’t help us through our suffering. But God can. Depression is not a spiritual deficit, the result of a lack of faith or a sin in your past. There is nothing you can or can’t do in your spiritual life to change how your brain functions – it’s completely out of your hands. But you can understand that God is with you, especially during your darkest hours. He understands your depression and will walk beside you through it. Here are six truths about depression and faith.

You Are Not Alone

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Depression reportedly affects 1 in 10 Americas at one point or another and an estimated 121 million people around the world currently suffer from some form of the disorder. You are not alone and God isn’t silent when we suffer. When we turn from page to page in the Bible, we see how God’s depressed children have been able to find hope and reason to endure. A great example of this is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 which says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to things that are seen but things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Depression is Not a Result of Spiritual Shortcomings

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Depression isn’t what the Church sometimes makes it out to be. It is not a spiritual disorder, a character defect or an emotional dysfunction. It’s also not a choice. It’s certainly important to have faith in God’s ability to heal; however, to deny medical or psychiatric treatment to someone suffering from mental illness is really no different than denying them to someone with a physical illness. The difference between the two is that the first is invisible. While we should be on guard as the enemy will try to exploit any weakness, depression is real. It is not a result of spiritual inadequacies or a lack of faith.

Changing Your Way of Thinking Doesn’t Happen on Your Own

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Changing your way of thinking doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen on your own. As Christians, it’s really important that we are surrounded by a loving faith community as they too are crucial in your faith journey and your recovery. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs us as to what our needs should be focused on. We’re to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). When we focus our thoughts on God’s truth, found in the Bible, we are better off than when we set our minds on the challenges in our life and the things of this world.

The Bible Doesn’t Provide Easy Answers

While the Bible is full of wisdom and encouragement for those suffering from depression and anxiety, it doesn’t come in one-verse doses. “Be anxious for nothing” and “do not worry about your life” can easily be taken out of context which is problematic. Doing this not only fails to appropriately handle Scripture, but also carelessly misconstrues the large intent of the passages. A true look at depression in Scripture shows that there is no easy, one-and-done solution. In fact, God’s hand isn’t always apparent. Rather than only taking in a bit of a verse without its context, a better strategy is to look at those instances of mental suffering and recognize that even the saints struggled.

It Helps to Admit What You’re Feeling to Those You’re Closest to

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Isolation is a tool the enemy uses to discourage people. With some people, it is easy to know when they are discouraged. But when people are vivacious and life-giving, it becomes more difficult to discern when they are struggling with discouraging thoughts. These people can project such confidence and victory that we don’t see the signs when they are in great need. As Christians, we are called and commanded to be involved in each other’s lives. Depression wants to get you alone. If you’re dealing with depression, turn to those who love you and share your feelings of confusion and anxiety with them. This gives them permission to love you at your most vulnerable point.

God Offers to Walk with You

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God is not silent when we suffer and He offers to walk with you. When we allow the fear and anxiety related to our depression control us, we limit ourselves. With this mindset, it’s hard to fully trust God in our circumstances. The key is remembering the promises God makes. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Don’t wait until the depression passes to seek God. He’s not waiting for you to come out of it before walking with you, but He’s eager to walk with you in the midst of it.