Daily Devotions
A Biblical Strategy for Depression
Reading for August 17th: Jeremiah 18-22
"Cursed be the day
on which I was born!
The day when my mother bore me,
let it not be blessed!
Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father,
"A son is born to you,"
Making him very glad.
Jeremiah 20:14-15
Is depression a sign of spiritual weakness? Some would argue it is. Christians are to be characterized by joy, not sorrow. We're supposed to "sing and be happy," right?
But this line of reasoning is misguided. Though depression can be the result of sin or a deficiency of faith, those are by no means the only causes of depression. Jesus was not bright, sunny, and cheerful when He went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray (Lk 22:39-46), yet no one would accuse Him of spiritually weakness, let alone sin in this moment. The fact is depression can have many sources, many of which are out of our control.
How can you deal with depression in a biblical way?
1. Admit that you're going through it. God knows you're going through it anyway. You might as well be honest (like Jeremiah and others in the Bible) and talk to God about it in prayer. And God can handle your honesty (see again our text above).
2. Talk to others about your struggle. We are to "bear one another's burdens" and "weep with those who weep" and "encourage the fainthearted" (Gal 6:2; Rom 12:15; 1 Thess 5:14). Give the rest of us the opportunity to fulfill these biblical directives by letting us know when you're down.
3. Ask God for help with thanksgiving. This is not the same as saying "cheer up and be happy." It doesn't magically take the pain and frustration away. But we have the promise that when we do this that God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7). Allow God to do this for you in your depression.
Father, we ask you to guard the hearts and minds of your servants who are being attacked by the Devil's fiery darts of depression.
