Depression and the Christian Life
Hello Christian,
I know it may seem inappropriate to address the topic of depression as relates to the Christian Life. I agree in part. The Christian life is and always ought to be marked by joy. Nevertheless, a Christian's life is also plagued by countless sorrows. Experientially, the term I hear Christians use most often to describe feelings of sorrow and sadness in the context of their walk is suffering. And this is wholly Biblical.
The Psalms are littered with pleas directed toward God, calls for rescue and relief. Christ himself made an earnest plea in the Garden of Gethsemane while submitting to His Father's plan. No other human can imagine his agony. He was tortured at the hands of the guilty when he himself was innocent. Hours later he was thrust upon a cross he was made to carry, before being nailed to it to hang and to die. All his life he taught his disciples that they should anticipate fiery trials and persecution not unlike his own.
Knowing this, I often wonder why Christians, myself included, believe they can enjoy the world's luxuries with all its creature comforts without fear of retaliation and at Christ's expense? Each James, Peter, and Paul, in their epistles, tell their readers that joy and suffering will naturally coexist in this life. (see Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2–4; 1 Corinthians 4:8-10; 1 Peter 1:6–9) As for Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross," says the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 12:2).
The joy that was set before him surely was his own glorification. Yet, I believe it also includes the joy of fellowship with the Father that he would now share with his bride, the Church, in their newly redeemed state. If his joy is meant to be our joy, is it accurate to describe this as something Christians experience now? I submit they can and they do. When circumstances bring about anxiety for the Christian, Christ is the foremost and only anchor for the human soul. When loneliness and depression overwhelm, Christ is there, holding tightly to his bride, assuring her of her safety in his arms.
This is to say, if we desire for Christianity to flourish, and disciples to be made, we must speak grace-filled words to the broken-hearted and to those who are suffering. Just as we speak grace to those who are physically ill, we must learn how to comfort and encourage our brothers and sisters who are hurting in ways we cannot see. And we must speak in ways that embolden their faith in Christ while also helping to guard them from the temptation to trust in themselves.
Yet I perceive we do not normally serve our brethren in this way. As we meet together, we may begin with a verse or a prayer, but we regularly turn the focus from God and onto the person. "God helps those who help themselves," we say in our hearts, if not aloud with our mouths. And this is how we often counsel one another. Believing the problem to be an individual's lack of effort, we rely on external methods to affect a lazy soul. But since we cannot see our brother's heart, we cannot know if he has right motivation as he attempts to live for Christ.
Further, we know intuitively that man's effort, when motivated by fear or a desire to be well-liked, does not produce a kind of work that is blessed by God. For the work that depends on man's own strength is a result of a person trusting in himself. God's Word corrects our thinking, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," Solomon says. "And the knowledge of the Holy One is insight," he continues. (Proverbs 9:10) "This is eternal life," Jesus affirmed, "that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3) Isn't is marvelous that God does not change? (Malachi 3:6) He is the same God from eternity past and can be known by you and me as completely as he has been known by those before us.
How then can we who confess Christ continue to make little of God's Word? Certainly, our pride is involved. But so is our enemy, the devil, who is called Satan. Therefore, to be discerning Christian men and women, we must remember a few truths at all times: God is holy. We are not. Christ died for sins. We are sinners. "The wages of sin is death," (Romans 6:23) surely. But, "for freedom Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1) Finally, Satan is a liar. (John 8:44)
When we recognize these fundamental truths, and combine the fact that, "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one," (James 1:13) we realize that "Nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) We can try our hand at new things when we are nervous. We can push through depression. We can risk failure. Not in the least because we are strong-willed, or fierce-minded. But because, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Christ is our advocate before the Father. (1 John 2:1) We will not enter into His judgment, for Christ has taken our place. Therefore, we have no need to defend ourselves. Just as he pardoned us from the penalty of our sin, he now also provides armor for us as we do battle with the present reality and power of sin. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires, " Paul reminds us. (Romans 13:14)
So, yes. It is possible to experience joy even now, by submitting your life to Christ. Serve him and him alone. With all your might forget yourself and trust in his providential plan. Then go, walk in confidence, knowing for certain that you, "are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) Go and do as He has instructed you, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
The word of Christ compels us. For, "All things are possible for one who believes." (Mark 9:23)
I know it may seem inappropriate to address the topic of depression as relates to the Christian Life. I agree in part. The Christian life is and always ought to be marked by joy. Nevertheless, a Christian's life is also plagued by countless sorrows. Experientially, the term I hear Christians use most often to describe feelings of sorrow and sadness in the context of their walk is suffering. And this is wholly Biblical.
The Psalms are littered with pleas directed toward God, calls for rescue and relief. Christ himself made an earnest plea in the Garden of Gethsemane while submitting to His Father's plan. No other human can imagine his agony. He was tortured at the hands of the guilty when he himself was innocent. Hours later he was thrust upon a cross he was made to carry, before being nailed to it to hang and to die. All his life he taught his disciples that they should anticipate fiery trials and persecution not unlike his own.
Knowing this, I often wonder why Christians, myself included, believe they can enjoy the world's luxuries with all its creature comforts without fear of retaliation and at Christ's expense? Each James, Peter, and Paul, in their epistles, tell their readers that joy and suffering will naturally coexist in this life. (see Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2–4; 1 Corinthians 4:8-10; 1 Peter 1:6–9) As for Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross," says the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 12:2).
The joy that was set before him surely was his own glorification. Yet, I believe it also includes the joy of fellowship with the Father that he would now share with his bride, the Church, in their newly redeemed state. If his joy is meant to be our joy, is it accurate to describe this as something Christians experience now? I submit they can and they do. When circumstances bring about anxiety for the Christian, Christ is the foremost and only anchor for the human soul. When loneliness and depression overwhelm, Christ is there, holding tightly to his bride, assuring her of her safety in his arms.
This is to say, if we desire for Christianity to flourish, and disciples to be made, we must speak grace-filled words to the broken-hearted and to those who are suffering. Just as we speak grace to those who are physically ill, we must learn how to comfort and encourage our brothers and sisters who are hurting in ways we cannot see. And we must speak in ways that embolden their faith in Christ while also helping to guard them from the temptation to trust in themselves.
Yet I perceive we do not normally serve our brethren in this way. As we meet together, we may begin with a verse or a prayer, but we regularly turn the focus from God and onto the person. "God helps those who help themselves," we say in our hearts, if not aloud with our mouths. And this is how we often counsel one another. Believing the problem to be an individual's lack of effort, we rely on external methods to affect a lazy soul. But since we cannot see our brother's heart, we cannot know if he has right motivation as he attempts to live for Christ.
Further, we know intuitively that man's effort, when motivated by fear or a desire to be well-liked, does not produce a kind of work that is blessed by God. For the work that depends on man's own strength is a result of a person trusting in himself. God's Word corrects our thinking, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," Solomon says. "And the knowledge of the Holy One is insight," he continues. (Proverbs 9:10) "This is eternal life," Jesus affirmed, "that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3) Isn't is marvelous that God does not change? (Malachi 3:6) He is the same God from eternity past and can be known by you and me as completely as he has been known by those before us.
How then can we who confess Christ continue to make little of God's Word? Certainly, our pride is involved. But so is our enemy, the devil, who is called Satan. Therefore, to be discerning Christian men and women, we must remember a few truths at all times: God is holy. We are not. Christ died for sins. We are sinners. "The wages of sin is death," (Romans 6:23) surely. But, "for freedom Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1) Finally, Satan is a liar. (John 8:44)
When we recognize these fundamental truths, and combine the fact that, "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one," (James 1:13) we realize that "Nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) We can try our hand at new things when we are nervous. We can push through depression. We can risk failure. Not in the least because we are strong-willed, or fierce-minded. But because, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
Christ is our advocate before the Father. (1 John 2:1) We will not enter into His judgment, for Christ has taken our place. Therefore, we have no need to defend ourselves. Just as he pardoned us from the penalty of our sin, he now also provides armor for us as we do battle with the present reality and power of sin. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires, " Paul reminds us. (Romans 13:14)
So, yes. It is possible to experience joy even now, by submitting your life to Christ. Serve him and him alone. With all your might forget yourself and trust in his providential plan. Then go, walk in confidence, knowing for certain that you, "are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) Go and do as He has instructed you, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)
The word of Christ compels us. For, "All things are possible for one who believes." (Mark 9:23)
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