Facing depression as a Christian can be a very hard thing. We can often feel isolated and alone, wondering where God is and why he’s allowing this to happen to us. But God is there and He does care.
Often people think that becoming a Christian means that we’ll somehow be protected from pain and sadness. But of course we do get hurt. So what does the Bible actually say? Psalm 91 encourages us to live by faith and not by fear. God promises to protect His people if they trust in Him. But why do Christians suffer? Why doesn’t God deliver His people from harm? In actual fact, if we look at the Bible closely we see that God doesn’t promise His people that there won’t be trouble. What He states is that He’ll go through the trials with them and that they will be ultimately delivered from them. This includes the depression that you’re facing. God’s people will come through. It is vital that we know our Bibles well so that we know what the promises of God actually are. And God has kept His promises.
I’m sure that we’ve all lost friendships due to not working at them enough over the years. It’s no different with God, in fact maybe it’s even easier to let our relationships with Him slip away as He seems to be easier to ignore. How often do we blame God for why our lives seem so messed up and problematic? But if we took a step back and took a long hard look at the situation, would we be able to say that God was in actual fact at the centre of our lives and beings? Even if the answer to that question is “no”, there is good news. Unlike our friends, no matter how badly we’ve treated God; he doesn’t go off and find new people to hang around with. He’s right there, just waiting to be a part of your life again. It takes work and it takes time, but have you ever noticed how life often seems easier and happier when you are sharing it all with God?
It’s so easy to thank God when things are going really well and as a general rule it’s easier to see God working in our lives when things are going the right way. But when things happen in life that we can’t fix, that are beyond our control that upset us and cause us pain, we find it a little trickier. We can praise God when we have tears streaming down our faces, and mascara running everywhere. We can praise God when we are doubtful, uncertain and when we are desperate, because God is God and we should praise Him simply for that.
The truth is that although everyone is different, it is probably safe to say that at any given moment there are many other people in a similar situation to yours. This does not diminish the seriousness of your experience; it simply goes to show that you are not alone. While you may be going through a terrible time of depression, and you may not be surrounded by a supportive family and friends, there is one person that is there for you, regardless of anything. He doesn’t have a time schedule and you don’t need to make an appointment three weeks in advance; with Him it’s an open house all day every day and He’s always in. He knitted you together in your mother’s womb and knows the exact number of hairs of your head. That person is Jesus. He wants to be with you through your troubles as well as your best times. He wants you to lean on His shoulder and to place your trust in Him. He wants to be there for you and to gather you under His wing. His answer will always be ‘YES’, all that’s left for you to do is to ask.
Written by Jess Wilson
TweetMe @MsJessWilson