Christian  Depression

I recently went to one of many websites dealing with depression. This one featured a couple of chat rooms. The rules for chatting were: No sharing information on how to kill yourself, No sexual pick-ups, No accusing or attacking, etc. This seems like good advice in any chat room, but especially for those on the edge. However, included among the No-No’s was a prohibition against discussing religion, as it is a “trigger” for unwanted behavior in depressives.

There you have it, dear Christian brother or sister. Will you continue to follow Christ no matter what, or will you let depression and those who pretend to cure you of it take you out of the way? They will rob you of your religion and say it’s a good thing. They will claim to be Christians. They will water down the claims of Jesus Christ or denounce and prohibit them entirely. They will lead you to doctors and pills (I’m not against either of them but they have limits and pitfalls). They will lead you to self-help methods (this I am against).  But they will never lead you to the Lord.

These same “well-meaning” souls will tell you that preaching is bullying, that believing is bullish but banal, and that fear of God is just plain bull. Don’t believe them. Listen to God. One of the main reasons for Christian depression is that we feel our mortality and fear, but we do not feel our deliverance by the shed blood of Jesus Christ . Whatever has caused that situation, count it as a wake up call.  God is calling to you. He is kind and gentle. Our corrupt old nature hates this whole obedience thing. It is a big drag. Too many trials and temptations. They just overwhelm you after a while and you fall into a slump. You may even be despairing right now.

Have faith. For instance, tell God, “Don’t stop now. Take me to the other shore. Don’t let me go backwards, even though I am screaming and crying for you to turn around. Please don’t listen to my complaint as a judgment against your love, oh God.  Please be merciful to me and bear with me.”

I tell you, this may scare you. It may put fear of God into you. But, it will place the burden upon Him who died for you. You may be facing the toughest trial of your Christian life right now, but these are the hours and the days when you will be refined and made into a useful vessel. Hope will come, but first you must go through this fiery trial in order to build your faith. Faith will come, but first the love of God must be instilled in your soul. Love will come in time, my friend.

Let your depression do its work. If you despair, join the club. I belong to it and Paul the apostle belonged to it.  Let your heavenly Father do his work in your soul and don’t give up the faith delivered by the holy apostles and prophets as outlined in the holy scriptures, the Bible. “The heart knows its own bitterness, but no stranger shares in its joy.”  Christ shares both with you.

If you endure chastening as sons of God, then you can rejoice that God Himself is your Father and Jesus Christ is your Lord.  Keep watching and praying. The end may be near, but it is not yet.

- Chris Simonson

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