Articles
Depression
I am not approaching this subject as a clinician, for I am not qualified in either psychology or physiology to make judgments about the underlying causes of pathological depression. Rather, this is a homespun approach based on both Biblical teaching and decades of observation.
First, the term “depression” in our vernacular is used generically of a wide range of emotional states – everything from the occasional “blues” to deep, debilitating, joy-robbing, energy-sapping, hope-crushing darkness that cannot be shaken. Most of us are familiar with the first category, times when we are disappointed by setbacks, paralyzed by anxiety or stymied in confusion. But some are mired in the second category and cannot seem to find the key to stability even through prayer and meditation upon God’s word. So, if we find ourselves a bit down, it would help to analyze the underlying causes and properly categorize our feelings.
I do not believe it is realistic to go through life without feeling overwhelmed or discouraged at times. We are all familiar with the great prophet Elijah, a man of such stature that he appeared with Moses at Jesus’ transfiguration. Most are well-versed in his “depression” after the great victory on Mt. Carmel over the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18). Likewise, we read of Job’s painful soul-searching amid unimaginable tragedy; Moses living as a fugitive and an exile for 40 years (and his subsequent resistance to God’s plans for him); Joshua succumbing to despair (Jsh 7); David’s week of deep grief and mourning over the terminal illness of his child (along with the various psalms he penned in the bitter throes of guilt over his sin with Bathsheba, which precipitated the child’s death); Peter’s overwhelming despondency over denying the Lord (Mt 26:75); etc. Such are the struggles of even the godly in this world as we face fear, failure, disillusionment and distress – the “vicissitudes” of life.
God’s word does not advocate stoicism. We are not directed to seek stability through emotional detachment from life’s highs and lows. We are not warned against elation, laughter, excitement and deep love in order to insulate ourselves from the opposite – misery, tears, boredom and hate. Thus Scripture advocates sexual fulfillment in marriage (1 Cor 7:1-5; Heb 13:4); familial love (Eph 5:25; Tit 2:4); “rejoicing with those who rejoice” (Rom 12:15); etc. This is the opposite mindset of the Essenes, who adopted a fatalistic view of life, moved to a community in the desert (Qumran) and guaranteed their own demise by forsaking marriage. Such does not promote a deeper spirituality.
When we open ourselves to lawful, natural activities and relationships of life, we consequently expose ourselves to the possibility of distress. Mates get sick and die; children may forsake their faith or estrange themselves from parents in later years; financial crisis may come; jobs are lost; our fellow man treats us treacherously … on and on it goes. It is clear both by example and doctrine that God does not shield His people from trouble; perhaps we could call the apostle Paul as our first witness to this truth (cf. 2 Cor 1:3-11; 4:7-12; 6:1-10; 11:22-28). So, how do we handle the reality that life hurts; that sometimes we can’t see the way forward; that it may seem that God is not listening and/or responding to our needs?
The answer, in brief, is that we must respond to these things with genuine faith. While this may seem eye-roll obvious, I wonder if we really do it?! That is, do we really take conscious steps to avail ourselves of spiritual truths, the assurances of our heavenly Father, the proper perspective on life and eternity revealed in Scripture? Consider:
Elijah’s depression after his Mt. Carmel victory was due to at least three factors: 1) No matter how great his triumph over the false prophets, Jezebel was still in power and intent on killing him (1 Kgs 19:1-3); 2) He considered himself a failure (1 Kgs 19:4); and 3) He felt he was all alone in the battle against idolatry (1 Kgs 19:10, 14). Elijah was wrong on all three points (Jezebel didn’t kill him; the failure wasn’t his; he was not alone), but herein lies a key to depression: it is often based on wrong or exaggerated perceptions. We can easily adopt a negative outlook that doesn’t reflect reality; it merely reflects our skewed, subjective, limited view of the situation. The truth was that Elijah did everything the Lord asked him to do, but the hearts of the Israelites were so corrupt that no one was going to get through to them – even an Elijah. So, our depression sometimes comes from our inadequacies when, in fact, the fault lies elsewhere.
Also, Scripture counsels us to keep a “light grip” on things of the world (cf. 1 Cor 7:29-35). Paul was writing against the backdrop of a “present distress” that made marriage temporarily inadvisable. Paul, the ultimate realist, knew that not everyone could observe his advice to remain single for the time being (7:7-9, 27-28, 36-38). But he advises that “those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice …” (7:29-30). In other words, if we overinvest our happiness in things that by nature are temporary and unstable, we run the risk of crippling ourselves if those things are taken away. This is why other passages direct us to focus on heavenly things which are stable and eternal (Col 3:1-2; Mt 6:19-21; Heb 11:9-10, 13-16). We must accept that this world can and will disappoint and inflict pain and loss.
Finally, we need to embrace the principle that true spiritual growth comes from hardship, not comfort and ease, and God is in charge of our nurture. Again, the joys of life are not to be dismissed: peace is desirable; a loving mate is comforting; financial stability is an advantage. If we have such things, enjoy them and profit from them. But at the same time, our blessings can lull us into lethargy and false security. It is when life turns troublesome that we pray more diligently, read our Bible more earnestly, meditate more sincerely and think our way through the day. Thus Paul advises, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and sup-plication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Ph 4:6-7).
Most solutions to depression lie in a closer relationship with God and a realistic understanding of what life on earth is … and is not.
