Is it “Unchristian” to Struggle with Depression?
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” - Psalm 119:76
Due to my depression, I have struggled with thoughts of suicide on more than one occasion. At one point in my life, they became constant, and I had to talk to my doctor about these concerns. I recognized them as bad thoughts, yet they consistently became more appealing to me. Depression was drowning me, my eating disorder was at its worst, and all I wanted was for everything to end.
Many people consider these times “come to Jesus moments,” but I had already known Him as my personal Savior for many, many years before this. Instead of having a deep spiritual meaning, it was just a manifestation of my pain. It is important for others to know that sometimes our pain is because of the fallen world we live in. God can make purpose out of our pain, but He never causes the pain. What I knew then, I share with you now.
God doesn't see me as “less than” or “unchristian” for struggling with depression. Rather, He sees my pain and meets me where I am. There are still many days where I have depressive thoughts because of all the pain, problems, and grief. Some months are better than others and I try to cling to those when I am struggling. However, who I cling to more than anything else is God. Rather than being afraid of my feelings, I bring them to Him. Some of my most honest prayers come when I'm in a dark situation. At these moments, I realize that God is all I need and all I have ever needed. Loneliness, depression, and self-hate can get the best of me at times, yet God never shames me for my feelings. Instead, He covers me with His grace, love, and protection.
If you are also struggling with depression or have in the past, know that it does not make you any less of a Christian. We all struggle in various ways during our lives, but none of them take away the love God has for us. God has already shown us His love by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16-17). There is nothing we can do or not do to weaken God’s love for us.
He loves us, flaws and all.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
When we look at today’s passage, we see God’s unfailing love, comfort, and grace. Psalm 119:76 says, “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” As this Psalm says, God’s unfailing love will be our comfort, according to the promise He has given us. No matter what we are facing, God can provide us with comfort. Maybe you aren't facing depression, but you are struggling with a job loss, loneliness, or thoughts of self-hate.
If this is true, know that you can also turn to God for comfort. All we have to do is turn to Him in prayer, rely on Him, and patiently wait in His love for us. There will never come a day when God stops hearing our prayers or turns us away. He knows the pain we experience on a daily basis, and He longs to shower us with His comfort and love. Instead of running away from Him or being ashamed of our struggles, we need to present them at the foot of the cross.
God meets us where we are, and He will engulf us in His love. Struggling with depression does not mean we are lacking in our Christian walk. Rather, it simply means we live in a fallen world, and we need help from God, medical professionals, and loved ones. Some days might be harder than others, yet we have to always remember God is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31). He is always our help in times of trouble.
What are you struggling with today? What might it look like to give these struggles over to God? Sometimes our most honest prayers come during our darkest moments. Have you seen this to be true in your own life? God will provide us with His comfort through His unfailing love. How does this bring you comfort today?
“Dear God, I praise You for meeting me where I am. I have been struggling a lot, and I need Your help. I don't want to keep struggling with these thoughts or actions. Please give me comfort in accordance with Your unfailing love. Also, please equip me with the bravery to reach out for help from medical professionals and loved ones. Thank You, Amen.”
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