Sometimes life can get overwhelming. Even the apostle Paul could feel that way. He testified that in the province of Asia “we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and [d]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:8-10). Sadness about life’s disappointments can eventually sink us into depression.

An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression. [1]

The Mayo clinic defines clinical depression as “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it…” [2]

Biblical counselor, Dr. Tim Allchin notes that depression is often linked to other emotional struggles such as

•  Anger
•  Fear/Anxiety
•  Stress
•  Guilt and Shame (Real or False)
•  Broken Relationships (Death, Divorce, Dysfunction, Distance, or Damage)

“…We cannot effectively deal with depression without evaluating our responses to the difficult circumstances and emotional stressors of our life.”[3]

In his book, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones observed,

“Spiritual depression or unhappiness in the Christian life is very often due to our failure to realize the greatness of the gospel… Where believers go astray is that they tend to focus on their performance (they are preoccupied with themselves), rather than on their relationship to God (justification). When we come back to the gospel of grace, it is all a matter of belief or unbelief – faith or feeling … Ultimately it all comes down to this – the real cause of “troubled souls” is the failure to realize that we are “one with Christ” – “united with Christ.” We died with Christ . . . we have been buried with Christ . . . we have been raised with Chris t. . . and we are now seated in heavenly places in Christ! (Rom 6:3-11; Eph 2:6). Paul says we are to “reckon these things as being so” (Rom 6:11). If you are looking at your past and your sins and you are depressed, it means that you are listening to the devil. Rejoice in the grace and mercy of God that has blotted out your sins and made you His child. Stop looking at yourself and begin to enjoy Him! By God’s grace you are what you are – it is all “grace!” Become absorbed in the “grace and love of God” and you will forget all about yourself – it will deliver you from self-interest, self-concern, and from depression (which is the result of focusing on self).”[4]

For example, the psalmist declared,
“Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

Dr Bill Gillham discerned the root cause and ultimate cure for depression:
“Christ alone must be your primary Source if you are to be liberated from the chains of depression. A practitioner who always treats depression as the problem is missing the mark. Just as fever is but a symptom of the cause, so it is with depression. Depression is a symptom of a deeper cause. Most counselors would agree that less than 5% of depression cases have physically induced depression which does not respond to counseling. PMS, hypoglycemia, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, thyroid or blood sugar problems, etc. are physical factors which can cause depression. Counseling such a Christian with spiritual truth can subject him to even greater despair because although he may see the truth which sets a man free, he can’t appropriate it. However, the remaining 95% of the depressed Christians can experience victory solely through spiritual counsel.”[5]

Cathy Solomon just published a flip booklet about Christ-centered solutions to help the depressed person. It’s online here: https://cld.bz/ShSgcTo

May we move beyond life’s disappointments to confident hope in God’s encouraging and sustaining grace.

John Woodward, Jan. 4, 2020 Grace Fellowship International

[1] https://www.webmd.com/depression/default.htm

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/

[3] https://biblicalcounselingcenter.org/what-the-bible-says-about-depression/

[4] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure. Eerdmans Publishing, 1965.

[5] https://www.lifetime.org/articles/depression-2

Flip book: https://cld.bz/ShSgcTo