Can A Christian Become Depressed?

Reports of famous people--Anthony Bourdain, TV personality and Kate Spade--handbag designer, who committed suicide recently drew the attention of many here in America and abroad. However, there are ordinary people committing suicide everyday whose names never appear in the news. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 45, 000 Americans died by suicide in 2016, and these numbers are said to be climbing.

People don't just get up one morning and say, "I think I'll kill myself today." They have to be depressed for some time to get to the point where they decide to take their own life. Which brings me to the question, can a Christian become depressed? If you are a Christian you should have peace and contentment at all times, right? You should be able to cope with anything that life throws your way. Wrong!

Guilt, loneliness, grief, discouragement can take a toll on the human mind and cause you to become depressed. History is full of names of famous theologians who were depressed. C. S. Lewis, Augustine, Martin Luther and C. H. Spurgeon are among some of those who were said to have struggled with depression. In fact, Spurgeon became so depressed at times he was said to tender his resignation thirty-two times in thirty-nine years.

One might be tempted to say that men like Spurgeon were so burdened by the demands placed upon them it was easy for them to become depressed. That may be so, however, depression can plague someone who has no obvious reason to be depressed. Elijah, the prophet, was a mighty man of God, who commanded great respect from the people because of the miracles he performed. He had just finished killing four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and under the power of the Lord, ran for miles to another town. But after doing all of that, Elijah collapsed in fear and went and hid himself in a cave because Jezebel threatened to kill him for slaughtering the Baal prophets.

Elijah came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. Here is what he said: “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors" (1 Kings 19: 4). Elijah was ready to die, but he didn't have the courage to take his own life.

Other Bible figures who battled depression are David, the great warrior king who God called, "a man after his own heart." Job, "a blameless and upright man," suffered a massive bout of depression when he lost everything, including his children. He cursed the day he was born, as did Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Even Jesus was in so much agony in the garden of Gethsemane before his death that his sweat became as "drops of blood" (Luke 22: 44).

Friends, depression is no respecter of persons. It is an illness as any other and should be treated seriously as you would treat any other illness. If you are feeling depressed, here are some things you can do:

1.When people are depressed they tend to isolate themselves from the world. Elijah went and hid in a cave. Bad idea! God called him out and sent him on a mission. Make the effort to get out of bed and do some simple things, like washing your face and combing your hair.

2. Some people may not want to eat, others may eat too much. You need to eat. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” (1 Kings 19: 5).

3. Talk to someone. Job's friends came to sympathize with him when they heard about his misfortune, but they only ended up making him feel worse. Be careful who you speak to. Speak to people who will be understanding and supportive, not people who will tell you, "snap out of it."

4. Seek medical help. In Biblical days and centuries past, they didn't have the medications and resources we have today. God has given man the knowledge and wherewithal to help us. Take advantage of it.

5. Pray. When you are in the throes of depression you may be unable to pray coherently, but you can read your Bible or listen to Psalms and gospel music on tape. Best of all, be hopeful. David said, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps. 42:11

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I have written a novel called In the Wilderness that tells of a young Christian girl who was so plagued by guilt she became depressed and suicidal. Read this gripping story to see how God delivered her out of her depression and gave her a new perspective on life.

The Gift of Helping

A few days ago, I had the pleasurable experience of meeting someone who, I believe, has the gift of helping others. But let me back up a bit. It all came about during my attempt to make a doctor's appointment. What should have been a routine matter of picking up the phone, dialing a number and getting to speak to someone, turned out to be two whole days of wasted time. By this time, I'd become so frustrated by no one answering or returning my calls, I decided to go to the facility to make the appointment.

And that's where things became a bit interesting. I walked up to the information desk, stated my name and my reason for being there. The lady at the desk said they do not make appointments at the department I needed to visit. She very kindly gave me a number to call. This time someone did answer the phone, but informed me that they do not make appointments for the doctors. He gave me another number, which happened to be the same one I was trying to reach initially. And, you guessed it. No one answered.

By this time, I'm praying for patience and wisdom as to what to do next. I believe the Holy Spirit heard me. Back I went to the information and explained my plight to the employee. Long story short, after making several calls, she was able to locate the address for the number I had been trying to reach. I would have voted her employee of the year if I had that option. I thanked her profusely and walked out the door.

I found the address she gave me quite easily and entered the office to find it empty and just one employee sitting at the desk, arms folded. Anyway, I wrote all this to show how the attitude of the lady at the information desk contrasted sharply with the one at the office who was not answering the phone. I'll never know the reason for that one, but whether you are an employee or not, do try to help others. That woman who helped me had no idea how long I'd been calling that number or how far I'd driven only to get all that run around. What she did for me was not part of her duties. She was simply being helpful.

Paul speaks of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: 28: "And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues." 

When we think of spiritual gifts, how many of us think of the gift of helping? Yet it is a very important gift and can take many different forms. The apostle Paul mentioned many people in his letters who were of great help to him. People like Aquila and his wife Priscilla, Timothy (whom he called his son) Lucius, Gaius and many others. Great apostle though he was, Paul could not have succeeded without their help.

Do you have the gift of help? If you are not sure, ask the Holy Spirit to show you who might need your help and how you can be helpful to them. You and they will be blessed.

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As a young nun at the Corpus Christi Home for Girls, Marva Garcia has always leaned on the Everlasting Arms for wisdom and strength to meet the day-to-day challenges of mentoring delinquent girls. But when her beloved adoptive father is killed during a Muslim coup, Marva sees her orderly world crumbling around her. As she tries to make sense of all this, Marva is increasingly drawn to another pair of arms that had been there for her all along. Can she love a man and still love God?