Overcoming Depression (Part Ten): Suicidal Thoughts

If you are reading this article you fall into at least one of three categories. The first includes those who know those who have—successfully or not—attempted to take their life. The second category includes those who will eventually know someone like that. The third category includes those who are contemplating suicide.

Rather than address those in the first two categories I will speak directly with you if you find yourself in the third. Be assured that there a plenty of people in the first two categories who will read this because they care enough to help people like you through this seemingly impossible situation.

Have you had thoughts of suicide? Why are you considering it? Do you face shame because you (or someone close to you) has done things that have created a mess that you are unwilling to face? Maybe you are enduring the pain of a broken body or a broken relationship and do not wish to see what is next in an apparent endless downward spiral. Or perhaps you are very angry at a person or persons who have hurt you and know that this will sting them in ways other forms of revenge never could. You may even have your own reasons and think that your circumstances put you in a category no other person can understand.

If you have had these thoughts, you have likely gone from despair to hope and back again more times than you can count. People stereotype those who take their lives as frenzied and impulsive, but you may know that after numerous crises many people have soberly weighed their options. They have reasoned that suicide is as much a rational choice as buying a red car instead of a blue one.

Because this is a Christian author writing about matters from a biblical perspective you might think an article about suicide would seek to find biblical texts that address the issue directly. But that is not where this article is headed. Certainly there are a few examples of suicide in the Bible and I do agree that taking your own life is no less a sin than taking that of someone else. But I want you to see a bigger picture from the Bible. I beg you to stop and reconsider. The story of history is not about your present circumstances but about redemption.

I’ll explain what I mean by redemption. When you look at the whole story of human history from a biblical standpoint you see three big themes. The first is that creation was a marvelous, hopeful work of God with man as the most privileged creature in the picture. The second is the misery that resulted from man rebelling against his creator. The third is the work of redemption that the creator is bringing. Our trouble is that living in the pain, misery and hopelessness of the second theme can blind us to seeing the third theme at work.

Let me illustrate simply. A child with a painful ear infection does not naturally want a physician poking instruments in his ear or prescribing yucky medicine. But the doctor sees the big picture. What would you tell the child who is so intent on getting away from the treatment and the doctor that he misses the “redemptive” benefit of both? The doctor knows how the ear is designed to look and work as well as what needs to happen to bring it back to full function. The child naturally just wants the pain to go away.

Maybe that’s what you are looking for. I want you to know that there are things much more wonderful in this story than what you feel in this very brief moment of eternity. Christian author C.S. Lewis describes our longings this way:

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. (Mere Christianity)

The pain and dissatisfaction you feel is a reminder that there is something better, but the release does not come when you leave. It comes when you believe. The Bible says that “creation was subjected to futility” (Romans 8:20) but it also says that the creation will be “set free from its slavery to corruption” (Romans 8:21). You may think that what you are considering will set you free. I ask you to consider that you may be very wrong and there will be no way to reverse your decision.

We make the mistake of complicating the Bible because we often have personal agendas that we take into it. We assume that if we cannot find a direct prohibition, for instance, for the use of methamphetamines, God must be okay with it. But the Bible projects a larger and more authoritative view of the past and the future that those of us trapped in time would do well to heed. You may be asking how a loving God could allow so much evil in the world—particularly in your world. You ask why is this happening if God is loving or sovereign. That is a legitimate question. Have you given Him time to answer it? Are you sure?

Imagine the terror of people experiencing a full eclipse of the sun without knowing that eclipses are natural astronomical events. Some would despair of life. You could give them hope. “Just wait,” you’d counsel. This won’t last.

Most people who come close to taking their lives and do not succeed testify that what they needed was just a little time to clear their minds to dissuade them from the act. In other words, because they had a barrier to their momentum toward the act they reevaluated the decision. Let the thoughts I have shared be that barrier for you.

Start here. Are guilt and shame and pain and hopelessness recurring themes in your life? Please stop and consider that the Bible points to Jesus Christ as the remedy for these things. He absorbed in His body—as a substitute—the just death penalty so those who trust Him could be free. If that is hard for you to believe, it gets harder. For centuries men and women have staked their lives and their eternal destinies on the truth that Jesus also came physically out of the grave after He died. What does that mean for you? Among other things it may mean that you could be preparing to surrender to shame and death when God’s Son won the victory over both. I wonder if you have really cried out to Him and begged Him for forgiveness and new life in this world.

There is hope.

Ten articles in this series:
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 

Overcoming Depression (Part Nine): Indecision

Jim liked his reputation as a leader. At work and in church people respected his opinions and sought his counsel. But in the privacy of his home things looked very different. His dark moods had caused him to put off decisions on everything from home repairs to disciplining his children. He feared his wife’s disapproval as well as the consequences of making wrong decisions. Most of all he felt he had no energy to invest in thinking things through and choosing a direction. He spent a lot of energy trying to avoid spending energy on decisions.

If you resemble Jim you should know that indecision does not mean you are “depressed.” It is simply one symptom that commonly accompanies people labeled that way. This can be a chicken-and-egg question. Were you feeling down and consequently had trouble making decisions or did you make decisions you are second-guessing, which causes you to feel down?

Some people in their weakness become paralyzed when faced with even minor decisions. They either hide from them or rely heavily on friends, family or even impulses to avoid the responsibility to make careful, analytical choices.

Whether your indecision is a chicken or an egg scenario, it is sometimes nice to have someone take your hand and walk you through the darkness. Let me do that briefly.

If you are a follower Christ I have simple hope to offer you. There is no reason to fear making decisions. God’s will is not a treasure found only by those who know the right tricks. It is not a shell game. The will of God is not something you look for. It is something you do (see another blog article on this subject).

Are you having trouble focusing and making decisions?

1.    You still have to make them. Not making a decision is still a decision (Joshua 24:14-15; 1 Kings 18:21; Luke 9:23). Here is an exercise (adapted from Paul Tripp’s book Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, p. 250): Take a sheet of paper and make two columns with these headings: “Concerns” and “Responsibilities.” Make a very complete list. Decide to obey God in the matters that are your responsibility. You have a “to do” list for your decisions now. Under “concerns” you have a prayer list because those are the things you cannot control.

2.   You should avoid being controlled by fear, worry or anxiety over what others will think of your decisions (Matthew 6:34). Fear of man blinds your ability to make good choices and it proves to be a snare. What is most important in your decisions is not the way others will react but whether or not your actions please God. It is possible that the most popular decision you could make would be one that does not honor God. Make it your primary goal to please Him (2 Corinthians 5:9).

3.    You should be confident in God’s ability to give you what is good (James 1:6-8; 4:8). Your decisions are a reflection of your theology. The God of the Bible is both sovereign and good. His plans may be hard to endure, but they are for your good and His glory. If your goal is avoiding hardness you will need to find a parallel universe somewhere. If your aim is honoring God it is better to let Him determine the boundaries in which you will find maximum happiness. He is good, so what He does is good.

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  10 

Overcoming Depression (Part Eight): Worthless Feelings

“I have lived my entire life without making a significant impact on the world or on even one person. I don’t always feel this way, but thoughts of my own worthlessness keep coming back. I really want to make a difference, but more often I’d rather just give up.”

Do you ever feel like that? This is a common symptom in the general population, but it is epidemic among those who carry the “depressed” label. If you often feel this way you may think you have come to an end of solutions—that there is no hope for change. Even if there is hope you really do not feel like looking for solutions even if there is one out there. Before you throw in the towel there are some questions I would like you to answer:

Question one: Is your worth measured by you or by your creator? As part of the only race of humans ever made (Adam’s race), you were designed in the image of God. That is why murdering or even calling people idiots is an attack on God’s image (Genesis 9:6; Matthew 5:21-22). You would probably bristle at the suggestion that ethnic minorities, nursing home residents or handicapped children are worthless. Do your own “worthless” feelings make you the exception? If you feel guilty for failing to meet your own expectations you are either creating standards of performance that God never created or you need to repent of sin. A proper understanding of grace assures you that God sets the standard for human performance and lifts up those who humbly acknowledge their inability to keep that standard.

Question two: Are you allowing your life to be defined by how you feel at any given moment? You may be controlled by your emotions. If so, you have a vicious and capricious master. You never know which despot is going to rule as you wake up each day. You don’t have to take orders from your emotions. A better alternative is to take the warning God gave Cain about giving in to negative emotions (Genesis 4:6-7). You must master the monster crouching at your door. Your feelings should never be the thermostat that controls your life, but a thermometer that reflects what is going on inside you. Learn to read the thermometer.

Question three: Are you fishing for human approval? You know that whenever you say, “My life is a waste and I’m such a loser,” you can find someone who will come up with some nice things to say about you. The trouble with craving that kind of attention is that even if people are sincere it makes you a slave to the opinions of others. Let me put this straight: you really are a wretch (Romans 7:24-8:1). But don’t stop there. That’s only the bad news. If you go no further than talking about how bad you are and how bad you feel, your wallowing makes you miss the voice of the Rescuer. You are trading the glories of redemption for the few scraps of human attention you can get when people feel sorry for you. The good news is that only wretched sinners have hope for change because Jesus died only for wretched sinners. Are you one of those?

Question four: Is it possible that feeling worthless is a gateway to finding real change? When you feel worthless or that your life is meaningless you are actually communicating something very positive. You are saying that there is such a thing as worth and meaning. Maybe the real issue here is not that you are worthless but that you have yet to discover what actually is worthy and meaningful in this world. You may be like a man who curses the darkness because he knows the sun must be somewhere close by. Don’t give up so easily. Glory where another wretched man gloried:

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Let me say it another way. Your despair does not mean that hope does not exist for you. It underscores the truth that you have been chasing after the wrong prize. The Lord of Life pronounced blessedness on those who mourn (Matthew 5:4). Only such mourners will find comfort.

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  9  10

Overcoming Depression (Part Seven): Lethargy

Another symptom that often accompanies depression is the feeling of extreme lethargy ("exhaustion" and "listlessness" are other descriptive words). When this happens you feel like doing nothing. Coupled with the feelings of sadness you long for a warm, dark place to curl up and sleep for a few days.

Do you often feel drained like that? One could argue that depression causes the lethargy, but the same argument works the other way. The feelings of depression may simply mean you have not been sleeping as you ought. One solution may be as simple as finding that missing shut-eye (see another part of this series on insomnia). But that is not simple for many people.

It is good to ask yourself if it is possible to remain joyful and glorify God even when you are tired. For a believer that is a great step toward living out God’s purpose for suffering Christians:

These [trials] have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:7

Because I am not qualified to make medical diagnoses, I often say, “I think you need to see a doctor about that.” But as long as you can’t get in to see a physician for at least a few minutes, let’s bring in some more questions.

Are you avoiding anything or anyone? Think hard. Unpleasant tasks put off can soon become large, haunting tasks. When you think something will be unpleasant, it is easy to convince yourself that you should avoid that activity at any cost. This may be something as complex as the need to confront a spouse or child for a horrible sin or it may be something as simple as cleaning the bathroom, paying the bills or writing an overdue paper (or blog article). In either case your heart seeks a way to duck responsibility and drowsiness is a readily-available escape. Proverbs outlines the symptoms of sloth, the sin few dare admit:

A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence. Proverbs 12:27

Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!” Proverbs 22:13

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34

It is humbling to consider that your depression may just be the result of laziness, but there is hope in that confession. It classes you with those for whom Christ died: sinners. We have a proven cure for sinners.

Another question is related to the first: Could there be some other sin in your life that you are refusing to acknowledge? Listen to David’s testimony about a time in his life when he refused to turn from secret sin:

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Psalm 32:3-4

You may already know of a sin you are harboring, but even if nothing comes readily to mind you are not excused. The sons of Adam like to forget what makes the conscience sting. Humbly ask a close friend or your spouse to list some areas of your life that might fit this category. Promise not to get angry and mean it.

Look at this difficult moment in your life as an opportunity to live out a very good plan. Whether your fatigue is the result of a physical condition, personal sin or a combination of the two, you have a responsibility to respond in a way that glorifies God. Don’t waste this hard time.

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  3  4  5  6  8  9  10

Overcoming Depression (Part Six): Nervousness

“I worry a lot, but that’s not a sin, right?”

How would you answer that question? It was put to me by a Christian lady who had so many other struggles that her depression and worry seemed almost innocent. But is nervousness a victimless crime? Isn’t it kind of like having a stuffy nose?

As I have pointed out in other articles in this series, the feelings of depression are never sinful. They may come from something bodily like caffeine, fatigue or even serious illness (a prospect that can also dominate your thoughts if you are not careful). But we are not addressing the feelings themselves. We are addressing your response to those feelings. This woman’s worry was having a substantial impact on the others in her home. Her family was missing out on the loving care she could have given had she not spent so much time spreading her anxiety around the house.

Set aside for now the serious physical effects (digestive ailments and spikes in blood pressure to name two) that result from chronic anxiety. The bigger question—at least for a Christian—is: What impact does this have on my relationships and responsibilities?

The feeling of nervousness and distraction can look different in different people. For instance, in some people it almost seems like an attack from outside themselves. They feel agitated and cannot explain it. Still others have a specific object to their anxiety. Relationships, finances, coming events or re-playing past events dominate the thoughts.

Either way the nervous feelings sometimes associated with depression—even if they come from identifiable physical causes like caffeine or fatigue—usually keep you from the kind of neighbor loving that pleases God.

It is not difficult to find a biblical description of a symptom associated with depression that we all recognize in ourselves and others. Jesus described it this way in His clearest message about worry or anxiety:

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?” For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34, NASB

So ask yourself some questions:

·       What do my anxious thoughts say about the way I think God cares for me?

·       Am I thinking true thoughts or are the voices of my nerves shouting louder than God’s word?

·       What is God trying to do in the midst of this?

·       What other people are being kept from service I could give them because of my anxiety?

Are you are nervous and distracted?

1.     Maybe you need to retrain your thinking (Colossians 3:2). It could be that you have actually created the problem that controls your thoughts. Write down some of the Scripture texts found in this study and review them every day. The next time these feelings begin to creep into your thoughts you will have true thoughts to call to mind.

2.     Maybe you need to find an other-focused mission to occupy your thoughts (Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:1-11). The remedy for anxiety is found in obeying the two greatest commands. Write down ten tangible ways you can exert yourself to serve others in your life (e.g., writing encouraging notes, doing extra chores to lighten the load of another, asking questions and listening to others without complaining about your life). Start at home. Get to work on it.

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  3  4  5  7  8  9  10

Overcoming Depression (Part Five): Insomnia

“I am so tired all the time that I feel like doing nothing but sleep. Then when I go to bed I can’t sleep because my thoughts are going ninety miles an hour. I think I’m going crazy. Will I ever find rest?”

One of the common symptoms of depression is the inability to sleep. Racing thoughts or inordinate worries keep you awake and only compound the dark feeling of “normal” waking hours. You know that God is the one who "slumbers not nor sleeps" and you'd rather not be like Him in this area.

Nearly every year it seems we hear in the news of horrible crimes committed by young mothers who struggle with what has been labeled “post-partum depression.” Apart from the very complex things that happen biologically in women after childbirth (not to mention every month), you have to consider the tremendous stress of being repeatedly torn from sleep by a newborn for months on end.

Aside from offering biblical solutions, I will once again encourage you to see your doctor to rule out physical causes for your insomnia. However, sleep is not an insignificant issue for believers. It is of great value in your life, a gift from God (Psalm 127:2). David meditated on such good things during his waking hours that his heart spoke to him while he slept (Psalm 16:7).

Church reformer Martin Luther struggled with insomnia and fought what he considered Satanic attacks in the night:

When I go to bed, the Devil is always waiting for me. When he begins to plague me, I give him this answer: “Devil, I must sleep. That’s God’s command, ‘Work by day. Sleep by night.’ So go away.” If that doesn’t work and he brings out a catalog of sins, I say, “Yes, old fellow, I know all about it. And I know some more you have overlooked. Here are a few extra. Put them down.” If he still won’t quit and presses me hard and accuses me as a sinner, I scorn him and say, “St. Satan, pray for me. Of course you have never done anything wrong in your life. You alone are holy. Go to God and get grace for yourself. If you want to get me all straightened out, I say, ‘Physician, heal thyself.’”

Insomnia is not sin. It is hard and it is worth fighting (like Luther did), but there are bigger issues to face if you have ruled out clear physical issues. Here are some questions to answer that can help uncover some factors you may not have considered:

·       Do you think there is something you must have that has become an obsession? Even things that are good (relationships, possessions, jobs) become idols when you think you cannot have peace without them. Some depressed feelings (and sleeplessness) are just a byproduct of wrong goals and believing things that are not true.

·       Are you worried about something? Maybe you can’t sleep because you are worried about getting to sleep. Even if you are not a “nervous person,” the comforting words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 and of Paul in Philippians 4:1-8 bring peace.

·       Are you angry at someone or about something? Sometimes we try to hold back a flood with a broom when we should be shutting off some faucets. There is no rest when you think so highly of yourself that you see other people (or even God) as the obstacle to what you think you must have.

·       Are you viewing the hours you cannot sleep as a stewardship? If every moment is from God, then there are good ways to use those moments for God’s glory. God put Paul into sleeplessness (2 Corinthians 11:27) with a good design (2 Corinthians 12:10). He used insomnia to get important information across to Ahasuerus (Esther 6:1) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1).

·       Have you thanked God for keeping you awake? Maybe the trouble is not so much the lack of sleep as it is your attitude toward your lack of sleep. Rest is certainly a gift from God, but has God wronged you if He gave it to someone else and not you? Maybe your attitude should be like Job’s (Job 1:21).

If your soul finds rest in God alone, that rest is yours even if sleep is not. You can live a life that pleases Him and find joy even if you do not find sleep. If you have turned to Christ for His forgiveness, your identity is wrapped up in knowing your name is written in heaven rather than in having victory over insomnia and feelings of depression.

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  3  4  6  7  8  9  10

Overcoming Depression (Part Four): Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain

One set of symptoms with an immense number of possible causes is unexplained weight gain or loss. Have you gained or lost weight without trying? Unexplained changes in weight may signal a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

On the other hand, these physical symptoms can result from wrong thinking and behavior. Some people seek comfort from food or crave the control they gain by refusing to eat. In either direction, this pattern can become a habit that is hard to break and potentially dangerous to your health. If you rule out something physically wrong, you may need to ask yourself if you have a wrong view of your circumstances or food itself. Eating is a good thing to do for survival (Genesis 1:29; Acts 27:33-36; 1 Timothy 6:8), but eating is also a gift from God to be enjoyed (1 Timothy 4:3-4). You exist exclusively for His glory and He can be glorified by your eating habits (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Some people develop a discontent with the body they have been given. Do you have great shame over your physical appearance (too fat, too skinny, etc.)? It is not sinful to weigh “too much” or to weigh “too little.” It is commendable to plan seasons of fasting for the purpose of prayer, but is not sinful to enjoy daily meals. Certainly stewardship of the body is worth much effort, but your body should be your slave, not your master. Your biggest concern if you have lost or gained a bunch of weight without trying should be your health rather than your looks.

David’s soul found rest in God alone (Psalm 62:1) and that is where you should find yours. Our sin-sick souls naturally tend toward looking elsewhere for rest (food, chemicals, sex…). This is one reason why people who are not dealing biblically with life stress may experience weight change for no apparent reason.

Often elderly people stop eating regularly when they have lost sight of good reasons to live and enjoy life’s pleasures like eating. Younger people who have this symptom, in my experience, are more conscious in their choice not to eat. Not eating, like unforgiveness, can be a means of showing anger in ways that end up punishing their own bodies rather than the people at whom they are angry. 

When the prophet Elijah failed to do what God had already commissioned him to do (remember the “still, small voice” just told him to get back to work), God supplied him with a meal (1 Kings 19:5-8). He was overcome with self-pity and it affected his diet. God’s solution was threefold: physical stewardship, a vision of His majesty and a good dose of reality. 

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  3  5  6  7  8  9  10

Overcoming Depression (Part Three): Numbness

Many people describe themselves as living in an emotional vacuum. This is hard to define, but some say they simply go through the motions of life, failing to enjoy various forms of entertainment, family gatherings or even worship. They say they are numb to normal pleasures. This is in many ways the opposite of the previous symptom (prolonged sadness), but moving from one to the other provides no relief.

Is there anything in the Bible to address this? While you cannot find a specific command, “Thou shalt start feeling things,” Scripture gives us a bigger picture of redemption that transcends emotions or their absence.

For instance, this numbness could be the result of failing to see your “chief end” or primary purpose in life. While not all of us get caught in the numbness trap, all of us are prone to live life with a self-focus. If you are a follower of Christ, you were not saved so you could get your best life now. The higher call is what Paul told the Corinthians:

He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 2 Corinthians 5:15, NASB

Many people go to school or work every day because they know they will pay the consequences if they do not, but the work they do is done without a vision of any higher purpose than completing a day’s assignments. Redeemed sinners were redeemed in order that God would be glorified. The Lord prophesies the completion of His work and says through Isaiah,

Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. Isaiah 60:21, NASB

In other words, there is more at stake each day than keeping yourself out of trouble or getting good performance reviews.

Since you know why you were created, a second consideration is this: is it possible you are waiting to do what pleases God until you feel like it? Second Corinthians 5:9 speaks of your responsibility to please God while you are in your body. What does pleasing God look like for you right now? Feelings often become our Master when another was meant to rule. For instance, some married people split up because they no longer have loving feelings for each other. In this case they forget that love is something you do before it is something you feel. The answer is not to divorce but to start doing the loving thing (remember the way God told the prophet Hosea to treat his prodigal wife). Feelings follow thinking and acting.

Act in faith even when your faith is small. It is not the quality of your faith but the object of your faith that matters. A father who was terribly burdened by the hopelessness of his son’s demon possession confessed to Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). The Lord Jesus does not respond to those with great faith but properly placed faith.

      One more possibility to ponder: Have you created an idol of the way you think you ought to feel or of the way someone else feels? Were you created to be the life of the party? Maybe you are not so much lacking in emotion as you are lacking in the kind of emotion you see in others and wish you had. Manufacturing plastic emotions is much worse than missing out on emotions that someone else appears to have.

Ten articles in this series:

1  2  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Overcoming Depression (Part Two): Prolonged Sadness

Two people looking at the same summer day may either delight in the sunshine or complain that we need rain. Your view of “sun” (or the world in general) comes from the way your thinking has been conditioned. Likewise someone who sees man as primarily organic may see symptoms in an individual and interpret them very differently than a person with a biblical worldview. Proposed root causes and solutions will therefore greatly differ. The introductory article on this topic detailed the nine outward symptoms that can lead to a clinical depression diagnosis. Does the Bible say anything about these symptoms? The following entries will briefly consider all nine, seeking to use biblical language.

The first symptom of depression listed in the DSM IV is prolonged Sadness. Many people without explanation feel great sorrow for extended periods of time. Biblically you should know that it is not sinful to feel sad any more than it is sinful to feel giddy (although I confess I’ve never had someone seek counseling because they felt giddy).

Sorrow and joy should be put into their proper places. For instance, Jesus pronounced a blessedness on mourners[1]. Mourners are in a unique position to find God’s comfort. Solomon said it is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of feasting[2]. This is a world under the curse of sin, which leaves us plenty to grieve over. When you feel the weight of your own sin, sorrow is particularly healthy[3]. Even though we are commanded in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice in Lord, we are not commanded to feel happy (the context contrasts rejoicing in the flesh with rejoicing in the Lord). It is consistent with the commands of the Bible to feel grief over things explained or unexplained and still maintain the joy of the Lord.

Your conscience and your emotions are good because, like your nervous system, they alert you when something is not right[4]. Is it possible you are troubled because you are hiding from something you know you need to do? Someone who cries all the time does not have damaged emotions, but emotions that are doing what they were designed to do. It is a compassionate friend who asks you to carefully examine your life to make sure the sorrow is not simply the result of avoiding an unpleasant responsibility.

As in the opening illustration of two people interpreting the same day differently, new ways of thinking may change the way you feel[5]. One question to ask yourself is this: “Can I still live a productive life for Jesus and others if this bad feeling never goes away?” When you realize and embrace your chief end as bringing God glory and enjoying Him, hard times take on a new face. Knowing that the hardness you are enduring is not random but purposeful[6] will not make the feeling go away but it will point you to sufficient grace[7].

Ten articles in this series:

1  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

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[1] Matthew 5:4

[2] Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

[3] 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

[4] Genesis 3:6-10; Romans 2:14-16

[5] Philippians 4:8

[6] Romans 8:29

[7] 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Overcoming Depression: Hope for Those Stuck in the Slough of Despond (Part One)

“I feel absolutely nothing. I am numb. I don’t care about anything or anyone. I hate food, I hate my life and I hate myself.”

“There is no explanation for this. I cry all the time."

I have everything a person could ever want but I frequently feel as though someone I love has just died.”

“When I am in bed I lie awake worrying that I will not be able to sleep. When I am up I am listless and become paralyzed when I have to make decisions.”

These are composite statements from people who battle one of the most devastating emotional conditions known to man: depression. The name “depression” may not be the most descriptive term available, but “affective disorder,” “despondency,” “melancholia” and “the blues” do not do any better. This is the first in a short series of articles on this topic that will start with common symptoms and offer solutions from a biblical worldview.

Let me first say that you are not alone if you struggle this way. Second, you should know that while some people are able to overcome the feelings that accompany depression, the real hope available to you is bigger than making a feeling go away.

Depression in its various forms has plagued our race since sin entered the world. It is not a respecter of persons, affecting believers and unbelievers, men and women, old and young, rich and poor. Well-known people of the past and present who have battled depression include Martin Luther, William Cowper, Frederic Chopin, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Charles Spurgeon, Emily Dickinson, Winston Churchill, Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Betty Ford, John Denver, Kurt Cobain, Princess Diana, Rodney Dangerfield, Jim Carrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Terry Bradshaw.

Depression affects families, workplaces and even nations. The economic impact of depression in the United States is very large because of the number of people who take prescribed psychotropic drugs and who require hospitalization. Other economic factors include lost wages and lost job productivity. Those numbers are apparently increasing.

Treatments professionals offer for this diagnosis include antidepressant medication, alternative medicine (acupuncture, yoga, nutritional supplements), exercise and psychotherapy. Many people who have been taken down this road volunteer that these solutions offer temporary relief at best.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), a diagnosis of “clinical depression” may be obtained based on prolonged manifestation of at least five of the following symptoms (Qualification: the symptoms must upset your normal routine and do not follow a major life upset, use of drugs or an illness.):

1.   You feel sad most of the time.

2.   You are numb to normal pleasures.

3.   You have gained or lost weight without trying.

4.   You cannot sleep.

5.   You are nervous and distracted.

6.   You have no energy.

7.   You feel worthless.

8.   You cannot focus or make decisions.

9.   You have had thoughts of suicide.

After seeing this list you may ask, “Is there anyone who isn’t depressed?” Maybe that thought even got a rare smile out of you. This is my point. The trial (while admittedly on a wide range of severity) is common to man.

Several biblical characters who experienced some of the same symptoms of depression include Cain (Genesis 4:13-14), Job (Job 6:2-3, 14, 7:11), Hannah (1 Samuel 1:7, 16), Moses (Numbers 11:10-15), David (Psalm 32:3-4), Other psalmists (Psalm 42:1-3, 9; 88), Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-18), Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-4), Jonah (Jonah 4) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14-18; Lamentations 3:1-6).

Some might wonder what possible benefit there is in discussing a psychological analysis from those who leave little room for the God of the Bible. I do see the benefit and here is an illustration of it: Atheistic scientists probe creation from the subatomic level to deep space. Their work usually records accurate data even though their opinion of origins may differ from mine. For instance, anyone with clear vision can describe an amazing sunset. Those with the eyes of faith use that description to glorify the one who created color, created human eyes to see it and created hearts to delight in it.

So if you feel horrible pain when you touch a hot pan you know you nerves are working. If you are crying all the time at least you know your emotions are working. But what to do? The next articles will seek to provide biblical names for these symptoms and suggest responses that honor God.

Ten articles in this series:

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