It was a warm spring day, but all I felt was a cold, damp, and empty heart. There was nothing inherently wrong with me, but everything inside me shook. I couldn’t shake the negative thoughts. Overwhelming darkness. A feeling of fatigue that permeates to the marrow of my bones. Have you been here? Are you fighting darkness with light, but still feeling spiritually depleted?
For many Christians, depression is a silent battle. They wonder why they don’t have “the joy of the Lord” and feel misunderstood by many around them. Not only that, we begin to believe lies such as:
“If my faith had been stronger, I wouldn’t have felt this way.” “If I had just stopped being lazy, I wouldn’t have been so depressed.” “I must not trust God enough.” “If I were a real Christian, I wouldn’t be suffering so much.” “I just have to suck it up. There are probably worse people out there.”
The reality is that you are ashamed of your depression, but God is not ashamed of you. Depression doesn’t mean your faith is weak, it just means you are a human being living in a fallen world.
When we are spiritually and emotionally exhausted, it can feel impossible to find the light. But knowing we are not alone can bring hope to these dark places.
Can Christians get depressed too?
This may seem like an obvious question, but Christians absolutely can get depressed. From clinical depression to seasonal depression, we are not imagining a world broken and flawed by physical and mental health disorders. Christians are not immune to suffering. In fact, Jesus said we would face many difficulties. But in a world that often denies this reality, it can certainly feel that way.
When we look at the Bible, many of our ancestors of faith suffered emotionally and spiritually. Although David wrote many psalms of despair and was known as a man who followed God’s will, he often wished to give up on life completely. Elijah was a great overcomer, but in 1 Kings 19 he was so tired that he wanted to die. Job lost everything, and though he never cursed God, he cursed the day he was born, wishing he had never had breath in his lungs.
Dear friends, depression is not new, nor is it a spiritual failure, but it is a very real, lonely, and painful battle that many of us face on this planet. For many people, depression feels like emotional numbness, loss of joy, fatigue, distance from God, and thoughts of hopelessness. For others, it is overwhelming apathy and deep darkness, a black cloud that follows them wherever they go.
Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest clergymen of the mid-18th century, described depression this way:
“The spirit can descend much lower than the body, because there is a bottomless pit. The body can only bear a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can bleed in ten thousand ways and die over and over again every hour” (Spurgeon’s Sorrows, 16).
Harmful myths about depression that Christians hear
As your emotions grow, so do the beliefs and myths you hear about depression. “You just need to pray more” is a common saying, but it does nothing to help those who are truly suffering. Prayer is incredibly powerful, but it is no substitute for support.
When people say, “Real Christians should have joy,” it’s true in a sense. But do we really love like Jesus when it comes to those suffering from depression?
Moreover, Biblical joy is deeper than emotional well-being. Jesus tells us to mourn with those who mourn and to rejoice with those who rejoice. The God who created us created us with a wide range of emotions, not just positive or “happy” emotions.
Finally, if you’ve ever been told that “taking drugs means you don’t trust God,” I want you to know that that is a straight lie from the devil himself. If God used mud, spit, figs, and tears in the Bible, who are we to define how God would use modern medicine? Luke was a doctor after all!
Sometimes God heals miraculously, but other times He invites us to tap into the rich gifts and resources He has already given us. Mental health is just as important as physical health, so if it’s okay to take medication for diabetes or thyroid, it’s certainly okay to take medication for your mind.
The Bible shows us that when we are suffering, including depression, God meets us in despair, not immediately afterward. We are invited to fully share those feelings with God (like David did in the Psalms) and know that our pain does not make us “less than.”
Practical ways to find support when you’re feeling down
If you are currently battling depression, I want you to know that you are not alone. Your feelings are valid. I am so sorry that this has become a thorn in your flesh. I also want to show you hope. Here are four small ways to find support when you’re feeling down.
Talk to someone safe – Having someone you can trust is important for your recovery. It could be a friend, family member, counselor, pastor, etc. The important thing is that you be honest and talk openly about what you’re going through. Consider professional help. I think that’s scary. It took me years to go to counseling and even more years to take medication for my mental health. But you won’t know until you try. Instead of thinking, “What can go wrong?”, ask, “What can go right?” Get recommendations from people you trust and use websites like Psychology Today and BetterHelp to filter help based on your preferences. Take care of your body – It may sound simple, but we must remember to take care of our bodies. Just as it is important to take care of your heart, it is also important to take care of your temple. Remember to eat healthy, colorful food, drink plenty of water, and move in small, gentle ways. Even just a five-minute walk can do wonders for your mind and heart. Stay connected to small spiritual rhythms – Even if you can only read a few verses (or one) of the Bible, it’s important. Talk to God throughout the day and remember that He sees you where you are. You don’t have to spend X number of hours on the Bible or beat yourself up because you feel depressed. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is close to the brokenhearted and cares for you.
If you feel far from God today, know that God will never abandon His people in darkness. Although it may feel that way, faith can and does exist even when emotions disappear. Healing is often slow, but it can come as we seek the Lord, reach out to others, and learn to take care of ourselves. Depression can make you feel alone, but God has never left your story.
Folks, depression may be your present, but it doesn’t always mean it’s in your future. Healing can and will come, here on earth and in heaven.
If you need immediate help with depression or suicidal thoughts, reach our crisis hotline by texting 9-8-8, calling 9-1-1, or texting HOME or HOLA to 741741 to reach a volunteer crisis counselor. These resources are free, 24/7, and confidential.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up, Amber looked for resources on faith and mental health, but couldn’t find anything. Now, she gives hope to young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond just reading the Bible and praying more. Because even though we love Jesus, we can still be plagued by anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help you navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
