Depression – 15 July 2009

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God. Psalm 42:5 [NIV]

Depression is something a lot of us face from time to time; I’m not talking about clinical depression, but the downcast spirit that the Psalmist talks about. Depression can be a complex problem – what I’ve written below isn’t comprehensive, just some things that I’ve come across.

Scott Peck starts his book The Road Less Travelled by saying “Life is difficult. This is the great truth, one of the greatest truths—it is a great truth because once we see this truth, we transcend it.” Jesus said something similar, but even more revealing about life, in John 16:33b:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Sometimes unrealistic expectations are perpetuated by society: “work hard Johnny, pass your exams, and everything will be ok.” What happens when we do our best, but don’t make the grade? What do we do when we get our qualification, but there is no job? When we fail, or society’s assumptions and structures fail, it is not surprising we get depressed. I once heard someone say “We’ve been educated for depression”.

Facing up to the reality of situations is important. We must not pretend as Christians we are immune from life’s difficulties. On the contrary, Christ says trouble is part of this life.

The reality is that Christ has overcome sin and death, (the worst things we could face), so we can have hope. Depression often comes about because of loss. Scott Peck points out that depression can be a positive sign that you’re facing up to the reality of your loss, and working through it.

As the psalmist recognises, putting our hope in God is key to overcoming depression.

Consider again today what a rich and powerful hope we have in Christ. Thank Jesus that he has overcome the world.