I would like to start this out by asking this question can a believer be depressed. Absolutely.
There are different kinds of depression but the one I want to talk about is Clinical depression or Dysthymia. Dysthymia is a chemical imbalance to the brain.
Now there are many who suffer from it I am sure. I suffer from it and I have a mentor that suffers from it and I believe my youngest son suffers from it.
This is a real problem that plagues those who suffer from it. What it does it causes one to mentally crash full of anxiety and we who suffer from it tend to have our own pity parties. We get angry over nothing and we moan and groan over things that we cannot do anything about.
Some might say, “But when you become a Christian you are completely healed.” That is furthest from the truth. Truth is Believers such as myself are depressed. In fact Bible Characters were depressed to. Remember Elijah for example? Great man of God scorned the prophets of Baal and showed them what God can really do yet after words he sat under a tree in a shade after all that mighty victory God had given him and whined. He felt sorry for Himself. Poor little Elijah was depressed and afraid of the ruler forgetting that God was in control. So God had to tell him about all the other people that served God after Elijah claimed he was the only one.
You wonder why I have not started out with scripture but I will put at least one well known scripture in here. David another example after sinning was depressed in fact he lamented over the death of his son Absalom. Even though Absalom was a scoundrel and deserved what He got. David was depressed over his demise yet David was a man after Gods own heart.
Let us now discuss characters in the New Testament. Paul formerly named Saul was on the road to Damascus, in order to persecute Christians. Well we know what happened when Saul met Jesus on that road. Now named Paul he asked The LORD to take a thorn in the flesh from him three times and The LORD said no.
Paul moaned over the fact that the things he wanted to do he did not do and the things he knew he should not do he did. He was depressed but he knew how to overcome that depression. It was through Jesus Christ.
Now we get to today’s Christian. We are depressed for different reasons. Yes we need help. We get help through Psychiatrists who prescribe medicine but most importantly we have an advocate with the Father above through Jesus Christ we can turn too every time our depression strikes. In other words we have someone to go to talk to.
We as believers have Jesus and He never leaves us or forsakes us and we are told throughout scripture not to be afraid. In other words depressed. If we cling to Jesus we will pull through our bouts of clinical depression. Does that mean if we ask Jesus to take the depression from us He will? Maybe. But be prepared to get the answer of wait or no.
Everything must bring glory to God the Fathers name. Then for our good. I will leave in parting a few scriptures for we who are depressed. Remember one thing there is no shame in depression. Our kind of depression is medical and sometimes Jesus heals us, sometimes he does not. But He always gives us a way out. Could be medicine, could be counseling.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Philippians 4:6-8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Just a few verses to help with those of us in depression. May the LORD Jesus Christ Guide us in all our ways. God bless.