Depression feels like a barrier between God & me

Due to the my depression, I find myself lacking in Bible study and often I delay it rather than reading the Holy Bible daily like I should be. The longer I delay it, the farther away I feel from God. But I just don't have the motivation to get reading - has anyone else got the same problem? And has anyone got some motivational advice they can offer me?

I feel the same way. I would love to hear others' advice on this...

I deal with depression. We have lethargy for doing things like cleaning the house and taken good care of ourselves. Sometimes it is good just to rest in the Lord, in His embrace. I might lay down on my sofa, close my eyes and talk slowly to the Lord in my own words and listen. Than talk and listen again and again. Or it might pray as a mantra "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me". Sometimes I pray that prayer praying to get things done that I resist doing and that are good to do. For instance like cleaning the house, making a healthy meal, exercising or in your case opening the Holy Book. I pray this incessantly and while praying I do these things. God gives me the energy and impetus to do these things for Him as I lean on Him for support and strength. My depression draws me closer to God. I may close my eyes and envision holding His hands on a park bench, just Him and I and the birds and trees. Or I allow myself a long hug from Him and can see a tear roll down His eyes for my suffering draws out His compassion for His precious one who is suffering. Just because we don't study scripture at this time that is not a wall between us. We can rest in Him and reach out and accept His compassion. And do things slowly and prayerfully without any anxiousness about getting them done we do them in Him slowly as a little child making baby steps. We build our relationship slowly and simply.

Something I have found useful is using an audio Bible - you can download one free online pretty easily, and put it onto a phone or mp3 player.

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I suffer from this as well but I don't let it stand in the way between me and God any longer. For I know I can't trust my feelings to say it rightly. I know The Truth so there is no need to feel that God is far away because I'm sick, the opposite is true, God is close by to help me through my troubles.

One thing I have found really helpful is to listen to The Word through song, The Sons of Korah for example have put scores of psalms to song I find this very helpful.

Or audio tapes in general are helpful as well.

All the best with this.

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I think you've got advice so far. I'd definitely try an audio bible if I were you and I think Jeshu's idea of listening to scriptures to music is a great idea.

I just wanted to add that you shouldn't feel condemnation over not spending a certain amount of time reading God's Word. I read an interesting quote the other day that went something like this:

It is not Father, Son, and Holy Bible; it’s the Holy Spirit. The Bible reveals God, but is itself not God. It does not contain Him. God is bigger than His book.

He's not diminishing the importance of spending time in God's Word. That's vital for our spiritual growth, but the quote made me think that sometimes we can be so legalistic about reading the Bible that we're worshiping the knowledge and not the One who gives it, and then when we don't read it we feel all this guilt and condemnation. I think the enemy really loves to bring condemnation in this area...and we begin to believe that God will only bless us if we spend x amount of time reading the Bible every day, as if the act of reading His Word magically makes us gain His favor. That isn't how God works.

I guess all of that is to say, yes, you should be spending time in God's Word because it's spiritual food and important, but at the same time, when you have days where you don't read the Bible don't let guilt and shame set in, because at the center of God's story is Jesus, who daily gives grace to those who fail.

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I second (or third?) using an audio Bible. If you don't have an MP3 player, you can still listen to the Bible at sites like BlueLetterBible.org or ESVBible.org. I try to read along while listening to the audio, but sometimes all I can do is shut my eyes and listen. It's a good, easy way to stay in touch.

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What's the Word say?

Depression feels like a barrier between God & me

I think you hit the nail on the head. That's just what it is and why you need to have it treated if its clinical and fight it with everything you have in your arsenal. FORGE3 has a different take-I just can't get my mind around, but he seems to have taken what was meant for bad & turned it into good.Maybe that can work for you.

But I'm a pretty Happy Camper and I say:

All I know is for me you get busy you get better. We were designed to move and be productive-that does not mean we don't need rest ore to slow down and enjoy the view, but I believe God wants all His children to enjoy the journey. This life is about Joy. We are to enjoy it not suffer through it and merely survive to get to the other side.

I'd rather be happy..

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If you can't be a good example,
then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.


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Yes being gentle and caring for oneself and reaching out for therapeutic help.