why do so many Christains struggle with depression ?

I think it's just the ups and downs of life.

There are instances when the enemy of our souls is oppressing us, but most often it is just life's ups and downs like Annabel Lee said.  Even non Christians go through tough times.  Being a Christian is no guarantee that hard times will not come but that there will be grace to see us through them.

Today at 07:31 PM Didymus said this in Post #4

then why do we seem to be more depressed then unsaved people ? i know Jesus never said that i wouldn t have problems.

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I don't think that Christians are more depressed than unsaved people; I know I am happier now than when I was unsaved even though I have had my share of trials.  Some of the things I have gone through in the last couple of years would have probably destroyed me had I not been saved, but God's grace has seen me through and given me reason to look foward instead of back.

We're human.

Being a Christian does not make us exempt from troubles and depression. Let's face it; everyone is depressed at some time or another. Even Jesus was depressed and had anxiety before going to the cross.

Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Don't let anyone tell that your depression is not real or that if you just had enough faith you wouldn't have it. Although some depression is because of sin not all is. The causes of depression can be physical,  psychological and/or spiritual. If we can find the cause of the problem, there is a good chance of being able deal with it or remove it entirely. 

The worst thing we can do is to isolate ourself and close ourself in darkness. The devil wants to isolate us.  He can bring us down to the very bottom when we do not have contact with other Christians to encourage and pray for us.  We must ask them to pray with us so that we are encouraged.  This is why we need to 'post' our 'feelings'...

Merely treating our symptoms with pills and or alcohol may bring some temporary relief, but recognizing the cause could help bring about a more permanent solution.

Some depression is the result of anger turned inwards.  When we humans 'feel' we have 'lost control' of things that are going on around us...we tend to become 'angry', 'frustrated', and 'depressed'. 

Depression can also be caused by thinking negatively.  I don't 'have', I 'need', I 'want', I 'wish'... and we all get caught up in this from time to time.

Sometimes God will use our loneliness for us to reach out to Him. So sometimes loneliness can be a good thing.

We need to learn from our depression, and when we have come out of it God will be able to use us to minister to others. We can't understand depression until we have been there. We need to let it produce love in our heart for others instead of bitterness and an uncaring attitude. Would you turn your back on someone with diabetes or cancer? Depression and mental illness is just the same!

 

I would echo everyword of Standingby's post

As Christians we have the advantage of having God with us and protecting us in our depression.

Thank You Lord

Love Laura

I wold like to answer from a slightly different viewpoint.

Why so many Christians have depression?

One can look at it like this. Many of us aren't good at this thing called 'balance' and to live a powerful Christian life is to balance between God's truth and God's grace.

Ppl who emphasise too much on God's truth (forgetting His grace) can become over legalistic. ,..living life full of DOs and DONTs...
hence this can make them unhappy when they are not able to follow all the DOs and DONTs.. you get down on yourself. On the other hand...when you see others not living according to your DOs and DONTs.. you feel frustrated...because you are indirectly trying to 'control' other ppl to act as you do. This can be a source of depression.

Now, over emphasis of God's grace..llove. You think you have to be Mr/Ms Nice 24/7. Because of this, you forget that Jesus asks us to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. You forget that Jesus said not to cast your pearls to swines. You forget that Jesus said 'be careful when all men speak well of you'. Some Christians think that to be a good Christian you have to be Nice and ppl have to like you. So this can make the Christian quite depressed...as the world will definitely swallow a 'nice person'!

I hope this shed some light. I write from my experience.

Good post Iffy.

I don't know why depression is so high among the family of believers. I do know this though: We long for heaven, Earth as we know it is nothing in comparison. So let us remember the promise of our Father in heaven. One day he will come for us, and we will be with him forevermore !!!!

I don't think that depression is any mroe common among Christians as it is among athiests. It is just that we have conditioned ourselves to feel "guilty" about it as "we should be the happiest people in the world". Much depression (mine included) is nothing to do with life or to do with your attitudes, it is to do with being ill, in the same way that if I diabetes it would not be my fault and that my attitude could not fix that, I cannot change the fact that i have depression.

I can perhaps help myself with my attitude towards that illness, but it will still be there, it si becasue my body cannot prodice the right chemicals in the same way that a diabetic does nto prodice the right amount of insulin.

Jay

2nd April 2003 at 01:11 PM Susan said this in Post #10

Good post Iffy.

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I agree. And cool avatar Susan

We Christians are targeted extra hard by the evil one are we not?  Could that be why many Christians struggle extra hard with depression?

I think so anyhow.  It's important to not forget that we are in a spiritual battle everyday of our lives.

 

 

2nd April 2003 at 06:01 AM Iffy said this in Post #9

I wold like to answer from a slightly different viewpoint.

Why so many Christians have depression?

One can look at it like this. Many of us aren't good at this thing called 'balance' and to live a powerful Christian life is to balance between God's truth and God's grace.

Ppl who emphasise too much on God's truth (forgetting His grace) can become over legalistic. ,..living life full of DOs and DONTs...
hence this can make them unhappy when they are not able to follow all the DOs and DONTs.. you get down on yourself. On the other hand...when you see others not living according to your DOs and DONTs.. you feel frustrated...because you are indirectly trying to 'control' other ppl to act as you do. This can be a source of depression.

Now, over emphasis of God's grace..llove. You think you have to be Mr/Ms Nice 24/7. Because of this, you forget that Jesus asks us to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. You forget that Jesus said not to cast your pearls to swines. You forget that Jesus said 'be careful when all men speak well of you'. Some Christians think that to be a good Christian you have to be Nice and ppl have to like you. So this can make the Christian quite depressed...as the world will definitely swallow a 'nice person'!

I hope this shed some light. I write from my experience.

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Ecclesiastes 7:16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? 17On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either—don’t be a fool! Why should you die before your time? 18So try to walk a middle course—but those who fear God will succeed either way.

Excellent post Iffy.  It's all about balance.

4th April 2003 at 09:23 AM OneFish said this in Post #14

We Christians are targeted extra hard by the evil one are we not?  Could that be why many Christians struggle extra hard with depression?

I think so anyhow.  It's important to not forget that we are in a spiritual battle everyday of our lives.

 

 

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I believe this to be true.  Sometimes when I go into "battle mode" and I am guided by the Holy Spirit to pray for a person that is depressed what I hear is a bunch of lies that are being told to the individual.  I think that satan just waits till we are weakest to set up these attacks.  If the person is tired, lonely or having a rough go of it they are even more vulnerable.  This is when you need the Promises of God to fight back.  Sometimes your just to depressed to even do that.  I also find it true with myself to go and do anything to keep myself from being sucked into the black hole.  I'm not an expert on depression but I know there is depressions that have nothing to do with how much or little faith we have.  It certainly isn't something to be ashamed of.

This is going to be long, but I want to provide some explanation as well as some hope for people who read this...

Christians are no more depressed than anyone else as a group. However, you have to understand what causes some symptoms of depression. You also have to realize something else. You can never "perceive" whether or not another person is depressed...many hide their symptoms behind work, family, job, drink, drugs, every location they can find. ONLY Christians have the true solution for depression...the one Hope. God's Promise.

Depression can be caused by many things, including, as jayemcintyre mentioned, physical reasons. However, Christians are possibly the only group that can fully heal themselves of this illness. However, I must also say this...the devil does NOT want you to break free. He wants you to be cold, lonely, hurt, afraid and alone...so anything that takes you down that path, stay away from. I bring you a Message of Hope, that was created for you by the Most High. Do not be decieved...God has provided for you a way out of your pain...

One reason for depression is overwhelming guilt and burden of sin. If we have been drug down into the depths by sin, our inner self (with the Holy Spirit as pilot) is struggling with our earthly self for control. The represents a tremendous battle which can often be openly visible as depression. How do we overcome that? By opening up to others and to God. Don't hide it. Rebuke your fear of embarrassment, pain or guilt. Open yourself up...admit to God and others in Christ your sin, your pain, your guilt. You KNOW God is there to welcome you with open arms, other Christians are there as well, why fight it? Why bear that pain? "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry". (Colossians 3:5).

Depression is often a result of our feelings that something is impossible for us. "My life will never amount to anything!" "My spouse will never love me again." "I'll never be able to conquer this depression". This is a fatalistic attitude, and one which Jesus expressly says to leave behind... "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." (John 14:1). We fail to trust that God can put things right. We are hypocrites...we say in Sunday School "God can do anything", yet in our hearts we do not truly believe.

This is why faith is so often spoken of in the Bible...when you have a loss of faith, you have a loss of the power of God. Why does Jesus say "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done." (Matthew 21:21) THROW YOURSELF INTO THE SEA! Can you imagine that? Then how infinitely small our faith must be that we can not even believe in the promises of God.

And it was God's promise..."No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will NOT let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13). That's God's promise! We will never be afflicted beyond what we can bear! All we have to do is have faith in that promise, and even when you feel that your faith is at an end, ask God. He will provide that small grain to pull yourself up by your bootstrap. How do I know all this? I have been there and done just that.

I think many people are ready to give up, to say to themselves "I am resigned that I will not be happy, that I will not be whole, that my life will not be wonderful." That is NOT what God has promised us!!! Do NOT believe the lies of the Mask of the Great Deceiver! Do you want to believe that, or believe what God has promised you? "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives (with faithlessness and deception). Do NOT let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27)

Throw off that yoke of sin, deception and pain. Cast it down and stomp on it. You were not born to a new beginning to be sad, unhappy and depressed. That is what the Evil One wants you to believe. He is WRONG. He is a deceiver! You were Born Again to bring a higher glory to God, and in your depression, how can you do that?

Why have I said all this to you? Because the Lord has told me that some of you needed to hear this, and because I have been there in the darkness, cold and anxious and depressed. And the Lord told me to tell you that "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!" (John 16:33) PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY IN THE HIGHEST! AMEN!

God has also provided the means for you to take your steps out of the darkness. When you begin to feel down, to have thoughts of failure, depression, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness..you have several means available to you.

Prayer. Pray to God. Give thanks that he is good, that you are alive, and that you are afflicted so that you can learn this lesson to teach others (as I am doing). "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7). In other words, you do have things to be thankful for...think on those and give thanks to God for them! Give thanks and praise to God that in your affliction he is guiding you and teaching you.

Reach out to your Christian brothers and sisters. We are here for you. That is what is meant by the Body of the Church. Can the hand help assist the leg with staunching the flow of blood? Of course it can! Therefore, ask your brothers and sisters to help you! Do NOT listen to Satan telling you to say "I don't want others to know I feel this way". "Others think I am strong, so I must not show I am weak". These are LIES! Do you really want healing? Or do you want to live in pain and misery? We, your true brothers and sisters in Christ, are here for your pain. Do not turn us away, as God intended that we would be there for you.

Work on your faith. Remember to pray. Daily. Hourly. If you are hurting, you should be praying (even if you are not hurting, you should be praying, but you can learn that one hopefully). When you have an infection, you are given antibiotics and told to take them all, to not lapse in your medication. The reason is that if the infection is not put under constant pressure, it can spread and grow again. This is no different. Apply the pressure of God to your wound. Give it constant attention. Do not stop, do not feel a little better and then desist. PERSIST until your wound is healed. When your faith is strong, you WILL move mountains. The devil fears that.

I ask God to bless those of you who are afflicted with anxiety and depression and are reading this. I give you a message of hope, I ask only that you work to apply it to your life and be free, and then tell others what you have accomplished.

Hi Knightcross,
I find your words of wisdom quite hard to dijest in fact alot of what you say may be true.

But, have you ever suffered from depression, real severe depression and anxiety that is so bad that you suffer a nervous breakdown and end up in a psychiatric hospital for weeks and weeks? In all my depression lasted for 13 years and yes some of it was caused by my past and that had to be dealt with. In the end they found a mix of two medications that was all that relieved it a little. I am a Christian and I believe God was with me throughout my my illness, for that is what depression is and I don't think he would have wanted me to suffer more in favour of drugs the same as denying a person with cancer or any other serious illness drugs. My fath was tested greatly going through depression and the devil interferred but I feel very strongly about the way some Christians treat those who are depressed. For a start off I would not have been able to take what you say in - people who are suicidal or severly depressed need love and kind words and reminding that God is with them in their pain. I like to think this is what Jesus would have done. Out of all those who tried to help me the ones who did the most harm were Christians. No doubt we will have to agree to disagree on this one but I just don't feel I can remain silent.

Laura

Hello, Laura!

I am not speaking to those whos struggles are beyond the realms of mental healing. I have been in the throes of mental anguish, but not to the extent that you have. I do acknowledge that for some, the help of the Lord may be with medicine to deal with the effects.

No, my entire dialogue is more for those who are dealing with emotional struggles, although much of what I have said is true for everyone. Faith in the Lord is wonderful, and I don't have enough of it.

I also issue challenge to some who are like to suggest medicine before the Lord. It may initially curb the symptoms but could cause worst problems later. You must FIND your problems first, then work on their solution...dulling the symptoms does nothing for rooting out the source of the affliction, and that is the only way to heal.

I will try an illustration for what I am talking about. If you step on a thorn, and it goes very deep in your foot, it is quite likely that it will get infected. You know you have a thorn in there, but are wroth to remove it as you know it will be quite painful. So, you daily dose it with alcohaul, which makes it feel better and keeps the infection down, but never removes the source of the problem. I feel that is where many people, Christians included, are at...it's easier to dull the pain than remove the source. In the end, we may find that the thorn has damaged our bone to the point that it will need medication for the rest of our life...but that's ok. At least you removed the thorn.

No matter what our situation, sooner or later we have to ask the Lord to show us the good that we can provide because of our affliction. If I asked the Lord for healing but talked to no one about it or what the Lord has done for me, what have I done for the Glory of Heaven? How have I used my suffering for the betterment and benefit of others and for the Throne of Grace?

Bless you, Laura, and I pray that you continue to heal in the arms of the Lord. No, I would be uncouth to callously say that all who were depressed could help themselves.

God Bless!

Thanks Knightcross for your reply and understanding. Yes I did remove my thorn with the Lord's help but it took a long time and much pain, and yes the drugs. The drugs do cause other problems as I am finding now to my cost and I don't think we should just rush into taking pills I resisted for a long time.

God Bless You,
Laura