Depression: why do we have it?

[RayTX]

Why do so many of us Christians have Depression? And why is there so much of it??
Ya know, some people think we are out of touch with God's will and it is punishment.....
Your thoughts...

 

[HannahBanana]

Well, it's not just you Christians that have depression, so it's not "God's will." (Unless for some reason your god pays attention to those who will never believe in him, that is...) Actually, depression has been scientifically proven to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. So, unless you want to ignore proven scientific fact, I wouldn't blame it on God.

 

[RayTX]

Thanks fof your insight. I have heard from some believers that IF they were in God's will, then they would have no reason to be depressed.

 

[junezephyr]

I believe that God can use depression to call our attention back to Him. We can use it as an opportunity to strengthen our faith. It's also true that it can be caused by chemical imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, external factors, etc. It's really of many varied sources.

 

[UnitynLove]

and will make everything for was for your harm Good. I will pray for you.

 

[zefora]

Well, I've been depressed since I was 14 (it has been diagnosed by a doctor).... And in my opinion I chose it AND I didn't... Haha, complicated... But I have it in my family and I do take medication for the chemical inbalance that I have in my brain that IS causing it more.. But I know deep inside, that I don't have any reason to be depressed -and I don't feel depressed when I am in the presence of God -praying, worshiping, singing to Him, etc... He IS the only good medication for it.. In my own experience and opinion.

But you can't help who you are, and I am depressed. And small things get me depressed..

 

[Silver-winged Flyer]

I've wondered that too sometimes. We're all supposed to have joy so did we miss the boat somewhere along the line?
There are so many reasons why people are depressed so I don't really think that not being in God's will causes it.

 

[blankgirl]

for me, i guess depression humbled me and made me learn the true meaning of misery. also depression has made me more compassionate as a person, allowing me to empathise with the suffering of others, be it physical or emotional.

 

[AWorkInProgress]

I gone thru various stages of depression all thru my life. I can write essays on it, but I will spare you.

I come to the conclussion that all sins jump all over us trying to bring us down.

Depression feeds off of mentally and spiritually weak people. It's seductive and deceitful, but as we all know it leads to death.

Pride and fear put their hands over my mouth when I really needed to cry for help.

Thank god I found lighthouses who talked about how all of us are so capable of doing so much more. Making cases how god fearing men helped create a country founding on god given rights. Other lighthouses shared their pain and how they found salvation.

Depression is an enemy, it is meant to take salvation from you. Don't let it, for I just descovered what it feels like to be free and it is awesome feeling.

This is all my opinion based on my experiences.

 

[Jessica Lauren]

I was extremely depressed for 5 1/2 years. I lived through the pain and it was not a chemical imbalance for me. It can be, but not for all. After these five years I finally found God again, prayed, and got my life together. Now I think back on all of the pain and I am so thankful I never did anything stupid, because my future will be so amazing. But anyway, its not just Christian's that are depressed, but those that let God out of their hearts do end up down that path.

 

[cyd7]

Hey my first post!

I had depression after having a stalker and losing my job. But legal action took care of that. Anyway, the depression lingered. What started as discouragement took over and became depression. I could not speak for days. For 3 months I was not myself. I started on medication but that made me suicidal. So, I started doing some research in the medical journals on natural methods. I can't possibly share everything I learned in this one post.

The point is I got through it. I wrote an article on this very topic of the christian and depression but I don't think I'm allowed to post the link.

So, here's just a sampling...


"Are there any examples of depressed believers in the Bible?"

“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” (Proverbs 18:14 NLT)

The Bible shows there can be a relationship between a godly person and depression.

Consider these people…

• Abraham (Genesis 15)
• Jonah (Jonah 4)
• Job (Book of Job)
• Elijah (1 Kings 19)

• King Saul (I Samuel 16:14-23, etc.) Saul was Israel’s first king. ‘Saul stood a head taller than any man in Israel.' He had broad shoulders, he had a strong constitution, he was a fearsome warrior, and he was a respected king. But still he was chronically depressed. His ego overgrew and he became disobedient to God, and so was informed by God’s prophet that the kingdom would be taken away from him. We are told that “The Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.” (1 Samuel 16:14). God allowed Saul to reap the mental consequences of his disobedience. The king was given to fits of prolonged depression and repeatedly attempted to kill David (cf. 18:9ff). Finally, he took his own life!


• Jeremiah (Book of Jeremiah)
• David (Psalms 6, 13, 18, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 37-40, 42-43, 46, 51, 55, 62-63, 69, 71, 73, 77, 84, 86, 90-91, 94-95, 103-104, 107, 110, 116, 118, 121, 123-124, 130, 138, 139, 141-143, 146-147)
• Judas was also a man so deep in depression due to his betrayal of the Son of God that he committed suicide (Matthew 27:3-5).
• Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, because of the ill-treatment of evil Israel, slipped into depression and cursed the very day of his birth (Jeremiah 20:14ff). But he too was able to overcome that depth of grief.

If you're interested in the full article, feel free to email me.

The point is all people can suffer from a deep depression. I never turned my back on God but I sure did call out to him and question him. On the other side of the hole, I see how grace brought me through.

Peace.
​

 

[Everlasting33]

Hereditary and environment may encourage depression to grow but I believe it is our own doing that maintains the depression. By maintaining I mean giving into and believing irrational beliefs ( im so ugly, stupid or worthless) that magnify depression.
Depression is a very painful mental illness that needs constant accountability and care.

 

[spoiltbrat2003]

Why do so many of us Christians have Depression? And why is there so much of it??
Ya know, some people think we are out of touch with God's will and it is punishment.....
Your thoughts...

It probably is, I just try and think of it just as people get colds or flu sometimes the head becomes poorly too, I like to think that way this way I can pretend life will be fine once I am better (which I am, well sorta)

Not everyone thinks this though-I have heard so many different versions of what other people think I SHOULD DO and what other people think I HAVE and why I HAVE IT.
But they don't know what its like to live like this, If its a punishment from God then its a pretty sadistic one I would rather have broken a bone personally
Oh well maybe one day I will find out, I have taken it up with the boss just waiting for my answer any day now

 

[Taylor43]

I have no idea why we have to go through depression. I do know God does not punish anyone for having depression. God does not punish those with Cancer or diabetes. It may at times seem like a punishment and for me i too feel that way. I just know we live in a world full of sin/bad stuff going around us or life is not going well. Losing one to Death or job loss can cause depression and God does deeply care for all the broken hearted and never are we being punished.

Depression is no ones fault or God. We live in a world of brokeness and the Chemistry in our bodies are different so for me i am guessing that your past, how you where taught to handle your emotions if it was not good well i can undestand depression to be likely. Our bodies can only handle so much and I have to believe it is not a punishment but to not deny it but be real and know no matter what we go through we are a child of God.

 

[soyness]

I have also struggled with depression since my teens, and I have to say that some people are more prone to it than others, whether they'd be christian or not. Some may call it spiritual warfare.