Sometimes, I feel like it's just good for us to be sad. Not the end-all-life-sucking-depression kind of sadness, but going through tough times is actually beneficial.

I'm sure you've heard a version of the quote, "how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Cliché, but those are some good words. Having those nights when you're doubled over, bawling your eyes out for hours because a close friend just died, for some reason, I think is good for us. Even when your pain from that death looms over you for months and years... how sweet is that? Even then, when this death is followed by a string of deaths of loved ones. (This is probably getting a little morbid but trust me, that was unintentional.) Yes, it is tragic. Yes, it is undesirable. But God has a plan, doesn't He?

Next time, try to stop and think mid-sob about how fortunate you were to have something that meant so much to you. "All good things must come to an end." Yeah, that one hurts. I'm pretty sure we all hope that one doesn't actually happen. But in reality, life is a bunch of really high ups and really low downs. Unfortunately, a lot of our character is developed through hard times. And the hard times make us appreciate the good.

If you've ever come out of a bout of sadness and just felt so good, you know it's the best feeling ever. Why not have some hard, but rewarding days where all you do is cry and think sad thoughts and eat sadness foods? Because you know that won't be your "everyday;" it's only temporary. However, "temporary" is all relative. For some people, depression is a content presence. But if anything, there will be no more sadness in heaven. Thank God for that.

1 Peter 4:12-13

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

James 1:12

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

That's another thing. Your heart. The human heart is such a strong and resilient muscle that can withstand so much pain, yet, is never completely or infinitely damaged (I'm talking figuratively, here). It can continually get ripped apart by hurt, yet the next day, it will somehow find a glimmer of happiness. Yeah, there are some things that will never leave us, like watching a person you love walk out of your life, or the betrayal of someone close, or a death, or a deep depression... but hearts can heal. For the most part, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. (I really like clichés.) Most of the time, those seemingly life-destroying events happen to be blips on our screen of life. Phases of sadness that yes, impact our life from that point on, but they do not consume us. They do not end our life or crush every happy thing we've ever believed in.

How sweet is it to know that all your sad stuff, can be put on God? All your worries and break-ups and stressors can be given to God and He will take care of you.

And how comforting is it to know that no matter how big something may seem in the moment, it will never be anything big enough to sever God's unconditional love and support for you.

Romans 8:38-39

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Yeah, days when you can't get out of bed is a little scary to think about. Having your heart break is an extremely wretched thought. Having a cloud of sadness loom over your life is the opposite of pleasurable. (Of course, if this continues for a long time and it affects your ability to function, then you should seek help.) But don't we get some satisfaction when coming out on the other side? I'm not saying everyone has to go through the worst depression to experience true happiness, but if you do have a time when you forget what it's like to be happy, embrace it and know that you'll get through it (with help from God) and better times are ahead.

Also, know that you are not alone. Almost everyone goes through deep, soul-crushing pain at some point in their life. Though, it's crazy that people think they need to carry these burdens on their shoulders alone. Why don't we open up about what we're actually feeling inside? Now, I can't talk because I'm the last person to open up about my feelings or anything remotely like this. But I'm working on it. And I encourage you all to work on it with me. God created us to have companions to share our burdens with, (including God himself who can carry the weight of all burdens). As embarrassing as it may seem and as vulnerable as it will make you, I think we all need to bare our sad souls a little more. Life is not meant to be lived in a perfect emotionless box, so why do we put ourselves there anyway?

I challenge you to open up to someone about something on your heart that's troubling you. If you're not ready, then encourage someone else to do so and be as compassionate and comforting as possible. And let's squash the stigma of depression, because we're all messed up. Every single one of us. Who are you to judge?