If you’re anything like me, you’ve had a pretty great life. You have always had supportive parents, been financially stable, and had great friends. When you take a step back and look at what’s going on around you, you feel guilty for being depressed. Compared to others around the world or even someone sitting next to you in class your life seems almost perfect.
Depression is like any other disease; it doesn't care if you’re rich or poor, young or old, Christian or atheist, in school or working, single or married. Depression doesn’t look around to choose the next victim.
Depression is something you cannot control. Despite how much you try, how long you pray, or how long you go to counseling for. Depression always seems to be there with you even when you don’t want it to be.
Depression can make you feel disconnected from the world and with friends and family supporting you and can make you feel unwanted. You will push away the ones you love due to the worry of not feeling accepted. Depression urges you to cancel plans, avoid situations, and make you feel less of a person.
Although living with depression can be hard most of the times, I believe in an abundant savior, God. God is able to take you from your lowest point to your highest. God is able to move mountains for you when you need it most. Having depression is hard, but having God as your savior makes it bearable.
However; although I do believe in God I sometimes find myself questioning Him. Why has God put depression in my life, why would God let depressing thoughts enter my heart, why would God let depression be part of his plan for me.
Although depression is not something I ever thought God would plan for my life, it has drawn me closer to Him. Being close to God while having depression will change the way you see depression.
Part of dealing with depression as a Christian is having faith. It’s important to have faith when you are going through a hard time so you are able to rely on God and not yourself. “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move the mountains.” Mat. 17:20
Although battling with depression is hard, it will get better. Knowing that I have a loving family, great friends, and a big God makes it easier. Keep reminding yourself every day that you are here for a reason and you are loved so much. Know that God's love is unending and he will always be there for you.
Remember that it will get better even though it seems hard now. I encourage you to pray constantly when you are feeling depressed. Knowing that having faith while being depressed eases the pain. Never stop praying and rely on God when you need him most.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Thessalonians 5:16-18
