The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength: Depression and the Christian

I’m going to start this article by saying it might be hard to read for some, but the topic of overcoming depression is a necessary discussion.

Depression is on the rise.  In the article, “U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Heights,” published in Wellbeing, (May 17, 2023), Dan Witters reports, “The percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015.  Over one-third of women (36.7%) now report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime, compared with 20.4% of men, and their rate has risen at nearly twice the rate of men since 2017.”

These statistics are mentioned to let everyone know that depression is a real issue in our world today.  Depression in the 10 years leading up to the pandemic…increased by about 40% among young people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Depression can be diagnosed on a scale from mild to severe. This blog is not to downplay the importance of securing a support system or scheduling an appointment with a Christian doctor or mental health provider.  This blog is to encourage individuals to fill our minds with the positive Word of God to align our spirit, soul, and body to God’s ultimate plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  The enemy attacks us in our mind with thoughts of worry, fear, and anxiety.  The enemy is out to destroy us and separate us from the LOVE of GOD!

Depression is found in and out of the “Church” contrary to what many people may believe. There are myths and misconceptions that may keep Christians from seeking professional help or admitting to a trusted friend or pastor they are experiencing depression. Christians have often taken the stoic (free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief) stance and suppress that they are experiencing some form of depression out of fear they will be labeled with one of the following myths.

• Myth 1: Depression is caused by a lack of willpower.
• Myth 2: Depression is caused by unconfessed sin.  Suffering is punishment from God.
• Myth 3: Depression is self-pity.  If you’re depressed, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself.
• Myth 4: Depression is caused solely by a chemical imbalance.
• Myth 5: Depression is due to lack of faith.

I have my own personal thoughts on the above myths.  My thoughts are based upon my own journey through depression as a Christian, as well as my professional background in counseling and education. I want to remind you, if you are experiencing depression my number one suggestion is to secure a support system (pastor or trusted confidant) or schedule an appointment with a Christian doctor or mental health provider who can assist you.  It may take both the spiritual side (prayer and scripture) and the physical (counseling and medication) to advance you out of the depression depending on the severity and longevity you are experiencing.

An Argument Against the Myths of Depression

I disagree that depression is due to a lack of willpower.  As stated earlier, Satan is always attempting to influence our thinking.  A person who might look at this myth gets trapped in a never-ending loop of self defeating efforts to try and do better.  This trying to do better often feeds into increased depression because the person is unable to achieve relief.

I do agree that depression can, but not always be due to unconfessed sin.  I definitely do not believe that depression is placed upon a person as punishment from God.  The same never-ending cycle of someone looking for that next sin they need to confess can feed into increased depression, just like the myth of lack of willpower.  As we become more and more like Christ in putting on the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control; we have more of God’s power to overcome the enemy and his attack on our minds.  As we can take the focus off the negative and place it on the positive, God is faithful to complete the work within us that He began (Philippians 1:6).

Myth number 3 falls into the same category as myths 1 and 2.  I don’t agree that depression is caused by self-pity.  However, depending on a person’s make-up, they may begin to feed self-pity that compounds and deepens the depression.

Myth numbers 4 and 5 are probably the most controversial within the Body of Christ due to their complexity.  I do believe that over a period of time a person’s chemical brain make-up can change due to depression.  Are some people more susceptible to depression than others because of their chemical make-up?  Chemical brain make-up can change due to trauma.  Trauma often proceeds depression because a person has a difficult time coping with the changes caused by that trauma. The issue is, if you are experiencing depression, there may be medication that can help you realign the chemical balance in your brain. Additionally, diet and exercise have been found to have longer lasting results and creates less dependence on a substance for the healthy recovery of your brain’s chemical make-up.

Myth number 5 may be used unwittingly as a weapon by those not or never having experienced depression. There is a fine line between faith and trusting that God will make all things right, and condemning oneself that they are depressed because they themselves lack the amount of faith necessary to recover. People then compare themselves to others they have seen and individuals in the Bible that experienced miraculous recovery, and then see themselves as “the one God did not heal.”

This article is speaking in general.  Each person’s experience is different.  If you are the person experiencing depression, reach out to a trusted friend first, and tell them about this article and how you are struggling.  If they are the true friend, they will not condemn you or state any of the above myths.  They can pray with you and give helpful encouragement and possible next steps.

The next section of this article is focused on the title, “The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength.”  If you’ve read this far, you may have experienced a sense of hopelessness.  I want to provide some of the scriptures that I have found helpful for me. 

I’d like to start with a hymn from my childhood called, “Reach Out to Jesus.”  Music choices can often lift the depressive spirit or thoughts we may be having in our head.

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone? 

Does the road you travel harbor danger yet unknown? 

Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all? 

Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

He is always there, hearing every prayer, faithful and true. 

Walking by our side, in His love we hide, all the day thru. 

When you get discouraged, just remember what to do,

reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.

Is this life you’re living filled with sorrow and despair? 

Does the future press you with its worry and its care? 

Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way? 

Jesus will help you.  Just call on Him today.

Often, depression is seeing life with no options or hope.  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12).  The Bible is full of verses that provide hope if we choose to take them into our lives just as regularly as we might take in the prescribed medicine or exercises provided by a doctor or mental health professional.  Here are just a few of the many hope-filled, joy-filled scriptures within the Bible. 

“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Lamentations 3:24

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Romans 15:14

“…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10b

“Remember the word you gave me.  Through it you gave me hope.  This is my comfort in my misery.  Your promise gave me a new life.”

Psalm 119:49-50

The hope we need to face each day is not of our own making.  Our strength, our hope, and our courage is us being in Jesus and Jesus being in us.  We can find this oneness in Christ when we read about “The Vine and the Branches” in John 15:1-17, as well as reading Psalm 91 with the vivid picture of us dwelling in the presence of God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength in whatever circumstance we may be.  Therefore, let us be of good courage through the strength of Christ as we face each and every day.