The True Maker of My Depression

READ: JOHN 10:10; ROMANS 15:13; 1 JOHN 5:19

I’m twenty-six years old, and I wish I had known sooner that God wasn’t the maker of my depression.

When ninth grade rolled around, I faced depression like I never had before. I didn’t think I could experience such strong and unsettling emotions while being a follower of Jesus. The part that confused me most was where the extreme sadness came from. Not able to find the answer myself, I’d ask God why He would allow such anguish to hurt me daily.

Being a child of God, one misconception I had was that Christians had to be joyful all the time. Mind you, that is far from the truth. I’d question if I was abnormal because the way I was feeling was not joyful. Was I insane? Was I not doing something right in my relationship with God, and that’s how this started?

Because of this, I started doubting the authenticity of my faith. This was before I knew how much influence Satan, sin, and brokenness have on this world.

The enemy seeks to destroy Christ-followers such as myself. God created the world good, but when people rebelled against God, sin and brokenness infected everything. One version of this brokenness is depression.

But, despite all the brokenness and evil in the world, God is the giver and maker of peace and joy. It’s through Him and the good gifts He provides (including things like mental health professionals and medication) that we can overcome our struggles. That doesn’t always mean the depression will go away, but it does mean that Jesus walks with us and brings us comfort and strength in the midst of it. He never abandons us.

Though Satan continues to steal, kill, and destroy, God works miracles around the enemy’s conniving schemes. Jesus is far greater than the enemy, and His victory came through His death and resurrection—when He defeated sin, death, and brokenness on our behalf. If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, God gives us a crown and a blessing in place of ashes and mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

God has already won the battle. When we pay attention, we can see His provision in the midst of the sufferings we face. He is with us in our trials whether they’re in smaller dosages or larger quantities. He provides comfort and strength. He is the maker of joy and peace, not of depression. And someday, we will see His ultimate triumph when Jesus returns to get rid of all brokenness—including depression—forever. • Brenna Covelens

• Have you ever felt like Christians are supposed to always feel joyful—and that it’s not okay for us to feel any other way?

• Sometimes, God brings about full healing from depression and other types of brokenness we encounter. But other times, depression is a lifelong struggle that won’t fully go away until Jesus returns. Even when the hurt is here to stay, Jesus is with us, weeping with us. He never leaves us. As we draw near to Him, He wraps His arms around us and never lets go. Have you ever felt Jesus’s presence in the midst of pain? What was it like?

• God does not want us to face depression—or any other kind of brokenness—alone. Christians can bring each other hope and comfort in hard times, pointing each other to Jesus. When you are struggling, who can you reach out to? If you know someone who is hurting, how can you come alongside them?

• If you have been feeling depressed and need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)