Depression + Following Jesus 01
Depression is a real human experience —— Millions of people are living through the reality of depression in this moment .
Although depression is widespread, many of us are hesitant to open up about our own experience with it. Stigmas exist. They exist in culture. They exist in Christianity. People often feel afraid or ashamed to express their experience with depression.
I have personally walked through depression –––– Depression is a part of my story. And so is the fear and shame around opening up about it. I remember the day and the moment that I realized I was depressed. I had walked through a long season of overwhelming suffering and my soul was weary. I woke up one day and realized I had lost my passion and felt numb inside. I didn’t know who to tell or how to explain what I was feeling, so I kept it to myself. Eventually I realized that I was experiencing depression, and reached out for help. I began to openly share how I was feeling. Talking about it and processing through it with people that I trusted was incredibly helpful and healing. It took me a year to rediscover my joy and passion , and feel human again.
Because I have experienced depression and the shame that often goes along with it, I have endeavored to understand the reality of depression and the underlying causes behind it. Over the last two years I have been researching depression from various angles.
Psychologically
Biologically
Culturally / Sociologically
Theologically
I have been particularly drawn to the experience of depression in the Bible, and the theological connection between being human in a world of suffering and the experience of depression.
The following topics have been a large part of my study.
The biblical terms for depression in the original languages of scripture.
Stories that illustrate depression in scripture.
Passages that describe the symptoms of depression in relationship to human suffering.
The human experience of suffering in the post-Genesis 3 world, and the connection to deep sorrow, weariness of the soul, and despair.
I would love to share with you –––– Ten thoughts about depression + following Jesus from my research:
Depression has been a reality since the beginning of human history. It is not just a modern mental health condition. The post Genesis 3 world was deeply affected by sin—God’s design for human health and flourishing was undone, and brokenness was felt in every facet of what it means to be human. Thus, humans experienced psychological brokenness, biological brokenness, relational brokenness, sociological brokenness and spiritual brokenness. This resulted in human suffering, including the experience of depression.
The human experience of depression threads through the entire Bible. Depression is a real human condition in biblical
history. Depression is a form of human suffering, and can be rooted in different experiences of human suffering. The Bible gives concrete examples of suffering in each of these areas that are related to depression: mental and emotional anguish (psychological suffering), sickness and disease (biological suffering), relationship trauma and social unrest (relational/social suffering) and various challenges related to human sin (spiritual suffering).The Bible uses a term that can be translated “depression” in the original language of the Old Testament.
The Bible uses various synonymous terms to describe the reality of depression in the soul.
The Bible describes the symptoms of depression in detail.
The experience of depression is primarily connected to various forms of human suffering. When humans experience suffering in various forms they naturally and rightly feel sorrow, distress, emotional pain, mental pain, and a downcast soul.
Human sorrow is a natural and normal human emotion connected to suffering. And sometimes human pain and sorrow turns into depression.
The experience of the soul affects the body. When someone is experiencing mental and emotional pain, they often describe physical symptoms of pain, lethargy, exhaustion, lack of motivation to continue, and weariness in their soul—symptoms of depression.
The experience of the body affects the soul. When someone is experiencing physical pain or disease, they often describe mental and emotional anguish deep within their soul—at times the descriptions mirror depression.
You can love Jesus, follow Jesus and experience depression. The experience of depression is not the lens through which we should judge a persons spiritual health. Some have falsely taught that depression and other mental health conditions are incompatible with healthy spirituality. This line of thinking contradicts the experience of being human in a broken world, and the honest nature of human pain and anguish in the soul expressed by people who deeply loved God in scripture.
People have wondered for far too long: Can I love Jesus and still feel depressed?
The answer is clearly, yes.
Yes, you can love Jesus and feel the weight of soul crushing pain.
Yes, you can love Jesus and experience depression.
Yes, you can love Jesus and process through deep sorrow.
It’s imperative, for the well-being of those suffering, that we deconstruct these types of false stereotypes, and allow people the freedom to be human and feel pain.
If you are experiencing depression, there is no judgment.
This is a part of your story, not the end of your story. There is life to live.
There is healing to experience. There is hope.
There are Better Days Ahead.
Check back next week for part 02 of “Depression + Following Jesus.”
Much Love,
Wesley, Founder + Speaker