I struggle with depression and anxiety. I have for as long as I can remember. I am also a Christian. I love God, and I love Jesus. My relationship with Him is paramount in my life. Many people (especially those who have never experienced the pain of such issues) believe that you cannot be a true believer and have depression or anxiety issues. Why would you be depressed? Jesus is all you need!
That is taking, "Jesus is all you need." way out of context. Would anyone in their right mind say to a cancer patient "Don't go to a doctor. Jesus is all you need." Of course not! A reasonable (key word there- REASONABLE) person would encourage someone struggling with an illness or disease to seek help for it. To look for a treatment or a cure. A mental illness is just as real and debilitating as cancer, and should be given the same response.
Yes, God is able (more than able) of healing every infirmity of every person on the planet without even finishing the thought. Why He chooses to heal some and not others is not my business. But I do know that God has given us medical knowledge and medication to help us. We are not weak Christians for availing ourselves of things God has given to us to improve our lives.
The past few weeks have been really hard for me. I don't know why. My "black cloud" as I have affectionately named it, has been around more than I care to admit. Thankfully, it has seemed to move on for the time being. I know it can come back at any moment, but I also know that God is faithful and won't allow something in my life that He will not walk through with me. Notice I did not say He won't give me more than I can handle. I hate the expression "God won't give you more than you can handle." It's not true. He gives us more than we can handle ALL the time. If we could handle it all on our own- we wouldn't need a Savior.
I find your blog very interesting and now the first part of it makes since to me. When I was struggling with depression while in college, you helped be by taking me to your church for a workshop on depression and I found it very informative and I met some great people. I now realize that you understood where I was coming from and why you cared so much to take me there. Well, I just want to say thank you for being there and taking me, and most of all for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting it in such easy to understand language. My mom has clinical depression and when I first became a Christian, I couldn't understand how she could claim Christ and yet still be depressed (now being older I do). After my third child (for a year and a half) I fell under a deep "dark cloud" (extended ppd) and it wasn't until a couple people told me that I didn't seem myself that I really realized it. It's better now, but not completely. and yes, I agree... God allows us hardships to help strengthen and grow us to be more Christ-like, and to call upon Him! Thank you!
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