What are the causes of depression among Christians, and how can one cure it?
Depression is a disease that affects millions of people around the world. And we Christians, even in our walk with God, we Christians are sometimes subject to depression.
I am indeed coming to talk to you today about this great sadness that you feel, this feeling of emptiness that there is deep inside you and on which you dare not put a name, even if you try to pretend that everything is fine.
Your prayer life is more than lame. The fact that you no longer feel eagerness for the service of God, that you no longer take as much pleasure in the Law of God, or your feeling of guilt, etc., towards him, clearly shows that there is an evil that is gnawing at you. Hasn’t anyone been bruised for your iniquities? Aren’t you healed by His stripes?
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV): “But He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement that gives us peace fell on Him, and it is by His stripes that we are healed.
You are in the grip of suffering, but Your Father is there and wants to relieve you, to Heal you. Let’s discover the different causes that can produce this depressive state and the remedies.
Checkout:
- Bible verses about anxiety and depression.
- With God Nothing Is Impossible Explanation
- How to fight anxiety and depression
The causes of depression.
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a persistent depressive state that can affect thinking, mood, and behavior.
But what can cause this trouble in a Christian when we know that God calls us to be always joyful and that the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen us? It is clear that this disease has affected many men of God and even great men of the Bible.
In the book of lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah, particularly in chapter 3, gives us an overview of his moods and the depressive state in which you could find yourself.
Lamentations 3:17-18: “You have banished me from peace, and I no longer know what happiness tastes like. So I said, my future is over: I no longer hope for anything from the Eternal.
The causes of depression are multiple and are not always rational. But you must know that God is sensitive to your suffering. Depression in you as a Christian may be characterized by a lack of discernment of God’s plan for your life.
We all want a quiet little life without major clashes, with small challenges to be met, of course, but that’s it. So when everything you were clinging to goes up in smoke, it is likely to shake you. When all the foundations of your quiet, well-organized little life are knocked down, you can lose all your bearings and fall into depression precisely because you cannot discern God’s plan in all these upheavals.
These upheavals can be the death of a loved one, a divorce, job loss, an accident, violence suffered, etc. But also this feeling of chronic guilt that sticks to your skin.
God relieves us of our burdens, but we always remain with our backs bent as if still carrying it. A feeling of guilt or inferiority that we cannot access God’s grace can lead us into great sadness. Let me tell you that as a child of God, there is now no condemnation against you.
A lack of faith in God’s purpose can also lead to depression. It is all well and good to sing and even pray that we want to follow God wherever He leads us, but it is not always easy in our daily life, especially when it goes against our expectations.
Remedies for your depression.
Depression is a storm that can come in your life, but God is good at calming the waves and calming the wind. Below are some remedies to get out of depression.
Psalms 34:18: (KJV) “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
- Prayer.
An old saying states that it is by eating that the appetite comes. Maybe right now, praying isn’t easy for you. You have trouble communicating with your God. But tell yourself that He remains attentive to your heart, and he wants you to confide your deepest fears to Him.
- Study of the Word of God.
The Word of God is there to teach you, instruct you, and also to comfort you, to console you. During those times when everything seems dark to you, never stop trusting in God and His Word. In His Word, in His Promises, you will find the strength to fight your evil.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. With your gaze fixed on Jesus, you will be able to find in him all that is necessary to achieve this. Although it is not easy, try to detach yourself from your problems to attach yourself to Him. Try to disconnect from yourself to connect to Him.
- Find a mission.
Another way to fight depression is to find a new mission that involves helping others, which will allow you to focus on others and not on your own problems.
Depression is not a sin, but it can lead you away from God’s presence if you are not careful. Your reaction to depression is decisive. Do you want to let yourself be dragged once again into the abyss, into the depths of despair? This is what the enemy expects of you: you are without landmarks, without hope. Or do you instead want to grasp the hand that God offers you to get out of it?
Psalms 40:8 (BDS) “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, and out of the bottom of the mud. He put me back on my feet, with my feet on a rock, and He made my feet firm.