Healing from Depression Begins with God
Cindy Miller, pastor (as of June 1), Desert Crossroads Light & Life (Kingman, AZ)

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"Sometimes it just hurts to be me." Spoken words? No, but they were frequently in my mind. I knew something was terribly wrong with me and it had to be my fault. I examined my relationship with Christ and looked for character flaws. If I shared my emotions with other Christians, I often felt shunned. Why couldn't I figure out what was wrong? And fix it, or at least hide it?

I know firsthand the pit of darkness that depression brings. Truth is, anyone — regardless of age, gender or race, whether he or she is a Christian or not — can suffer from depression. I also know that inner healing takes time, commitment, hard work and prayer. There is no quick fix. We cannot will ourselves to get over it! To believe otherwise is self-defeating, and anyone who tells a depressed person to "cheer up" or "snap out of it" is cruel or ignorant.

As a term, "depression" is a catchall word liberally applied any time we have a bad day. All of us have experienced times when we feel gloomy or sad about something that did not go according to plan. Usually, as this is resolved the feelings pass in a relatively short period of time. When they don't — when they linger and cloud our emotions and affect our relationships and ability to function — then we are looking at something more serious than a case of the blues. If that describes you, you could be depressed.

Depression, true clinical depression, strikes at the core of all that we are. It affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Dr. Henry Cloud, author of Changes That Heal, says it is "a biologic, psychological and spiritual ailment. It strikes at all of the ways we have of being alive." It influences our attitude toward ourselves, others and life in general. Healing must incorporate all of those aspects as well.

Suffering loss — past or present — is often at the root of depression. Loss can come in many ways, and surprisingly, even positive life events can be accompanied by loss. Transitions, such as graduating from college, changing jobs or having a child, can lead to a sense of loss. Depression can follow the loss of an important relationship; unmet expectations can lead to a chronic state of loss. Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Whatever the source, the important thing is to identify it and process it appropriately.

Our tendency is to blame God for the losses in our lives and any subsequent depression we may suffer. Yet dependence on God is where we start to heal. God is trustworthy and will guide us to the means He wants to use for us to get healthy. In my case that meant several things: antidepressants, biblical counseling, time in Scripture and prayer, and having my spouse and a few close friends to walk alongside me in the journey. Realizing that you alone are responsible for taking the action that only you can take is especially challenging when you are depressed. Persevere in prayer and seek wise counsel.

Fair or not, some people will experience complete relief from depression. For others, we must accept that healing will be a process — perhaps a lifelong process. I know God can show each of us how to face the parts of ourselves that are producing depression, and I absolutely believe that as we abide in His presence we cannot help but generate a different future.