Depression

So this is my first time blogging so I hope I don't say anything TOO offensive. If I do, or something is clearly heretical, PLEASE call me out. I really don't want to be providing false information for anyone who might possibly read my blog. I just wanna give a few of my thoughts on Jesus, some of His teachings and maybe even some controversial issues. Just as a disclaimer, I'm not God so anything I say here is subject to being wrong. Anyway, here goes...

The topic of depression seems to come up a lot. There are so many "answers" that people look to. There's a lot of self-medication, a lot of counseling, and some turn to God. It's a pretty controversial issue. I've heard some pastors commenting on the growing number of people using anti depressants. I've heard them say (or imply) that if people only turned to Jesus, they would have no depression. I think this is sometimes true but not in all cases. That statement might imply that if you're not a Christian and you become a Christian, you will be automatically healed. This COULD definitely happen but it might not necessarily happen. Also, this would encourage the start of a Christian life in which you're expecting God to serve you, not the other way around. This could lead to a dangerous, prideful walk that I think would lead you quickly back into depression. Furthermore, it might imply that if you are a Christian and you're depressed, you're not really a Christian. It might say that you're not doing enough as a Christian to earn God's "true" love for you to bring you joy and peace. This thought, that God doesn't really love you (or that you need to earn God's love) can be extremely dangerous for someone who already suffers from depression, as you can imagine.

Now don't get me wrong, our FIRST response to depression (and really everything ) should be to put our eyes on God, praying for His healing and peace. We serve an omnipotent God who's able to overcome anything. If raising a person from the dead (Luke 8:49-56, John 11:38-44, Luke 7:11-14) is as simple as a parent waking a child from a nap, ("She is not dead but asleep" Luke 8:52) then how much simpler is rescuing a person from depression for God? I believe our God is VERY capable of doing just that. But He doesn't always, so...why not?

I think that God has given us technology and modern science for a reason. I think in His grace, God has provided, just like He always does. I think He does it in different forms. Sometimes He redeems us without any "worldly" means but by faith and His touch alone. I think that He does this so we can recognize Him alone, and respond in praise. Sometimes, though, we pray and pray and still feel unaffected. Is this because God isn't hearing our prayers or doesn't want peace for us? Absolutely not. I think it's very possible that sometimes His plan is for that person to use anti depressants and recognize that they were provided by Him, for us, and respond in praise.

Depression is very serious and very real. You wouldn't criticize a cancer patient for receiving chemotheraphy (at least I'd hope not) so why criticize someone with depression for using anti depressants? Just to clarify, I believe depression is real. I think that it is curable by God. I believe that He has created different ways in which He heals us, including anti depressants. I do NOT believe that God can be supplamented with drugs. I believe He has done all of this so that we may respond in praise for His name.

God provides in many different ways, but He always provides.