Depressed, Anxious and Christian

Jim McCracken oversees TrueBridge (more info @ truebridge.org), a network of over 30 churches and last Sunday he spoke at our church about depression, the guilt it brings to a Christian, and finding victory through the darkness. The Center for Disease Control reports that 1 in 10 people are affected by depression in the US.

McCracken shared what the Bible says about depression and he spoke from his personal experience with depression. The Bible uses words like downtrodden, anxious, worried, downcast, and despair when people were having an experience similar to depression.

Often, Christians try to push those feelings aside and embrace scripture passages like Nehemiah 8:10
“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

At the time that Nehemiah encouraged the people with these words, they were in despair and grieving. The book of the Law had just been read to them and they realized that they were not following God in so many areas of their lives.

The joy of the LORD is to be your strength when depressing times hit you. God is ready to rescue you from despair, knowing that those times hit every person. Some are affected more often or stronger than others, but all struggle at some point in their life with depressing thoughts, actions and attitudes.

Trying to self-rescue and ignoring your true feelings works against what God can give you during those dark times. His strength and joy are made perfect in your weakness. McCracken encourages people to take similar steps he took when depressed:

>be real to the LORD about your life
>seek a Christian counselor
>lighten the load you are carrying
>let the joy of the LORD be your strength

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