The Scripture doesn’t run from the subject of depression.  And, it does give a pretty good prescription for a sound spiritual, mental, and emotional approach to it.  The Bible also helps us understand realistic expectations for our existence.  This world is not our home.  Our hope is not in this world.  The idea that we ought to be “happy” every minute of every day is not reality.  Man apart from God must grab for it all here.  He must seek to make this life his “heaven”.  For the believer, heaven is not yet.  We see ourselves as visitors here.  We are strangers here.  However, we have a mission—“he [Jesus] so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor. 5:15).  Since we live for him, we “feel” for him.  And, he was a man “acquainted with sorrow”.  Hence, we must feel his sorrow for a little while.  “Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).  “Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom” (Ja. 4:9).  So, understand that not every episode of sorrow or melancholy is necessarily a destructive, chronic bout of depression.

Mental healthcare professionals generally diagnose serious chronic depression based on the presence of persistent symptoms over a certain time period, usually a couple of weeks.  These include sleeplessness, irritability, fatigue, rapid changes in appetite, hopelessness, helplessness, self-hatred, feelings of worthlessness, inactivity, loss of interest in regular activities, and thoughts of suicide.  It is unwise for any of us to unilaterally diagnose ourselves or others concerning such serious mental health issues, especially in regards to self-treatment.  It is always best to see a trusted, trained professional to get insight and direction.  Your family doctor is probably the first and best place to begin as she/he will be most familiar with your particular situation and can screen for underlying physical conditions that may be causing or aggravating your feelings of depression.  There are many Christian doctors out there who can help you think through the spiritual implications of certain medications and treatments.  Your doctor might want to try anti-depressants or other medications in conjunction with a referral to a counseling professional.  Studies indicate that in serious depression the best results are usually attained through a combination of short or long-term drug therapy coupled with counseling therapy.

I must admit however that some in the church are resistive and often even critical of the use of anti-depressants.  I beg to differ with many of the points of view that I’ve heard concerning their protests.  Paul told Timothy to use wine to treat a stomach ailment and other illnesses, when he could have told Timothy he needed to pray more faithfully, or trust God more, or just let the Apostle Paul heal him (1 Tim. 5:23)!  Jesus himself granted the sick need a doctor (Matt. 9:12).  In his illustrative story of loving one’s neighbor, Jesus tells us the loving Samaritan poured oil and wine on an injured man’s wounds (Luke 10:27-37).  I don’t believe he would have used such illustrations or made such statements if seeing a doctor or using “medicines” were acts of unfaithfulness, weakness or sin.  Jesus was the Creator (Col. 1:16) and as such he had told mankind to subdue (rule over) the earth (Gen. 1:28).  Concerning Hezekiah’s near death experience, it was God who instructed Hezekiah to use a fig poultice to treat a deadly boil.  Hezekiah obeyed God and of course still gave God the credit for healing him (2 Ki. 20:1-11).  Even before Christ, Hippocrates was prescribing a certain tree bark for pain and fever.  It contained a substance called salicin, which is similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid).  

Men have used substances from God’s creation for medicinal purposes throughout the centuries.  Granted, substances have certainly been misused by men as well as have many other parts of the creation.  Using medicine is not unlike using certain foods such as chicken soup and/or herbs to aid in healing and health.  The apostles did not seem to be bothered that Luke was a physician and Luke seemingly didn’t give up medicine when he became a disciple.  I just don’t believe taking action based on human learning is in any way unfaithful to God, but rather I think it is a testimony to God’s power in his children who are made in his image and in whom he put the care of his earth.  God designed as free beings with responsibilities and choices, not as string-puppets who are under constant threat if we take action to help ourselves based on common sense and human learning.

It should be noted that James said that if we were sick we ought to call the elders and have them pray over us while anointing us with oil (Ja. 5:13-16).  This is no doubt an important Christian command and practice which I heartily recommend.  But, the anointing of oil coupled with the prayers seemed to be well worth mentioning to James as he was led by the Holy Spirit to write.  So, the point is not that the importance of faith and the work of God in healing must be diminished, but that God expects us to act in our own defense and well-being.  To take action based on our wisdom and knowledge can, in fact, be at least as trusting, even if not more so, than simply sitting idly and expecting God to divinely give us directly from heaven whatever we desire.  Give God the glory either way as all good gifts come from Him, however they happen to arrive (Ja. 1:17).

In Part 7 of this series, I will give you some practical suggestions to be used for intermittent bouts of depression or to be coupled with other treatments including medication.  There is victory over depression if you really “want to get well” (John 5:6).