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Depression seems to be an epidemic lately. At least three of my friends are experiencing clinical depression, and all three want it to stay hidden. Maybe they tell me because I have fought depression my entire life, or maybe they tell me because I am a licensed therapist. According to many, Christians aren’t suppose to be depressed and if they are, they are not praying hard enough and/or don’t have enough faith. In fact, I was told that I must not be a Christian when I declared my vocational goal to becoming a psychologist because Christians go to God, not psychologists. Ignorance. Simple ignorance. Ignorance that pushed many away from the church and away from the throne. Jonah was depressed to the point of wanting to die (Jonah 4) because of the Lord’s compassion on Nineveh. When he told God to take his life, God did not question his faith, rather talked with him and reasoned with him. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. 
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again (v. 4-6). After God had led Elijah to rest and eat, then He talked with him and reasoned with him. Once again, no question of faith was discussed. In 1 Samuel 16, Saul suffered from depression and David would play music for him to make him feel better. Again, no question of faith was discussed. Bottom line: Depression is not an indicator of faith, nor does it classify one’s standing in Christ. Personally, I believe that depression can be an indicator of a soul’s longing to go to heaven, to be with Jesus… and to be free from the influence of Satan in the world. As Elijah said, sometime we have just had enough. But we are here because God still has work for us to do, people to love, and legacy’s to leave. When it is hard to keep going, we must remember our final destination. If we are Christians, our hope is knowing we are heaven-bound. Matthew Henry’s Commentary describes what we can hold on to when we think we have nothing more to hope for: Believers have been brought into a state of safety; but their comfort consists rather in hope than in enjoyment. From this hope they cannot be turned by the vain expectation of finding satisfaction in the things of time and sense. We need patience, our way is rough and long; but He that shall come, will come, though he seems to tarry.

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

Talents and gifts

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