Depression

I have been walking along-side a depressed family member for a few years. From what I have observed about depression is that it is satan’s way of taking all of the life out of a person, yet while they are living. My thoughts went to the inactivity of this person and how he needed to be accountable to someone for the way he was leading his life. As always, the Lord broke through my puny observations with His great thoughts.

The Lord led me to read Job 17. The first verse states “My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.” This seems to sum up what the family member’s attitude towards life has become; hopelessness. And hopelessness comes from a broken spirit.

The human spirit can endure many things, but for some people disappointments and set- backs break their spirit. The spirit should function in a way that the contents of the heart and mind become “known” by him (1 Cor 2:11). A broken spirit is like a poor phone connection; the messages just don’t get through. And so, though no one should know themselves better than they themselves, a man with a broken spirit loses touch with who he is. He becomes lost to who he is.

The good news is that God’s Spirit searches our spirit and knows us thoroughly (Prov 20:27). Because we Christians have God’s spirit joined with ours we can hear His thoughts and receive ministry for those who are broken. Jesus came to mend the broken, and it is our ministry too.

Ministry to the depressed person needs to include attentiveness on our part. Showing an interest in what they are reading and listening to their thoughts validates them, helping the depressed person form a stronger bond with the good God has placed inside them. Caring for their physical needs also shows honor and worth towards the person. But above all, and perhaps the hardest, is to set aside frustration and anger, choosing to love instead. This is Christ’s nature in us and becomes like a mirror for the depressed person, not reflecting their failures but bringing to mind the great love Christ has for them. Remembering Christ’s love for them and in them is the greatest validation and works the most change for a person struggling with depression.

People with physical and mental illnesses alike need ministry from more than one person. We find that we each have our own unique roles in helping someone back to wholeness. For me the role is that of “nurturer”. Perhaps another person will come along and be an instructor, and a third person may be a discipler. It clearly takes the body of Christ to minister in total to the needs we have individually. What steps we take to help a person with depression are our choice. Loving, listening, and caring are not easy to our natural being when we are with a depressed person. But God will give grace, if we ask for it. We will ask only if our brother’s life is more important to us than our own. In this time of the love of men growing cold, we are the embers of God’s flame. Let us chose today to love, listen, and care. Amen.