Depression is a Liar

It’s ok to admit your struggling. Not too long ago I was there too. I know the feeling of heaviness that weighs on the mind and shoulders, pulling and tugging at my emotions. Leaving me feeling sad, empty, and alone. Heaviness that wants me to stay in bed the entire day. Sleep and cry, cry and sleep. To isolate. Such a strong feeling of wanting to isolate. Not wanting to see anyone, just wanting to be alone. Maybe because ultimately thats how I feel inside at times, alone? You can have people around you in the very room and yet still feel incredibly alone. Nothing major has happened. Well maybe something triggered the depression but nothing major. I can look around and see so much beauty and yet feel such pain. Depression is a liar. It tells you and me that life is hopeless. It disguises the beauty around us and then draws our focus on the hurt. It disguises all the good, all the joy, all the people and things to be grateful for, it disguises the love of God and the promises we have in Him. It replaces everything good with everything bad in our minds. But it’s all a lie! Yes, the pain is real. Yes, the breakup is real. Yes, the grief is real. Yes, the diagnosis is real. Yes, the financial difficulty is real. I’m not advising to pretend the pain we feel isn’t real when it is. But while our current pain feels overwhelming, we are not hopeless. Depression will tell us we are lost, forgotten, alone, unsaved, unredeemable, unloved. That is all a complete lie and contrary to the word of God. The lie and the deception is to deny the hope and life we have in Christ, the only hope and life that this world cannot give us and that it can never take away. God’s word tells us that NOTHING can seperate us from the love of God: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39

Depression lies when it tells us we are all alone, when God said He will never leave us and never forsake us: Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. -Deuteronomy 31:6

Jesus said He would be with us even until the end of the world: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:20

Depression wants to consume us in fear, in darkness. All while attempting to hide the very light that is living within us from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He is the light of the world: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12

Dear Friend, I don’t know what your facing today, how challenging life has been recently or is currently for you, but one thing I do know, Jesus is the answer. He is the answer to our sorrow, to our pain. He is the answer to every broken relationship, to every broken heart. He is the answer to every circumstance we face, He is the answer to depression. (Please note- I’m not suggesting to not seek medical help if and when needed). Paul tells us: But God, who comforts the depressed… -2 Corinthians 7:6! God is greater than anything we go through or face. We have many examples in the Bible of brothers and sisters in the Lord who also struggled with sadness, fear, worry, and grief. David cried out to the Lord which is where he received his strength. The same is true for us today. This too shall pass and later we will face another challenge as this is all part of living in a fallen world, but His grace is sufficient. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. You are not alone. I’m praying for the day when the darkness lifts so you can rejoice about our Savior who moved mountains or carried you through the valley once again. Not your strength or mine, but by His strength we will make it through. Don’t give up and please keep going.

// prayer //

Lord, Thank You for promising to comfort us in our depression! Please make this promise real to all suffering right now, speak to them like only You can. Lift the burden so they can feel your strength. Erase every worry and fear, every lie trying to hide Your truth. Fill us with Your comfort and Your grace, and continue to help us endure on the difficult days and nights. Thank You for already defeating our pain and all our troubles. Meet every need for those who love You and remind them of Your promises that never fail. In Jesus name, Amen.

🙌🏽🙏🏽💜