Depression.
We’ve heard about it. We experience it.
All of us would like for it to go away.
The depression that grieving hearts experience is often loss-related. In other words, we feel depressed because of all the change, upheaval, and emotional pain we’re experiencing.
When we experience temporary grief-related depression, we tend to recover and heal as we go through the grief process in healthy ways.
Then there’s the depression that stays. It lingers. In fact, for many of us, it was there before our loss but less consuming and debilitating.
In our monthly Virtual Hangout via Zoom, we’ll be talking about depression – what it is, how to handle it, and how to heal and grow through it. Look for an email Zoom invitation next week.
Just in case we think that depression (temporary or lengthy) is a new thing, check out the following verses from Psalms:
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? (Psalm 13:2)
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. (Psalm 31:9)
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. (Psalm 116:13)
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. (Psalm 119:28)
And that’s just a few verses from the Psalms. The rest of Scripture is permeated with people like us struggling with loss.
We live in a troubled world full of loss. We live in an atmosphere of grief. Our hearts have been broken – perhaps many times. Sorrow can pile up.
Feeling depressed would be, well, natural.
What do we do with all this?
So much of life is about overcoming. Is it possible to overcome depression?
Join me on Zoom later this month as we delve more into this.
In the meantime, take heart. Hear these words from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
This is temporary.
Depression is temporary.
Everything here is temporary.
Today, the Lord invites us to focus on Him amid all the emotional turmoil and upset.
He invites us to allow Him to carry us through this.
He asks us to trust Him to empower us to weather this incredible storm.
This is temporary.
Be kind to yourself. This is hard.
Glad to be in this with you.
Question: Have you struggled with feelings of depression during your grief journey? What has been helpful for you? Please feel free to comment below.
