What Role Does God Play In Depression?
The Question â What role can God play in depression? How can I help a friend struggling with depression other than responding with the really dangerous âjust pray harder and have better faith and God will heal youâ
Morning Pages â Take 3 to 10 minutes to free write or type whateverâs on your mind, just to clear some space or to ponder the question
Silence â Take two minutes to sit in silence, create a timer on your phone if you find it challenging to be still at first. Let yourself open up to God and remember he is already with you.Â
Scripture â âSome men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldnât reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, âYoung man, your sins are forgiven.â Luke 5:18-23Â
Reflection â âSeeing their faith, Jesus said to the (sick) manâŠâ It may be an unpopular opinion, a little intense, and not an exact comparison, but Iâll share with you what I think & feel from my experiences in life: I feel as though depression is the churchâs modern day leprosy. We fear it, we avoid it, we catch eyes with the sick and immediately look away. Parker Palmer, an author, shares his experience with his multiple depressions: Unfortunately, many friends and acquaintances didnât know how to be present to me. They were scared of me, I believeâthey didnât want to come anywhere near me, as if I had a contagious disease. Or, they offered me well-intended but inadvertently hurtful advice that allowed them to leave their version of a âgiftâ in my handsâand then get out of the room as quickly as possible. Of course, in this situation, that doesnât feel like a gift at all, but a rejection, or even a kind of curse. So when people say to me, âI have this friend or relative whoâs depressedâwhat should I do?â I usually respond, âWell, I canât prescribe in detail, but I can tell you this: do everything in your power to let them know that youâre not afraid of them. Be present to them in a way that expresses faith and confidence that they have what it takes to make it through.â SourceÂ
The depressed need allies they can rely upon. Friends who wonât shy away from the wounds. Friends who will pick up the corners of their mat and carry them to the feet of Jesus. When we see Jesus interact with the sick, he always draws near. And when we see Jesus draw near, we see the compassion, power, and tenderness of God.Â
Question â How have you avoided the sick or hurting in your life? What scares you from drawing near towards sickness or pain?
Prayer â Jesus, thank you for being so truly gentle. Youâre so willing to come near our sicknesses and youâre so unafraid, even when we are. When all seems lost, and life feels crowded, I want to remember the rooftop. That with God, there is always a way in faith. Jesus, we donât want to give up, we want to be right in front of you. Thank you Jesus, that youâre the ultimate friend who holds our mat and carries us straight to God. In Your Name, Amen.
Silence â End your time with two more minutes of quiet.
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