Thousands of people fight depression every day. It knows no limitations, it affects the rich and famous, it affects the everyday person. It affects Christians, and non-Christians. Often depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, but it doesn't matter what the cause is, depression is a huge monster that many fight.
The most difficult thing about depression is that often people who face this terrible monster feel they are facing it alone. It's brought home to them especially when someone, without understanding the difficulty they face, makes it worse by careless words.
People who struggle with depression need understanding and love, but too many times they hear
"A Christian shouldn't feel depressed."
"You're on depression meds? If you're a Christian, you shouldn't need meds. Just read your Bible."
"You have a nice house and drive a nice car. Why are you depressed?"
That's like saying, "Well, if you had enough faith, you would be healed."
When I lost my baby years ago, a well-meaning friend said, "You lost your baby because you didn't have faith." That was so devastating, which was made worse by the words being delivered by a friend. Thankfully, the Lord and John helped me through it, but words can be so deadly.
Depression is real. Depression is deadly. Let's help those around us by being careful with our words. What we say, how we treat people, what we teach can help a person, or harm a person more than we can ever imagine.
"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3