3 things you need to know about God and depression
When it comes to mental health and Christianity, we tend to hear a lot of trite, seemingly uncaring or downright hurtful remarks. Comments such as “Your joy should be in Jesus” or “Cast all your cares on Him” don’t always land in the correct way. Sure, those things hold some truth — but it’s not always the answer for mental health medical conditions. Unfortunately, if someone doesn’t have firsthand experience with a condition such as depression, they may not know what you need or how to help you in a way that is actually helpful to you. Here are three things you should know about God and depression:
It’s not your fault
Let’s get something straight: If you struggle with anxiety or depression, it is not your fault, and you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s also not something God gave you. Things such as medical and mental illness are a result of our sin nature. Just know that while your mental health struggles may not be your fault, there is help available.
Seek help
We’ve come a long way over the past several years in terms of mental health support. Some Christians believe that treatment for mental health isn’t needed. However, that’s akin to breaking your arm and not seeking the help from a physician. There’s nothing in the Bible, either, that says God doesn’t want you to seek help for your depression or anxiety.
If you — or someone you know — are struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, know there is help available. Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) free hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). You can also find treatment near you by using the online treatment locator.
Find your village
You are not alone. Depression affects more people than you realize, and while it may feel like you have nobody to turn to — that is not the case. Help is here and community is available to you.
Let’s highlight some statistics on mental health so you don’t feel so isolated. Here are some things you should know about depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health:
“Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. For some individuals, major depression can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit one’s ability to carry out major life activities.”
“In 2020, an estimated 2.9 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode with severe impairment in the past year. This number represented 12.0% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17.”
“In 2020, an estimated 41.6% of U.S. adolescents with major depressive episodes received treatment in the past year.”
A good portion of those who struggle with depression and anxiety are Christians. “In 2014, LifeWay surveyed 1,000 Protestant pastors about mental illness. The study found that 74 percent personally knew one or more people who had been diagnosed with clinical depression, and 23 percent of pastors reported having personally struggled with mental illness themselves,” according to the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. “Yet, 49 percent of pastors rarely or never spoke to their church about acute mental illness. In the absence of teaching from the church, many Christians adopt the misconceptions about depression that pervade our culture. And, unfortunately, often when pastors do speak up about depression, it may be to perpetuate the falsehood that “real Christians” do not get depressed.”
Here’s the thing: God doesn’t want you to walk through your depression alone. He wants you to seek help and find community — to find your village. Centerpoint Church is ready to be that village. We are passionate about helping those with mental health struggles and are working to erase the stigma associated with Christianity and mental health. If you’re looking for help, we can assist you in finding the community you need through our mental health resources.
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. You can also find out what our community’s purpose and passion are all about by checking out some of the past sermons we’ve posted on our website.
Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our podcast series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.