Thank you for that kind clarification, Jeremy. Blessings on you as well.

I was wishing good luck to those struggling with their mental health and trying to get help. I’m truly sorry you have these problems. Suicidal thoughts are an awful thing to deal with! It just seems like it’s one extreme or the other with all these anti depressants and such.. Maybe there just isn’t a cure.. Very saddening.. Do whatever u must to stay level headed and be able to function in life follow God and help others know God. Our great commission. Maybe that’s like the thorn in Paul’s side… I’ll be praying for all who suffer from this mental illness. Good bless

That always SOUNDS nice, and quite ‘spiritual’ Jeremy (and, years ago, I think even I probably espoused that line of thinking). Nevertheless, we don’t know people’s hearts nor the place God has them. My cardiologist had me on a med, for quite some time that absolutely depressed me – to the point of suicidal thoughts. I wanted off the tablets (not a narcotic, but a ‘beta-blocker named ‘Carvedilol’), but my heart went straight downhill whenever I didn’t take them. The Lord has used even that struggle/BATTLE and others like it as part of achieving a bit of my maturity in Him. I’ve learned through just such humbling experiences, that He is in charge of ALL my progress, and will complete that which He’s started in my life’s walk with Him. He is completely faithful to perfect that which concerns me. And His GRACE is sufficient in the presence of my weaknesses (and thereby is His strength made visible to me and others). Regardless of appearances, I can’t judge whether my brother stands or falls – for it is GOD who is able to make Him stand (even one whose physician might have him on narcotics or mood elevators for a time). [Proverbs 31:6 (KJV) Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish , and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.] I feel sorry for the brother or sister who finds themselves under the criticism of those who have adjudged their helplessness as signs of worldliness or carnal immaturity. The fact is (save for some glaringly willful disobedience), we just can’t legitimately make the sort of sweeping assumptions like your’s above – because we simply don’t know. And “GOOD LUCK”???!!! What is THAT?

If you’re asking this question of the Church Leaders staff you probably won’t get any answer from them here. This is the comments section, generally used only by the readers, and occasionally the authors, of the blog items.
To communicate with someone at Church Leaders scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click on the words “Contact Us.”

Many children also suffer from depression, Look at how many children and teens reach the point of suicide. ( I myself suffered from it as a child) Yes we need to pray and yes God will heal, often though God uses the tools He has provided in the creation of medications and physicians. I am happy for you that you are able to overcome your battles in a way that works for you. For others that method just doesn’t work. There is no shame in using meds if that is what it takes. After all God created all things on this earth

Please check your facts before you tell someone else to check their facts. I never said “depression is not just being super sad.” The truth matters.

Are some people saying “prescription medications is the only thing to be done for treating this problem”? Yes, absolutely! More are likely saying it should be predominately treated with “prescription medication.” Countless MDs are in both categories.

Either way, the point is–and even you confirmed this by doing it your self–that many declare that depression “IS a physical problem.” My point is that this is not only false, but very misleading and harmful.

Nor did I say, or believe, that we can or should just pray it away. Stating that is also misleading (yes, a few say something along these lines).

Having a place in the church (and out) where people can openly discuss their struggles, and the truth about what is causing depression, and discern (as I said) what part they do control, and what part they don’t. Their are many things that people do that contribute to, or lead to depression. That is simple common sense, as well as biblical and true. Therefore, we love and help best when we explore what they are doing, or not doing, to contribute to this.

This is not “shaming” them, or blaming them. I talk with people every day about this. A. They do not feel shamed or blamed. B. They see and agree what they are doing to contribute (often they believe and live lies, like perfectionism). C. As a result they now have a huge dose of hope. D. They make changes (not necessarily to “sin” in their lives) and their depression decreases. The truth matters. Having people who accurately understand these truths is essential, but it is not happening. If we can accurately share the “facts,” and apply this truth, then this is loving, helpful, and people are incredibly blessed. On the other hand, if we are well-meaning but continue to perpetuate distortions, to distort facts, to apply error, to lean on faulty ideology, then we will have what is going on today, in the church and out.

Depression is not just being super sad. Check your facts.

I don’t believe anyone is saying that prescription medications is the only thing to be done for treating this problem that IS a physical problem. But recognizing that the problem is physical and not just something to be prayed away is important. Having a place in the church where people can openly say they are depressed without people shaming them for something that isn’t their fault is important. Having people who understand is important. And realizing there a multiple options for treatment including medication that saves lives is important. The medication is not for everyone, but it needs to be recognized as a legitimate possibility for treatment for a legitimate disease. Just like we would never judge a person with diabetes for taking their insulin for their very real physical problem that is an imbalance that needs to be corrected for them to function correctly.

What do you mean children don’t have depression? Check your facts and don’t be a person adding to the lies. I deal with seasonal affective disorder which is a milder form of depression that returns every winter. It wasn’t diagnosed until my senior year of college, but that’s only because I believed too many of the lies this article is seeking to expose. When I finally believed the truth and that my depression wasn’t a sin or something I just hadn’t prayed hard enough against, I finally received help. I haven’t taken medication for it yet. But that is a personal choice and that may change as 3 months of barely being able to be productive every year is rough. But the point of this article is that we can’t simply treat depression as a spiritual problem to be confessed and prayed away. I tried that method and it only left me in dispare. I can to believe that God must not accept me because he wouldn’t fix me. It took the focus away from the areas I did need to grow in. And instead I fell into health and wealth beliefs. While I knew enough to deny those false teachings if I heard them outright, the lie is enticing when you believe that if you just follow God more, pray more, believe more he will take the mind numbing life sucking pain away. But God doesn’t promise us that but instead he goes with us and draws us closer to him in the darkness.

What modern day psychologists would have us believe is that a physical problem just happens when a person suffers from depression. Therefore it must be treated physically (just like “cancer” and “diabetes”). That is a lie, and it is a lie that destroys many people.

Being overweight or drunk or having cancer or excema are physical problems, but what part do we control, if any, and what part do we not control?

Some truth + error = deception, which, in turn, hinders, if not prevents people from coming out of depression.

All the good intentions are for naught when our ideology is in error, let alone comes directly from error.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I’m not attacking you as a fellow Christian, but you missed the entire point of this article and therefore are one of those perpetuating some of the problems. Based on your narrative, you weren’t truly depressed. I believe in the power of our Lord, but it’s taken therapy, the church and the mental health cocktail I take to handle my depression and PTSD I’ve acquired after 29 yrs in the Army and a bad marriage. If you’ve not been to the point where the only thing that gets the barrel of a pistol out of your mouth is knowing your daughter will end up with her crackhead mother…..well, thank the Lord brother.

Are you a doctor? With the statements you made I highly doubt you are. Deppression is an illness and our society has made people feel embarrassed about depression. People depressed get help many different ways. If you struggled briefly, I highly doubt you were in a full depression, maybe down, feeling blue or low. Many depressed people loose their jobs, home, families. They think they have nothing to live for. It is a very serious disease. Many are hospitalized and many committ suicide. So please don’t throw around lightly how you feel. Also, it is not caused by satan. It is caused from a
chemical imbalance in the brain.

Are u a female? Just wondering. My mother takes all sorts of anti depressants and other meds to aid the anti depressants… She’s worse now than ever… They have her chemical imbalance way out of wack.. Is that how you talk to your fellow Christians or just me?? God bless you and I’ll be praying for all those who suffer with you. In Jesus mighty Name!

You know absolutely nothing about depression or you would not make such statements. Perhaps you would do well to learn about it before embarrassing yourself by stating those statements again.