Understanding Part II

My last column was on depression. My conclusion was that significant issues involved in depression may fit better into the spiritual realm rather than in a naturalist or secular realm. Many, if not all, of us, have battles with it. It is a natural part of human existence, but how we deal with it can make a significant difference in our lives. I want to discuss a little more regarding the three essential components that are often found at the root of depression in many people. Many of these thoughts are reflective of a book that has and is influencing me, "Rethinking Depression, Not A Sickness Not A Sin" by Daniel Berger II.

Deep impairing sorrow or sadness can strike from many different angles at any time. Often it comes from loss. Death is inevitable. We have or will lose people in our lives from the death process. Hebrew 9:27 tells us that it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. When those people are profoundly connected to you, we are saddened. Life will never be the same as it was before. The saying, "time heals all wounds," isn't actually true. Time allows us to adjust, but often a hole is left that can't be replaced. Sadness also comes from other situations in life. Another big one is divorce. Many suffer just dramatically from this as they do from the actual death of a loved one. A severe disease, losing a job, being abandoned by a friend are just a few experiences in life that can be associated with depression. Often there is nothing that can be done to erase the problem or fill the hole that has been left in your life.

Hope is essential for living a meaningful, purposeful life, and the loss of it plays a role in many people's struggle with depression. Phycologist Rollo May even suggested this definition for depression. "Depression is the inability to construct a future." There is no hope, and it is so impairing that it has the potential to kill a person literally. You can think of it as a carrot dangled in front of a rabbit who chases it and keeps going even though he may never get it. When the proverbial carrot is gone in the life of a person, there is nothing to keep them moving forward. It may then seem logical to quit on life.

The third piece that can often be found is guilt. It can be caused by either doing something you know or believe is wrong or not doing something that you know or think you should have done. Guilt comes in many degrees. Minor mishaps may cause the inner person to feel the remorse of what has or hasn't been done or said. It can eat away inside you and take on many forms of anguish. It has a purpose. When we do something wrong or what God calls sin, guilt should cause us to rethink what is going on and ask forgiveness, probably to God or often to a person involved. If left undealt with, it can tear apart one's inner being and cause depressive disorders that take you on a downward spiral.

I don't know about you, but I'm depressed right now, just thinking about this. But there is good news. Being this is at least in part a spiritual issue, there should be answers found in God's Word. These contributors can be present individually or in any combination. They are not sought after, they find us. What do we do? Number one, we must ask God in this. He wants to be there for you. In your sorrow, He is one that can fill the void of loss within your life. He gives hope when there may seem to be none. Jesus came to earth to do something that would provide us with confidence. That kind of faith transcends any situation that you may find yourself in and not only give hope for the future but a purpose for the here and now. What Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross in our place. Jesus provided a way to be forgiven for anything that you have or will do that is a sin. The nature of sin is that it must be dealt with and Jesus dealt with it for you. Accepting it or believing is how it is appropriated. Although I have much to learn in this area, I do know that answers can be found in the one who has designed and created us.

Pastor Lynn Rettig

Musselshell Community Bible Church