Moving Through the Darkness

Research indicates approximately 7 million professing Christians in the United States suffer from some form of depression. The darkness of depression can settle in like a fog. Sometimes you see the mist moving in. Other times you blink, and your eyes open to a darker world. Most Christians have read and believed Jesus when he declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12 ESV).” Depression’s darkness can create a dissonance between what Christians know about Jesus and their present experience, often deepening shame and despair.

A depressed mood is normal after loss or disappointment and during times of stress or life-altering experiences. Symptoms of depression vary for each individual but can include feeling sad or empty, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, overeating, hopelessness, loss of energy, or lack of motivation. Clinical depression is characterized by persistent symptoms that overwhelmingly affect multiple aspects of a person’s life. People experiencing debilitating symptoms of depression should contact their primary doctor, call or text 988 to reach the suicide hotline, or go to their local emergency room if symptoms become life-threatening.

So how do you keep moving when the darkness hits?

1. Know that God is not absent during depression. God is near to the brokenhearted and the crushed in spirit (Ps 34:18). It can seem like we are alone and lost, but the truth is nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus (Rom 8:31-39). You may feel surrounded by darkness, but you can abide in the one who is only light (1 John 1:5). Abide means to “stay or remain.” 2 Stay in prayer, remain connected to other Christians through church and other social gatherings, and keep listening to God’s word. And remember, Jesus has carried grief and knows the weight of suffering (Is 53:2-6, Heb 4:15-16). Abide with him, knowing his spirit continues to abide with you.

2. Know that the darkness of depression is not always rooted in moral failure. Sin can certainly lead to depressed thoughts and feelings, but not all experiences of depression are the result of personal sin. It is always healthy to search your heart for sin and repent (Ps 139:23), but for many suffering from depression, their core problem is not personal wickedness, it’s brokenness, sorrow, pain, and loss. God knows your hurt, but we need to express it to him. Write them in a prayer journal, shout your troubles out loud, and give language to your feelings of doubt, anger, fear, worry, and sadness. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you (Ps 55:22a ESV).”

3. Be patient with God and yourself. Depression can invade every part of your being. It’s ok to scale back to doing only what is necessary. If someone got hit by a literal truck and not the proverbial truck of depression, you wouldn’t expect them to keep moving through the days as they did before the accident. Find comfort in these words from Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” Depression may ebb and flow, but as you bear this burden, know that God hears you and can give strength and stability through the power of his spirit (See Psalm 103).

4. Remember your hope. Merriam-webster.com defines darkness as “the total or near total absence of light.” For the Christian, it may feel like there is no light, but hope is not gone. The light of God’s Word and the hope of Christ cannot be extinguished. Psalm 119:26 says, “My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” Remember this hope found in his word.

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." (Lam 3:21-23 NLT)

“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7 NLT)

5. Keep moving one day at a time. Open your eyes and keep moving day to day. Set simple attainable goals to improve your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Take a walk, listen to encouraging music or podcasts, join an exercise class, talk to a trusted friend about what you’re thinking and feeling, read a book, or do other healthy activities that engage your mind and body. Break large tasks into smaller tasks and ask for help when needed. Develop routines that allow time to rest and decompress. Seek help from a professional counselor and/or your primary care physician when these feelings persist or hinder your ability to complete daily activities. Determine the next step, take it, and then take another. These lines from an old poem convey this concept well:

“Many a questioning, many a fear, many a doubt, hath its quieting here. Moment by moment, let down from heaven, time, opportunity, and guidance are given. Fear not tomorrows, child of the King. Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing (author unknown).”

Remember these truths, keep moving, and when you can’t move, know Jesus hears you and is with you. Let these words be your plea and your prayer, “Lord, bless me and keep me, make your face shine on me and be gracious to me, look on me with favor and give me peace (from Num 6:24-26).”