Downcast: Do Real Christians Get Depressed?
May 7, 2020
by Jennifer Huang Harris MD
Harold G. Koenig, MD and John R. Peteet, MD
Editor’s Note: Downcast: Biblical and Medical Hope for Depression is the newest addition to CMDA’s published resources, and it was intended to be released at this year’s National Convention. Due to the cancellation of the convention, we encourage you to enjoy this excerpt from the book. To order your copy when it’s released, visit CMDA’s Bookstore at www.cmda.org/bookstore.
Since the time of Job, people have struggled with depression. Depression isolates, as it causes sufferers to withdraw from others. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding depression often reinforces the isolation. Not only do others stigmatize those who are depressed, but depressed individuals often believe these misunderstandings about themselves and experience shame. This shame arises from ignorance and misunderstanding about the nature of depression.
Unfortunately, the church, rather than being a place of healing for those who suffer, can become a place of judgement. 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. Yet, 49 percent of pastors rarely or never spoke to their church about acute mental illness.[1] 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.
Do Real Christians Get Depressed?
There are many people of deep faith who struggle or have struggled with depression. Some of the well-known Christians whose stories we share in this book include Charles Spurgeon, Abraham Lincoln, Joni Eareckson Tada and Lottie Moon. The journey of depression can take many trajectories. Some experience depression in the face of a tragedy, whereas others may experience repeated bouts of depression despite apparent success.
One might compare depression to the apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh. When Paul beseeched God repeatedly to remove this thorn, God answered, “…‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV). Depression, too, is a weakness in which God’s greatness can be magnified.
Myths and Misconceptions
There are many myths and misconceptions related to depression, including its causes and treatments often contribute to misunderstanding or frustration with people suffering from depression. We address several of the significant ones here.
Myth 1: Depression is due to a lack of willpower.
When we choose to align ourselves with God’s will, He gives us both the will and the ability to work for His good pleasure (see Philippians 2:12-13). That good pleasure is that ultimately all things in heaven and earth will be brought under the lordship of Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 1:3-10). How our lives witness to His power, including His power over depression, is part of that process. We cannot will ourselves well; instead, we can only willfully entrust ourselves and our needs to Him, asking Him to enable and empower us to live with our depression in a way that will honor Him.
Depression is a difficult battle, and willpower is an important strength to bring to the fight against depression. However, some individuals who pride themselves on their self-sufficiency may find it difficult to acknowledge weakness and their inability to overcome depression solely by willpower. It requires humility to acknowledge depression, humility to seek help and humility to rest on God’s will for our lives.
Myth 2: Depression is due to unconfessed sin. Suffering is punishment from God.
Sin and its consequences can certainly cause depression. The consequence of all sin is death, but God, in His mercy, does not give us what we deserve. As Romans 8:1 declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (ESV).
The main problem for depressed believers is their guilt over sins God has already forgiven. Depressed Christians are sometimes so painfully aware of their sins that this is all they can focus on, and they are unable to hear the reassurance of grace. Depression can often produce a feeling of guilt, even without any basis in reality. At times, depression can distort a person’s thoughts so much that Christians may even become delusional about their sinfulness. In these cases, depression is not a product of sin. Accusing them of sin may make matters worse.
Myth 3: Depression is self-pity. If you’re depressed, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself.
The underlying accusation here is that a person is responding in grief that is out of proportion to their loss. However, people respond to challenging situations in various ways. What may not amount to much of a loss for one person, may be devastating for another. This may be due to an individual’s values, previous losses they have experienced in the past or a genetic disposition that renders them more sensitive than others. Indeed, those who are depressed often have lost hope and meaning that used to give direction and purpose to their lives.
Somebody may tell the depressed individual, “A lot of people have it worse than you. You have nothing to be depressed about.” This information may be given with good intentions. They are attempting to give perspective to the depressed person’s suffering or may be trying to encourage a spirit of gratitude rather than complaining. Unfortunately, such advice is usually not helpful. The depressed person is often aware that there are those who suffer more than they do and are ashamed about it.
Myth 4: Depression is due to a chemical imbalance.
The myth that depression is just a chemical imbalance or deficiency can be a particularly insidious one, as it leads to a different kind of stigma. This popular misconception can lead some people to a feeling of helplessness, as they feel there is nothing they can do and they are dependent on medication for help. Belief in this myth can also lead people who are depressed to neglect the other strategies—physical, psychological and spiritual—that often help in the fight against depression.
This myth betrays a misunderstanding of how the brain works. While antidepressants affect the neurotransmitter pathways involving serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, , the brain does not function simply as a bank of neurotransmitters. Rather, the brain is an intricately designed organ that stores information within its neurocircuitry, and it is constantly adapting and changing.
A better over-simplification would be to consider depression to be a problem with faulty brain wiring. There are multiple ways the brain can be wired for depression, which includes not only genetics, but also traumatic events, negative thought patterns and spiritual beliefs (see chapter 3). In the same way, there are several ways to “re-wire” the brain, and these involve medication and other strategies (see chapter 5).
Myth 5: Depression is due to lack of faith.
Christians often erroneously believe that if a person is walking closely with God, he or she should not be depressed. Instead, the person should be confident in God’s goodness, experience hope and joy, and trust God whatever the circumstances. There is the belief a spiritually mature person should be stoic, unperturbed to aversive life circumstances and immune to suffering.
Spurgeon offers this critique to those who would judge the depressed as lacking in faith:
“There are a great many of you who appear to have a large stock of faith, but it is only because you are in very good health and your business is prospering. If you happened to get a disordered liver, or your business should fail, I should not be surprised if nine parts out of ten of your wonderful faith should evaporate.”[2]
Some people judge the depressed from the security of their own comfortable situations. It is easy for a person to have faith when things are going well, because they need not lean on their faith. It is when circumstances become difficult that one’s faith is tested, and a person must hold tight in desperation to God’s promises (Hebrews 11:1, James 1:2-3).
Many modern Christians only depend on God to do for them what they cannot do for themselves, and as a result, God is more or less an addendum to their lives. Those who have journeyed with Him into and out of depression know they can only survive when God is present at every moment, the first and only focus of their faith.
God has a purpose in all that He causes or allows. He is going somewhere in our lives. The question is: Are we willing to go there too—on His terms, not ours, wherever that takes us—even depression?
To read the rest of the chapter, order your copy today from CMDA’s Bookstore at www.cmda.org/bookstore.
About the Authors
Jennifer Huang Harris, MD, is a psychiatrist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Harold G. Koenig, MD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University, and director of Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.
John R. Peteet, MD, has been a psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for more than 40 years, and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
[1] http://lifewayresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Acute-Mental-Illness-and-Christian-Faith-Research-Report-1.pdf
[2] Charles Spurgeon, “Night and Jesus Not There,” in MTP, Vol 51 (Ages Digital Library, 1998) p457. From Eswine, Spurgeon’s Sorrows, p76).
Thank you so much, Dr. Harris, for contributing this blog article to the POINT blog. Your CMDA Matters interview turned out very nicely so thank you for joining me. Will be praying that God will enable you to integrate powerful spiritual care into your professional care of patients in Boston in the future. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Master Healer.
Dr. Mike Chupp
What a Godsend it is that I came across this website tonight! I lost my husband six months ago today after having been with him for 45 yrs, married for 39 of those. I have struggled with the sadness as anyone would, but also with what I’m now beginning to realize is depression from the loss. I’ve never struggled with depression which is probably why I haven’t recognized it as this. I consider myself a strong believer with a strong faith, but after reading above, it is because of this that I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) admit to being depressed. To admit I was depressed would be me admitting I was weak in my faith or that I lacked willpower….two things I have “prided” myself on through the years. (I guess the key word there is “prided”.)
From Myth 1:
“However, some individuals who pride themselves on their self-sufficiency may find it difficult to acknowledge weakness and their inability to overcome depression solely by willpower. It requires humility to acknowledge depression, humility to seek help and humility to rest on God’s will for our lives.”
Sounds like it’s time for me to find some humility.
From Myth 5:
“Christians often erroneously believe that if a person is walking closely with God, he or she should not be depressed. Instead, the person should be confident in God’s goodness, experience hope and joy, and trust God whatever the circumstances. There is the belief a spiritually mature person should be stoic, unperturbed to aversive life circumstances and immune to suffering.”
Ouch! The truth does hurt!
While I know the road will be long that I have to travel, I feel this is a start. A start to being honest with myself, a start to realizing there’s not something wrong with me for feeling the way I do and a start to the road to recovery. I know I will never fully recover from this loss. How could I? I’ve lost the love of my life, the one I thought I would grow old with, the one I became one with. I now feel like half of me is gone, but my prayer is God will help me day by day to become who He wants me to be now and do it with less guilt and condemnation of myself when I feel like I don’t have enough will power of my own and to realize that my incredible sadness/depression is not a sign of weakness.
I look forward to the day that I will completely understand and embrace what you have stated above, that God says “…‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV).
Thank you again!
Dear sister in faith,
The loss of a beloved husband of such duration whether thru illness, age, suicide, mental illness, broken trust, whatever…. Is so devastating.
Even now you may have a time to endure to wholeness, a sense of well being and to actually feel any joy on the inside or actually feel love for even those who you acknowledge as beloved. It will come. Time does heal. Be encouraged. I’m 7 years along….There will be another day where you feel differently if you don’t feel it already. Hold the hand of Jesus tightly on those days and weeks which may be months and years but trust Him for healing. It will come. Some of us are made in a way that it takes time. That is ok.
God made you and knows you … better than you know yourself. It is ok. We are all different in our history, wiring and responses.
Wishing you although unknown to me,
The richest blessings.
With love in and through Christ,
Alicex
Wow…
I am inspired.
God bless and strengthen you ma.
“Depression is Due to a chemical imbalance “. While I found this article to have a lot truths about Depression I totally disagree with the notion that depression can’t be solely caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. I accepted Christ when I was 18. Two years after I started to have severe symptoms of clinical depression. For eight years I prayed and read for an answer to why I felt so bad emotionally. One never came. For some reason for ten years after that I wasn’t depressed at all. Then it came back with a vengeance. I finally checked myself in to a mental health facility. There finally I got on some antidepressants that worked very well. Looking back there were some times an event would trigger the depressive episode but other times there was no trigger at all. Then other times at a time deep stress I wouldn’t get depressed at all. I am now 64 and see that I’ve had depressive episodes since I was 16. At that time all of my praying yielded no solution to my depression and medication was the only way out of it. I think you should consider getting some expert opinions and revise that section of the article. To say that someone’s depression can’t be caused solely by a chemical imbalance is incorrect and could cause a depressed Christian to not seek the medical help they so desperately may need
Mark, you raise and important point and I absolutely agree with you. I apologize if my wording is misleading. Depression can be due to biological causes, and that medication has an important role. My hope is to encourage Christians to see that medication is an important help, a means of common grace, that God can use for healing.
What I mean to critique is that
1) depression may not ONLY be due to biological causes. there can be many reasons that a person is suffering from depression, and treating depression may involve taking medication AND psychotherapy, good lifestyle habits such as sleep, exercise, and establishing meaningful relationships.
2) the idea of the chemical imbalance is a medically outdated one. The biological mechanism antidepressants has more to do with reinforcing healthy brain pathways.
I appreciate your point though, and will be sure to be more clear in the future. Thanks for the feedback.
Chemical imbalance in the brain is not outdated and it is proven by the relief mental disorder sufferers gratefully receive. The brain pathways you are referring to are chemical: serotonin, epinephrine, dopamine. It is an organ just as the pancreas is and it’s chemical imbalance attacks insulin. Let’s add here the illegal drugs, such as LSD, etc. have a VERY big affect on brain imbalance. Counseling does help but if the sufferer is in need of antidepressants to correct the neuro pathways which are chemical and are not added to regimen, then the patient can spend the rest of his/her life in counseling and NEVER improve.
Thank you, Dr. Harris, for this very timely refutation of commonly held presumptions regarding depression. Especially as we seek to minister to the depression in and around us during the COVID battle, it is all the more important that our efforts to speak the truth in love – to ourselves and to others – is grounded in real science and in the eternal Word of God. Job’s friends could have learned much from your wisdom, and so can our generation. Thank you!
Thank you for this, after a conversation with a family member about how my depression is because maybe I’m “not a real Christian”, even though I know it’s not true I frantically googled it and came across your article. It helped me a lot. Thank you!
I have my own reasons for my depression, and I see no way out of it. No money to pay for counseling, and i just feel hopeless
There is an awesome God who loves you so much He came to earth to bear your sins on the cross. If that isn’t demonstration of love, I can’t tell of another. One of the most ugly and devastating symptoms of depression is that God “feels” far away. That is a lie. He hasn’t moved. He is right beside you. From 40 years of diabolical depression I can witness to the fact that when it lifts, and it will, you’ll realize God was there all the time. Begin reading the bible: first look up the verses where Jesus himself was depressed to the point of DEATH! crying and sweating with tears as though they were blood. Mark 14:33-34, Psalm 119:50, and 25 – 32, Isaiah 41:10 and 13, King David was depressed Psalms 31: 9 – 11.
If God is all powerfull, loves people who got depressed and always near them, He would have make it clear to them regardless of their depressive state. What you are saying is just putting another pressure to those who are depressed, like it’s their fault God feels distant. How about this: God INTENTIONALLY holding His presence to those who suffer. Why is that not a choice? Why try to defend God by “blaming” depressed people?
I really liked this. It gave me some insight and comfort. Sometimes I feel like I’m so distant from God because I’m not doing the right thing or thinking correctly. I also sit and wonder if feeling disconnected from people and life is a sign that I’m not faithful enough or that I’m on a path to no longer being Christian. And I struggle with it a lot, but I’ve also found God in the most pure ways from my own mistakes. Before college I thought I was perfect and the ideal Christian. I checked all the boxes and followed the rules. But it wasn’t until I made my own mistakes and saw just how “not good” I was, that I realized just how GOOD God was. It made me look at people with different eyes and want to just do more and stop judging others, no matter what.
Thank you,
Hello – It’s been 43 years since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord AND savior. Then biological depression and anxiety became my constant companion. This is organic – somewhere in my DNA. I’ve had excellent medications from very good doctors. The meds combo have changed through out the years as better ones come along. I’ve read everything about depression I could from the secular world. The Bible is my constant “go to” source daily. But foremost, it is Jesus Christ who converses with me daily. In 1986, the medicos knew absolutely nothing about mental depression. For decades, any pastor I told about my illness immediately labeled me a sinner with a spiritual fault! Baloney. I pray they never tell a PMS sufferer, she has a spiritual problem, not hormones!!! They are not psychiatrists and my doctor doesn’t pretend to be a pastor. I want to alert depressed people not to go to pastors for treatment of depression. That’s like telling a diabetic they don’t need insulin because it’s a spiritual weakness! I continue to suffer some persistent symptoms but I always thank my Lord, that He has given the doctors the knowledge of which meds work best for me. Self-talk is a powerful tool – reminding myself of the facts. I’m not a bad person – it’s the STUPID depression talking to me. Through the years, of course I’ve prayed and begged Christ to remove my illness, as Paul did three times for his thorn in the flesh. Jesus gave me the exact same answer, when I am weak, then HE IS STRONG. I accepted that and when I did, a wonderful spiritual power became my newest companion. God has a terrific plan for ME and YOU, my fellow sufferer of depression or other mental illness. Through it, Jesus has developed a most unique, awesome personal relationship with me enabling me to reach over 100 people who showed signs of mental illness. When I needed Him to put my feet on the bedroom floor in the morning because I couldn’t, he also gave me the words that day to testify to everyone who came into my life. Now, I’m an evangelist with boldness and power because “when I am weak, Jesus is strong.” Doesn’t Jesus want us to rely on him daily? Not once in a while? My friend, WE ARE the lucky ones. Christ has an extremely special plan for your life, like no one else. You are among his favorites – for a reason. Give it ALL to him.
Im so glad i came across this article ive been feeling guilty that even though im a born again christian i was confused as to why i still suffered low moods? even questioning if i was saved at all as just as the article says the myth is that christians are full of joy and peace; i do experience that but not all the time. so this article has really been a great comfort as i was really worried about feeling depressed if that was because i was not saved or something, but now i feel reassured i am and that even in the bible saints suffered depression so thank you so much for this.
I always hear about this “wonderful” “beautiful” plan God has for my life… who knows what that even means anymore. I’ve given up. I don’t want to sound ungrateful to the Lord but I’m sad, lonely and feel like a failure. I don’t know where to turn. I just realized that I attempted suicide on Saturday evening, called a hotline, and then went on about my night as if it didn’t happen. Nobody in my life knows this. I don’t want to go back to church. I don’t want to go back to work. I really just want to stay inside this apartment for the rest of my life. That’s all I’m worth anyway. Being a Christian takes too much commitment. You have to read everyday and sit silently to spend time with God. I’m at a place where that’s no longer appealing. I’m as lukewarm as they come, so God wouldn’t accept me in heaven anyway. I’ll never get married or have kids. At 34 going on 35 in a few months, that dream can be thrown out the window. The only men who think I’m attractive are homeless men. Everybody thinks I’m over dramatic. I’m dumb and don’t get things quick enough. What takes people 10 minutes takes me 4 hours. I just hate myself so much. I’ve never had a reason to feel any different. This life doesn’t mean anything anyway. I don’t know why God has me here. I know I need help and should probably be hospitalized but I’m too embarrassed to be hospitalized again. I don’t want to put my family through that again.
Kay, I’m not a doctor, but just another woman struggling with depression. I don’t have answers, but I just wanted to let you know that someone else understands (at least a little bit) and I care about you and I’m praying for you. You matter. You are worth any effort and time and money it takes to get you help. Your life matters. Please let someone else know that you are struggling. You could copy and paste your comment into a text to a friend or family member or church staff member or coworker. Please don’t suffer alone. I know how hard it is to reach out to someone else when you can barely climb out of bed in the morning, but I’m praying God will give you the courage and strength to do it!
I have a type of cancer called NET’s which affects the hormonal system causing depression, it is deliberating, anti depressants do no work. Imagine having no feelings or get up and go , because that is what it is like. I have totally lost my faith, which was quite strong at one time , and no amount of prayer is working. I have come to the conclusion that faith is just like The Emperors New Clothes .
Ian, if you are there and reading… look up at the stars tonight. Galaxies beyond galaxies. Look at your body. Systems within systems which worked together until this cancer called NETS began to take hold. I cannot know or imagine how debilitating this is for you. God alone does. Jesus knew suffering. Deep suffering. He cried “my God , My God …why have you forsaken me?” He died and rose to show us the hope promised. He demonstrated God’s extraordinary gift … Be encouraged in spirit Ian, faith is like love sometimes… it’s not about a feeling it’s about faith. Or belief . All rooted in hope. You are not without hope. I know the pain of actually being numb. For years. Even to people I know I love. Who I make a practice of love with through actions.I know something of pain. I pray you look at the stars tonight as I will and quite beyond your position in life… remember that there is infinity beyond infinity. And that bigger than you and your circumstance as incredibly hard and painful as it is… that there is there MUST be God. That Jesus spoke to the aching human spirit and wept with those who suffered. He aligned himself with you and I. Hold His hand… there is none other to hold. He IS our hope.
Be encouraged Ian,
Alicex
.Kay, my heart goes out to you and I pray God would give you courage to try “life.” God has put talents and gifts in you, you may not be aware of to be developed. They are meant to be a blessing to others and will give you a sense of purpose, meaning and fullfillment. Think of things you have always wanted to try or do but never did that made you happy as a child. There are clues there that may be hidden but reflection can help and give you some ideas of what you might try now.
My prayer for you is that God would ever so gently reveal the great depth of his love for you. Also pray he would send Godly friends into your life who would cherish you. I pray the depression would leave you and stand on his promise to restore you to health and heal your wounds.