Depression: A Spiritual Crisis

What is your chief concern in life right now? Most likely you answered, “To have happiness or joy.”

There is a difference between happiness and joy. The word “joy” is used 224 times in the Bible (NIV), whereas the words “happy” and “happiness” combined are used only thirty times. That is not a coincidence. Happiness is dependant on circumstances, like a job promotion, or getting married, or finding out you are pregnant. Ralph Waldo Trine wrote, "To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy... is to set our own conditions to the events of each day."

Joy is different. It is dependant on a relationship with God. Jesus, preparing the disciples for his departure said, “You're going to be in deep mourning. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into joy. When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. “But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth.” John 16:20-21 If you’ve endured childbirth, you understand Jesus’ point.

Many see depression today as more a spiritual crisis when the issue becomes; What am I here for? Where is joy and laughter in life? What’s my purpose?

Before lasting peace and joy can be found, we must answer these questions.
Christian psychotherapist Dr. Les Carter agrees that a modest amount of depression can be a sign of a hungry spirit. He wrote, “Life is a journey, and our efforts to relate appropriately are meaningless if we do not stay focused on where we come from and where we are going.”

We’re all spiritual beings. It is when our spirit unites with God’s that we find true peace, joy, and fulfillment. Depression can even produce insight and wisdom that can be had in no other way.

From his years of experience caring for the depressed, Dr. Walter Johnson wrote, “Although I am convinced, and indeed scientific evidence is very strong in this area, that in many cases biological factors are a predominant cause of depression, I am very insistent that spiritual counseling is of the utmost importance in treating depressed individuals in conjunction, when necessary, with antidepressant medications.”

This is an excerpt from the devotional book: I’m God’s Girl? Why Can’t I Feel It? I would recommend purchasing a self-help book on how to defeat depression God’s way and challenge negative thoughts. Learn to see the world in a hopeful, positive light.

The Problem with Perfectionism

Negative thinking says, I must be painstakingly competent and perfect in order to consider myself worthwhile. I must work hard to be loved. Add to that: I am a perfectionist.

We live in a world that defines a person's value and worth by productivity. How much we get done and how well we do it are the benchmarks of a successful day. This doesn't come without a cost. One of the leading causes of depression is having standards so high you cannot live up to them.

Defined as anxious slavery or slow suicide, perfectionists feel they need to prove their value to avoid the threat of rejection. Guilty!

There is a certain amount of tension in every Christian's mind concerning the biblical call to perfection. In one compartment of the brain there's a tug to live up to all the standards of Christ, but then on the other side, our attempts to measure up to those standards are always flawed.

As a ministry leader often I find myself falling back into the perfection rut, feeling I have to meet some very high expectations. What has been very freeing to me is to realize that when God called me to ministry he knew what he was getting. A couple months down the road he didn’t say, “Bad decision. I shouldn’t have called her!” Companies say that. People say that. Not God. That’s the freedom of grace. You are already completely acceptable to God as imperfect as you are. Thank you Jesus!

God defines personhood and success very differently than our culture does. The measure of our life is not where we live, how we look, or how well we sew or cook. From his perspective, success is measured by what kind of person we are, even in the midst of life's challenges.

God’s grace is greater than our imperfections, than our sin, and far greater than Satan (Rom. 5:20-21). “Christ redeemed [freed] us from the curse of the law [the curse of perfectionism] by becoming a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13, my emphasis). Jesus Christ became (past tense) the curse for us, freeing us from all perfectionistic law traps. Perfection means a perfect union with God for which we were created.

Banish the perfectionista in you! James 3:2 proclaims we all stumble in many ways. Nobody, apart from God, is perfect. People will always fail, disappoint and hurt us. We will make mistakes, even humiliate ourselves. God gives us an incredible gift when we become his daughter—grace. Today, give yourself grace.

If perfectionism has lead to significant problems with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or difficulties in your relationships, you may want to consider working through one of the books I’ve written: http://www.olivebranchoutreach.com/shopping.htm

You may want to seek expert help from an experienced mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Your family doctor is a good place to start if you are looking for a referral.

This is an excerpt from “Breaking the Cover Girl Mask.”