When Darkness Returns: Finding God’s Peace Amid Depression
Do you feel hopeless? Have you lost your sense of direction and feel defeated in this season? This blog is for the woman who has fought many battle but still feels like it is endless. She is tired, weary, and wants to give up. She can’t seem to shake the symptoms of depression no matter how much she prays or goes to church. She knows that Jesus is the answer but still finds herself weary in the midst of the chaos in her mind. She is overwhelmed by her external circumstances and the weight of her burdens is crushing her. She feels shame for feeling discouraged. She is grateful for the blessings in her life so why does she still feel this way if she has everything?
It begins to manifest in her body, mind, soul and spirit. She wants to do more for God but doesn’t have the energy to build His kingdom. She feels frustrated because she thought she had already defeated this giant named Depression but to her disappointment, she realizes that the darkness has crept its way back in. She needs hope and reassurance that it’s going to be okay. If this sounds like you, I want you to know that you are not alone and this message is for you dear sister.
Satan’s lies
First I want to address some common lies that you may be experiencing.
You may feel like you need to be fully healed because you have Jesus so it shouldn’t be possible to experience Depression.
Seeking help through art, exercise, therapy, church counseling or other pathways means that your Christian faith is weak.
You are not doing enough.
Your life is meaningless.
Your situation is hopeless.
You should feel shame, guilt, and condemnation from your past or current actions.
You may be experiencing anxiety about your future that keeps you from taking action.
You may feel a sense of fear that leads you to procrastination, imposter syndrome, or apathy.
You may feel alone or like nobody cares about you or what you are passionate about.
God’s Truth Wrapped in Love
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Love God
God is patient with you. He is compassionate and fully of mercy. His grace and love are abounding. He is never telling you to just get over it. God is gentle and kind with His words. He is your refuge in affliction. He desires for your soul to rest. He cares more about your heart and mind more than your calling. There will always be so much to do for His kingdom but He doesn’t expect you to do it out of lack, sadness, or obligation to duty. It should come from a place of overflow that you find in His presence.
God gives you His Word to bring you comfort. His peace is not like the world’s that is fleeting. God’s peace is proven to be consistent through any trial you may face. It is persistent and never gives up on you. It will chase after you even if you ignore it or can’t get away from your busy life because God knows you need rest. He never said that you wouldn’t face trials but He did say that His peace would get us through it.
Love Yourself
There are several people from the Bible who experienced depression including Job, Elijah, Hannah, and David. Therefore, you are not alone. It has been something that people have gone through since the beginning of time. It doesn’t make it easy but it is a reminder that you are human. Be gentle and kind toward yourself. Give yourself time to rest, process, and heal with the Lord and in community.
Invite people into your situation. Give them space to cover you in prayer, provide encouragement, and lift you up into a place of comfort. They will point you back to the Cross and remind you to fix your eyes on Jesus. They will shower you with God’s love. They will embrace you if you need a hug or sit with you if you need silence. The body of Christ is an extension of God that will have faith to believe in His promises and bring you closer to Jesus.
If you are exhausted striving to “make it go away,” I encourage you to take time for yourself away from the busyness of your life. Find even 5 minutes to rest in God’s presence and allow God to be the one to perform heart surgery. Talk to God about it. Surrender your burdens to Him so that He may replace them with His burden that is light. He will do all the heavy lifting and help you get through this not by your own strength but by His.
Love Others
Here are a few ways you can love others who are going through this difficult time.
Be kind and compassionate.
Be empathetic and try to put yourself in their shoes. That person may be experiencing overwhelming thoughts or emotions.
Love them like Jesus. Look at the example that Christ left for us as we navigate how to love others well.
Take them to a restful place: Jesus. Redirect them to the Cross and remind them of God’s promises of hope.
Fight on their behalf. Intercede through prayer and worship.
Speak the Word of God prophetically over their life.
My story
The earliest memory I have of struggling with depression would have to be early middle school. Unfortunately, Depression stole many decades of my life. I was diagnosed with Chronic Depression in college and faced addiction, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and crippling fear on top of this. Although I believe that the Lord has delivered me from the bondage of Depression, unfortunately I do have seasons where underlying symptoms or habits attached to depression resurface. Because I am very familiar with this, I know how to be proactive about coming against it and can catch it early. The enemy usually uses the same lies and strategies to get me to fall again. Thanks to my favorite person Jesus, I have been able to overcome every flaming arrow of the enemy in the last 3 years of my deliverance. I see how some strongholds take layers while others like addiction in my life, happened in an instant. What I hold onto is that the Word says that God forgives all sins and heals all diseases (Psalm 103:3).
Love Note
You are so precious to God. He loves you so much. He has a beautiful plan a purpose for your life. Don’t give up dear sister. You have so much ahead of you. This is not the end but just the beginning of your story. No matter how old you are, your life is not over. Your life is will bear good fruit and produce a harvest that will transform so many lives around. Even if you don’t see it right now, God is with you and you will overcome this through Christ who strengthens you.
Good News!
You will never have to earn God’s love. Jesus died on the cross to take all of your burdens and give you His love. He resurrected 3 days later so so that you could be completely SET FREE! That is a promise you can count on. You may not see it right away but take heart my love, you WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living and rejoice (Psalm 27:13). Look to the Cross, not your circumstance. Fix your gaze upon Jesus.
Love in action
Read John 15. Meditate on this scripture and take 10 minutes to rest. Get my devotional workbook How to Trust God Today to help you overcome challenges and put your trust in God.
Pray with someone this week. Be honest about what you are going through and allow them to cover you in prayer. Request prayer here if you need someone to pray with you.
Share your story whether it’s the reality of struggles you are facing or the overcoming them, I would love to empower you to share your stories with others who may need it. Sign up here.