What causes depression and how to tackle it

Depression is a state of unhappiness and hopelessness - a psychiatric disorder manifested by persistent feelings of dejection, lack of energy, poor concentration and sometimes suicidal thoughts. There are many causes of depression such as trauma or even sin. I am not a medical doctor so, I will approach this issue from a biblical perspective and give ways of dealing with it regardless of the cause.

Depression can afflict anybody. Great leaders such as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Charles Spurgeon suffered from depression. One psychologist termed it as ‘the common cold of emotional health’. Several men of God in the Bible - including Moses, King David, and Elijah - battled depression.

Elijah, a great prophet had the enormous task of going to King Ahab and his wife Jezebel to warn them of their wickedness and the coming judgement of God. The two were Elijah’s enemies and this was the reason he had run for his dear life. Israel had erected and worshipped Baal, the god of fertility, and all sorts of sexual perversion activities were going on.

Elijah showed up at a contest on Mt Carmel to prove there is only one true God. The challenge: which God would answer by fire? Jehovah God answered by fire. Consequently, Elijah killed the prophets of Baal. Jezebel was very angry and vowed to kill Elijah.

Even after witnessing God’s mighty wonders (through him), including causing rains during a drought spell and stopping it; sending fire to consume the sacrifice, altar and the water in the trench surrounding it and raising a widow’s son, Elijah still succumbed to Jezebel’s death threats and became depressed.

From Elijah’s story, we can pick out major causes of depression. First is the depletion of strength and energy. After the victory in Mt Carmel witnessed by thousands of people, he sank into depression after threats from Jezebel. The execution of Baal’s prophets drained his emotional and physical strength. He got fatigued.

Second, invasion of problems. He had a series of problems which exerted constant pressure on him. He had to confront and rebuke King Ahab; pronounce a drought on the land; and contest a showdown with Baal’s prophets. Third is loneliness.

Elijah was alone. There is nothing as crippling as loneliness. The worst form of punishment for a person is solitary confinement. “Let us consider one another to stir up love and good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day of the Lord approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

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Fourth is self-pity. Oliver Sea Wilson says, “What poison is to food, self-pity is to life.” Self-pity is the psychological state of mind of an individual in a perceived adverse situation who has not accepted it and has neither the ability nor the confidence to deal with it. Elijah got to a place of self-pity, developed a victim mentality and entertained suicidal thoughts by saying, “It is enough! Now Lord take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Depression makes someone feel like God does not care and has even deserted them. Self-pity is dangerous, it fogs our vision. (Anonymous).

How do you get out of depression? Take rest confidently in God’s presence. “Why are you cast down, o my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Psalm 42:5). Lean heavily on God’s word. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Stay positive about God’s promises by focusing on his unfailing promises and believing that he is powerful enough to fulfil them.