Riding the Waves of Life

There's good and bad in every day

Depression. When you’re in it, it can feel all-consuming. And yet, although it is never inevitable, it seems that God—in His goodness—never lets a depressive episode linger for too long before manifesting a happier state of mind in those who are struggling.

It’s not easy to give advice to someone who is consumed by depression. Sometimes it can seem that no words are adequate to help lift someone’s mood. But kindness always makes a huge difference. Even a humble request to a depressed person to speak about their feelings and what’s on their mind can serve to lift a person’s mood enormously.

When you’re depressed and have no one to talk to—that’s a hard thing. In that situation, all you can do is keep trusting and keep going, but even that act is something over which you have no real control as God controls all things and we are merely puppets in His sovereign hands.

What makes depression especially hard is that other people can latch onto a depressed mood and use it as an excuse to belittle you or mock or harass you. This happens less often when you are feeling happy, because happiness acts as a kind of shield against the attacks of Satan and those who are consciously or unconsciously doing his bidding.

Prayers for protection against evil are another means by which we can help ourselves when we are in a depressed frame of mind, as are prayers for those who are hurting us or who have hurt us in the past. It’s worth remembering Jesus’ advice to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

It seems to be the reality that there is good and bad in every day for everyone. Of course, we all have good days and bad days, but the good days usually contain some bad and the bad days some good. This is something to be thankful for.

We can use coping strategies to help us with depression. It can be helpful to make a list of these when we are feeling positive and keep it to hand during those times when we are feeling depressed. It can also be a good idea to do some small ‘mood boosting’ things during times of depression, like ordering some nice food, having a hot shower or putting on your comfiest clothes.

Perhaps the best way to tackle an episode of crippling depression, other than crying out to God for help, is to try to engage your mind in something that will shift your thoughts. For me, today, that was the act of simply sitting down and trying to compose this article. It has helped me a great deal, regardless of whether or not anyone reads it.

Thanks be to God.