Darkness Doesn't Discriminate

The following list is pretty impressive:

Martin Luther King Jr. (Minister, Author, Civil Rights Leader)

Mother Teresa (Saint & Hands of Jesus to the Poor)

William Cowper (Minister, Hymn Writer)

Abraham Lincoln (President)

Winston Churchill (British PM)

Sheila Walsh (Author, Women's Speaker)

Mike Wallace (60 Minutes Newsman)

Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky (Composers)

Olivia Newton John (Musician & Actress)

Jim Carrey (Actor & Comedian)

Terry Bradshaw (NFL Great & Analyst)

Florence Nightingale (Nurse, Health Advocate)

Charles H. Spurgeon ("Prince of Preachers")

Robin Williams (Actor, Comedian)

Thomas Edison (Inventor)

Barbara Bush & Betty Ford (Former First Lady's)

Harrison Ford (Actor)

T.S. Eliot (Poet)

Eugene O'Neill (Playwright)

Anthony Hopkins (Actor)

George Patton (General)

Ansel Adams (Photographer)

Emily Dickinson (Poet)

Kirsten Dunst (Actress)

Dolly Parton (Country Musician)

Leo Tolstoy (Author)

Charles Dickens (Author)

Vincent Van Gogh (Painter)

Monica Seles (Tennis Star)

Every one of these famous people has experienced some form of depression. Some were/are professing Christ-followers, some were/are not. Some were catapulted by drugs and alcohol. Others experienced situational depression (e.g., divorce, death of a loved one, job loss, etc.,). Many of them battled clinical depression as the result of chemical imbalances, or mental illness. They represent the church, literature, politics, entertainment, athletics and more. They come from diverse backgrounds in terms of: education; socioeconomic circles; gender; personality; ethnicity; geographic and family of origin issues. Regardless of their differences all share bouts with darkness. Darkness, or as Charles Spurgeon and theologian Martin Marty described it, " the winter of the soul" does not discriminate. Like cancer and addictions it is not a respecter of persons, or our state in life.

Even greats of Scripture, like Jeremiah and King David battled it just to mention a couple. There are many more. The Psalmist wrestled with depression too. Remember, the majority of the Psalms are "laments". And Jeremiah wrote an entire book of laments. In Psalm 42 we find these words of deep struggle, and doubt:

³ My tears have been my food

day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
"Where is your God?"......

⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?.....

Some Christ-followers would rather rationalize or harmonize these and other honest words of lament in the Bible for fear of weakening the world's view of the church, or maintaining a facade of perfection. However, some of us believe the presence of such transparent and authentic words only makes Scripture stronger and more relevant. Who can't relate to the words of the psalter above? This makes the Bible even more credible to me because God is not afraid to leave the honest struggles of humanity in Scripture. Since Scripture is ultimately about God's reckless love pursuit of people through Jesus, what better group to drench with this hope continually revealed throughout the Old and New Testament?

Author and Sociologist, Tony Campolo suggest the church and Christ-followers have not always been so helpful or kind to those who battle depression:

As we consider the causes of depression, those of us in the church must face the ways we might be responsible for creating it. Supposedly, we offer a gospel that delivers people from guilt, but often, when we think people do not feel guilty enough to take our gospel seriously, we preach to them in a way that makes them feel guilty. Sadly, we do a much better job of making people feel guilty than we do of delivering them from the guilt we create. We need to confess this and change our ways.

If you have previously, or currently battle depression there is hope! You are not alone! Many of us have experienced it. Some longer than others and no two alike. Some needed medicine, others counseling, or behavior modification, diet, or exercise. Or a combination of several helps and therapy. All of us needed time. While Christ-followers are not immune to "valley of the shadow of death" we are not alone. God's Word continually and repeatedly reminds us of His presence and faithfulness to those who put their faith in Christ. Let's go back to the psalmist and Psalm 42. Look at the strong affirmation of faith and source of hope in the latter part of verse 5:

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation

Fellow strugglers and pilgrims don't walk this journey alone! There are too many helps out there to endure depression by yourself. You are not crazy, you are not without hope and you are not alone! Christ-followers unite, let's embrace those who battle depression. No magic wands, no magic "pastor dust", but instead, let us join them in the darkness. Let us sit with them, hold their hands, hug, and encourage! Let us be honest, quick to listen and careful not to offer trite cliche's that ring hollow. Let us remember, the darkness of the tomb preceded the light of resurrection. Jesus was in both and so should we if we are going to really model biblical community.