“The Christian, The Holidays and Depression”
The Problem
Several years ago a man came into my office and said, "Pastor, I think there is something wrong with me. I want to serve the Lord, but, I have trouble with depression, especially during the holidays." The holiday season seems particularly difficult for some. The traditional family images reflected in Christmas cards and television commercials paint a picture of the ideal family celebration which few people experience. In contrast to these romantic fantasies are some unpleasant facts of life. For example, the holiday season occurs during the period of shortest daylight hours. Most people work their normal schedules (except for the immediate holidays) creating a time crunch resulting in extreme exhaustion. Approximately 25% of the population lives in a "traditional family" - untouched by death, separation, divorce and remarriage. Additionally, several families struggle with job loss and financial strains. Thus, the "ideal traditional family Christmas" is a foreign concept to many. We sometimes think to ourselves, "Where's the Christmas joy I ought to feel? Why am I so depressed?" So, what’s wrong with us? Should a Christian feel depressed during the Christmas season?
Defining Depression
In order to understand the question we must first define the term. Depression can be divided into two categories: 1.) Clinical Depression; 2.) Common Depression. Clinical Depression is characterized by long, continual periods of sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and loss or increase of appetite. Concentration becomes impossible; sleep patterns are effected; and, there is a sense of overall dejection and hopelessness which can lead to suicidal tendencies. Those who suffer from this type of depression need to see a physician.
Most of us suffer from a considerably milder form of depression I call "Common Depression". There are days when we live under a dark cloud of gloom. We don’t feel happy and energetic. We are dissatisfied with life in general. We say, "Boy, I’m really down today."
Depression is part of the human condition. It is a result of the Fall. Throughout the Scripture we see instances of God’s children suffering severe sadness and grief. For example, David in Psalm 6:6 said, "I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears." The prophet Jeremiah lamented, "Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth…"(Lam 2:11) The shortest verse in the Bible records Jesus’ sadness over the people’s reaction to Lazarus’ death - "Jesus wept". Christian, you will struggle with depression at various times in your life. The question is not "should we be depressed"; but, how will we respond to that depression in a way that pleases God?
What Can We Do?
We must understand that depression is an emotion. As God’s people we are to control our emotions with clear thinking grounded in the Bible. For example, look at the emotion of anger. Proverbs 12:16 says, "A fool is quick-tempered; a wise man stays cool when insulted"(The Living Bible). We are to control our anger. In fact, Solomon says, "A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls"(Proverbs 25:28 from The Living Bible). Depression is like anger in that it is an emotion that can sidetrack us from serving the Lord.
Sadly, many Christians live by their feelings (emotions). When our emotions control us, we move our eyes from God’s Word and fix them on ourselves. Peter instructed, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"(1 Peter 1:13). The word "sober" means "self-controlled, disciplined". We are to saturate our minds with the Scriptures – God’s eternal truths - allowing them to control us. We are to faithfully obey God in the midst of our sadness. To feel the emotion is not sin; to allow it to control us is.
If you are one who dreads the holidays, remember Depression is an emotion. Sometimes, that emotion is strong and threatens to shake us to the core. But, we are God's children, created in His image. We are enabled by the Holy Spirit to faithfully obey under the worst conditions. We are called to faithfulness. The "breaking waves" of depression will eventually diminish. Remember God's promise in I Thessalonians 5:24, "Faithful is He that calls you, Who also will do it."
