The fight against depression was exhausting.
“I don’t know why this semester has been so hard for me,” I told my parents over the phone.
Heaving sobs wracked my body, and tears poured down my cheeks.
“Have you prayed about it?” Dad asked.
I shook my head, then realized they couldn’t see me and said, “Not as I should.
In my senior year of college, I fell into a state of depression. I had panic episodes and found myself crying even though nothing had happened. Nothing should have triggered such a response. I tried to write it off as the stress of classes, homesickness, or being overly tired. But the real root of the problem was my distance from God.
Christians are supposed to have a daily walk with God, which includes studying the Bible and praying constantly. If a Christian falls away from God, the results can be catastrophic. In my case, it caused depression.
When depression hits, the best thing to do is pray about it. God wants His children to cast their cares on Him and let Him comfort them. But instead of letting go, I kept living in a depressive state. I told myself I would read my Bible and pray later. I told myself God could wait while I figured out my worries. But I couldn’t figure it out by myself. Only when I returned to God did I find comfort and rest.
Depression can be intense, but compared to God’s strength, it doesn’t stand a chance. As Christians, we need to remain in the Word to discover the joy of the Lord. In the battle of God against depression, God will always come out on top.
Think of things you still hold on to that deprive you of God’s comfort. Then let go of your troubles and fall into the Father’s embrace.
Katelyn Peterson is a senior professional writing student at Pensacola Christian College. She has big dreams of becoming a published author one day if the Lord wills. Until then, she plans to follow where the Lord leads and serve Him no matter where she lands.