![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/644\/2018\/03\/man-depression-patheos.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Depression can be symptomatic of the deep desolation of our hearts. We are capable of fearing we\u2019ll never again know happiness, and many who love God have suffered from such dread. God\u2019s grace, His promise to never forsake us, His sustaining presence, and His promise of a plan for our good are always part of the cure; sometimes therapy and medication can also play significant roles.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve known a few people with perpetually sunny dispositions, but my own nature is reflective and, at times, melancholic. I\u2019ve experienced seasons of depression, both before and since coming to faith in Christ\u2014some due to my personality type and emotional makeup (and perhaps genetics), some triggered by my long-term physical illness (insulin-dependent diabetes), and some the result of adverse circumstances.<\/p>\n
I share in my book\u00a0Happiness<\/a><\/em>\u00a0how as a teenager, before knowing God, I had nothing much to fight it with. Now I have far better tools\u2014first and foremost an awareness of the presence and grace of God. I thank Him that as the years have gone on, He has enabled me to experience more frequent times of happiness even in the midst of difficulties. God\u2019s gift of laughter is a huge part of that; in fact, sometimes it\u2019s like a ladder that helps me climb out of deep holes. A close friend once told me, \u201cI always know when you\u2019re hurting. You joke and laugh more.\u201d (Again, there are medications that help some people, and I\u2019m grateful for that, as they\u2019re part of His common grace.)<\/p>\n When I blogged about my depression\u00a0several years ago, a few people expressed shock that someone who had written about subjects such as grace and Heaven could ever be depressed! I had to laugh, since far better people than I have experienced far worse depression, including Martin Luther, John Owen, and William Cowper, to name a few.<\/p>\n Here are the posts I wrote about Charles Spurgeon\u2019s experience with depression, which many readers have found helpful:<\/p>\n Depression, Gratitude and Charles Haddon Spurgeon<\/a><\/p>\n More on Depression in the Christian Life and Ministry (with Citations from Charles Spurgeon)<\/a><\/p>\n Third (and Final) on Spurgeon, Ministry and Depression<\/a><\/p>\n Also see\u00a0Shedding Light on Depression and Thoughts of Suicide<\/a>.<\/p>\n A few years ago I recorded\u00a0this ten-minute\u00a0video<\/a>\u00a0with Desiring God\u2019s David Mathis about some things I learned while experiencing depression.<\/p>\n