What is on my mind? Feeling a bit sad to find people writing to me after a recent blog to say they have been told by their pastors that their depression is a sin. If you have been told that, please know it is rubbish. Not only that, it is cruel rubbish. If that is the persistent teaching on the matter, you should probably not try and dignify such madness with a conversation. You would probably be better off in a church where the leadership understands human fragility. Pastors don’t always like it when people move church. Sometimes it is the right thing to move even if the pastor throws a fit and puts pressure on you to stay…though if you are in perpetual motion that is a different matter! Settle somewhere, where the fellowship is supportive and you find good spiritual bread on offer that strengthens you, even strenghtens you to offer yourself to bless others in your brokenness.
Jesus still remembers a time when he was so sorrowful he felt he could die on the spot. I hope you hear the tone of his voice and heart speaking to you somehow this day. Remember too that same heart and voice is praying for you in the same tone. He ever lives to make intercession for you and for me… and even for the folk who have distressed you with their condemning words….
Actually I have come to see that those who have entered into depression are often the bravest of souls. Pstorally I have so often found it is the road from a past to which one cannot return or had to move away to a new place, a new state not yet arrived at emotionally, mentally, spiritually or even physically. However you found yoursef on that road, be it for reasons of chemical imbalance, or chldhood trauma, for reasons of circumstance or for one of many other reasons, may you know the empathy of Jesus. He is now annointed with the oil of joy. He got there! He has faith for you. If your faith has dried up, somehow may the faith of the Son of God ,who loved you and gave himself for you, be yours this day.
God bless
Kenny
revkennyblog 
Thank you once again Kenny for your wonderful words of encouragement. No one knows the depth of sorrow, or the depths of Gods comfort, as someone suffering depression. I don’t understand why some of the sweetest intercession comes from the darkest moments of depression, but I do know the One who makes a doorway of hope in those dark valleys. Please Lord forgive those who have spoken out of ignorance or spite and may Your church show Your kindness and compassion to all those who are experiencing depression. Please all you pastors out there, if you can’t be understanding, please at least, be kind !
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spot on.
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God bless all who know the darkness of despair, bring your light, your comfort and your peace.
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That’s beautiful Kenny and so important.
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This is so relevant. I often felt like I was bleeding to death in a church pew while those around me were completely oblivious!
The verse in Revelation that speaks of Christ’s intercession for us was such a comfort when I found it several years ago; He never stops thinking of us.
And there is indeed much truth in depression, or any long term affliction or traumatic circumstance, bringing strength we otherwise would lack. BUT that too is a matter of choice; do we set our faces like flint to believe our wonderful Lord or do we sink under the attitudes of insensitive, cruel judgement?
I can’t do it. I have nothing in me that can handle that.
But praise God, He is my strength and carries me through it all. May none of us rely on anything else.
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It is sadly so often the case that any illness, mental health, physical visible or not, is seen by many Christians as a consequence of sin or insufficient faith.
God is not a liar& will not be mocked. There’s name it& claim it theology & prosperity teaching. There is an element of truth in each, but we must also show love&discernment.
Name it & fake it till healing happens May be ok for some , but personally I believe Jesus is bigger than that. When the blind man saw people as, trees walking Jesus called him back and prayed again. Note too
most NT healings happened where non believers were present.
Jesus did not make a spectacle of people, he had compassion on them. I know from personal experience that if you happen on a church mtg in a wheelchair you are a magnet to some prayer ministry teams. Sadly several people with disabilities will no longer go to such mtgs.
We live in times when medical staff are not allowed to share faith with patients. How much more then are Christians needed, when ill, to be alongside others to share the good news with them in their suffering. Respect& sensitivity are of course vital, both to the patient& the Lord.Apologies for long msg but feel passionately abt this.
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Well said Lesley. Thank you.
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