We are all exposed to depression in one form or another routinely. Depression is devastating and real. It touches families and communities in tremendous numbers. Generally depression is not desirable. I offer the good news about depression. Depression that is, self-imposed, can be rewarding; that is good news.

Perhaps you have been, or would classify yourself as depressed at this very moment. Let us explore the topic together. You may think depression is a bad thing, I am aware of a form of depression that is good. Here I will share the good news about depression. By the time you finish reading this post I pray you will see depression and your power over it with new eyes.

First, I acknowledge the gravity of depression, it is a serious illness. Depression can be categorized in many forms. It may last from a few days to a lifetime. Please see the information listed on the National Institute of Health’s website or professionals in the area of mental health for personal questions you may have on the topic of depression.

By The Numbers

According to the World Health Organization:

“Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. More women are affected by depression than men.”

 The condition commonly known as depression is debilitating and may severely impair health. Here I will be providing information about a good type of depression.

The Good News About Depression

When referring to such a serious illness impacting hundreds of millions of people how can it be good?

Let us go to the word of God for good news. Depression is expressed in the New Testament of the Bible as the word ”tapeinoo”. This Greek word for the word humble is found 14 times in 11 verses. This word literally means to depress, or humiliate in condition or heart.

Whenever it is used it refers to circumstances or disposition in a good sense. It also refers to abasing, bringing low or humbling one’s self. In other words to place others in higher esteem than our self is a good thing, as far as God is concerned. A kind of self-imposed depression.

Here is a passage from the gospel of Luke that displays good depression as expressed in a parable from the mouth of Jesus the Christ:

⁹ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9-14, KJV)

The word for humbleth is “tapeinoo” and refers to depressing one’s self. In the parable Jesus shows us one that exalts himself and one that is exhalted by God because he humbled himself. Given the choice would you rather be depressed?

Depressing one’s self as God would have us to means that we value others. Instead we are to look for the best in each other and do our best to bring it out.

In the commonly used sense of depression, we are not generally in a good place. When we look deeper into the word of God we can see that the self-lowering we choose to do when we humble our self by looking for the gifts of God in others is the good news about depression.

Renew Your Mind

According to the word of God as recorded in the book of Luke, when we humble ourselves He will exalt us. What could be higher than to be exalted by God?

My attempt here is not to minimize the very real circumstances of depression, instead to magnify that we have a choice to be exalted by God’s grace. He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Allow the concept of depression to have a new, empowering meaning for you! Think upon the good news about depression. Meditate on the word of God and ask Him to reveal how His rhema word is to be used in your life.

The good news about depression is that God honors our self-imposed depression when it involves us humbling ourselves as we value others in their gifts. Everyone has gifts. When we see their gifts and exalt them in love, He promises He will exalt us.

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”