Soul Depression

This week a new mother in one of my programs asked me what I thought she could have done to deserve God making her continually depressed. As we sat and discussed her recent bout of depression since the birth of her daughter, it became abundantly clear that the woman was suffering from postpartum depression.

Apparently when she had talked to her church pastor about her recent depression, he explained to her that we all go through dark times and that in every moment of joy there will inevitably be times of sorrow. The pastor had met with the mother several times so that they could talk through and confess her sins. Yet in all their prayer and discussion, the pastor never stopped to suggest to this mother that her depression could possibly be a medical issue and not simply be an issue of faith.

I’m not sure where the idea that God wants us to suffer comes from. I sometimes think people envision an old man sitting in a cloud demanding His toys to martyr their lives as justification of His power. For centuries there have been leaders in churches, synagogues and mosques that have taught their followers that brokenness and suffering in the world was God’s will. Instead of equipping their congregations to stand together in addressing or combating suffering in the world, these religious bodies have taught that suffering is a part God’s will for some of His people.

Do not get me wrong, I certainly believe that faith will cause people to carry crosses. When one feels compelled to stand up for the reality of God’s love for all people, there will be inevitably be suffering for the freedoms of the enslaved. However, by equating mankind’s suffering to predestination, Christians as well as those in other religions have in many ways enslaved themselves. They have created false crosses which depict a God that has chosen for them to be poor, depressed, homeless, even sick. How many funerals have you attended and heard someone say, “it must have been their time”? As a hospital chaplain I’ve actually heard people tell their loved ones that their AIDS or their cancer could be a punishment from God.

It seems that anything that we has humans do not understand we deem—God’s will. I say this because over time the stigma of predestination has been removed from things we as people now understand. For example, almost no one would say that their migraine was God’s will so they should not take aspirin! The majority of even our most religious populations still go to the hospital when they are sick rather than deeming their illness God’s will and becoming martyrs through their suffering.

At the same time, while people feel comfortable taking medically prescribed cough syrup for their colds, there is still a stigma around taking medication for someone’s chemical imbalance which has created depression.

Most of you reading this column understand the debate in our religious communities today around the idea of free choice. Traditionalists would have us believe that all choices, even our suffering, is chosen for us and that if we turn away from those choices God will turn away from us. On the other hand liberals give people the impression that God has left mankind to pick and chose dealing with their own suffering, without any recourse.

I guess I would like to propose a new concept for God’s presence in the lives, choices, joys and suffering of mankind. I believe God will neither abandon us or will abandon us in the mist of our choices and suffering. I understand a God which stands with us as we suffer and as we make choices. We could reframe our question of faith from “What does God want me to do?” or “What has God done to me?” to “Where is God with me in this moment?” I believe that God is always present in our lives. Our meditations and prayer need to be less moments of request and more moments of observation and mindful listening.

Christ made no claim that Christians would be rescued from their suffering if they followed him. His promise was that he would never leave them or forsake them. God does not want his children to suffer; God does not want us to be alone. If we as a religious people are to mirror our God’s love in the lives of His creation, then we must stop claiming God’s will and start pointing out God’s presence.

This week, whether you are suffering or standing on a mountaintop, take time to stop and mindfully see how, or through who, God is trying to be with you.

top photo credit: h.koppdelaney

bottom photo credit: Felipe Morin