David Murray: Christians Get Depressed Too

In this session based on his book, Dr. Murray offers help and hope to those suffering from depression, the family members and friends who care for them, and pastors ministering to these wounded members of their flock.
This message is from our 2013 National Conference, No Compromise: • No Compromise: 2013 Na...
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David Murray: Christians Get Depressed Too

[@dawnlauwrens3983]

I am only watching this now in 2022, as I have been doing my research and discovering that I suffer with depression. I come out of a charismatic background where the church either sees depression as a demon or you don't have enough faith, so one covers it up. I can relate to many things said in this video...and an not ashamed anymore to say "I suffer with depression, but have never depended on God more, just to get me through the day". He is my light and my salvation, my everything and without Him I am nothing. I am so glad that the church is beginning to really open up now towards helping with depression. God is good.

[@sisterrose6836]

"Those that climb to the highest of heights, can fall to the lowest of depths, spiritually." Paraphrasing from another Pastor.

[@oaoalphachaser]

I had a stroke and then I experienced anxieties and depression and panic attacks. My primary doctor prescribed me antidepression pills that I should take for six months. But I heard sermons from christian Pastor’s like Dr. Charles Stanley, that anxiety and depression is a faith battle. So after taking the pills for a week, I stopped it and I Sur rendered my life to God. I went to a Church and told the pastor and elders about my problem and they prayed over me and anointed me with oil. I took a serious reading and meditation g upon the Word of God and my christian life. I a.m now a New creation In Christ and I a.m healed. After a year and a half, people are amazed that I Show no resiidual traces that I had a stroke after months that I could not stand or walk. The Lord is so amazing.

[@markim2545]

I have come out of a terrible depression battle. Through Godly counsel, light anti depression medicine and God's grace I have found peace and joy. The greatest thing I learned was to walk with God everyday. I love to sit at his feet and learn from his Word and pray to Him. Utter dependence is joyful!

[@stevenfetzer4911]

Are you still on medication? I don't want to permanently be on a medication if possible.

[@abelizandro3811]

God can even work depression for our good 🙏🏽 I pray He does . My wife and I are going through a dark valley of depression and this is encouraging to hear pastor Murray

[@standinginthegap7118]

I am so grateful for this teaching. I myself have been a Christian since 9 years old. I struggled with depression for most of my life since the age of 11. Christian leaders, councilors, though well meaning, would almost always say essentially that if I would study my Bible enough or follow God closely enough that I would be free of it. But that is not the case, I venture to say, in most cases. I was born with many physical medical conditions that most people consider very very bad. At times I have been in extreme physical pain. But as for me, there is no physical pain that even compares to the pain of loneliness and depression. Not even close. Many times Christians with chronic depression instead of being cared for by other Christians, they are stamped with a scarlet D on their chest, as if they have produced their plight through some deep dark sin. This teaching takes that heavy load off of the shoulders of the people that they can not bare. As bad as depression has been so much of the time, I thank God for it. If I had not endured so often, I know that I would not have been compassionate with others, I would not have listened or been understanding. I would likely have been a bit of a bully at times. So I thank God for the pain. What was meant for evil, God has used for good. Additionally, I learned to pray without ceasing very early in my Christian walk because I could not survive minute to minute without out it. Thank you for taking the time to share this. It is such a great blessing. May God bless you, your ministry, and your family.

[@witnessingh]

Thank you for taking the time to write this comment. I am very hesitant when it comes to watching sermons on depression because of the same reason you expressed, 'scarlet D'. I will try this out...& also keep you in prayer

[@mariestreeting4213]

My Husband went home 5 months ago. Both Christians, but I’ve had depression since childhood growing up in a violent home. I know my Bas is with his Lord and Saviour but I’m here alone and I’ve found that at Church and with Christian friends they can’t understand why I’m not overjoyed knowing Bas has gone to Heaven. I am overjoyed but that doesn’t help when my heart is breaking and I must admit I get angry that they don’t understand from my perspective. Take care and God bless.

[@volanaandriamisa8978]

Amazing insight on what depression is... super encouraging . God bless

[@leslieladyhawke]

THANK YOU, Dr Murray!

[@mcoz6934]

YES‼️ The notion that all difficulty & hardship, all pain & suffering, all grief & sorrow is evil & wrong and should be eliminated is completely ABSURD‼️ 🤔💭 Muscles grow & get stronger through the initial tearing down of their fibers. Athletes become more skillfull through strenuous exercise & training. We all become more resilient in life by going through difficult experiences & challenging seasons. There's no other way‼️ Without them, we'd be weak & pathetic, just like many in our society today who have been kept in a bubble of constant protection. It's not a pretty sight‼️ 💯 Instead of despising pain & difficulty, we should instead learn to be grateful for such things, even rejoice, that God is actively maturing us, working all things together for His glory & our good.💯

[@rhondae8222]

Thanks for sharing biblical truth.

[@dragisaarmus1281]

Dear brother, I am glad to inform you that this book, Christians get depressed too, is just translated in Serbian and ready for printing just after we receive copyright. The project is done by support of Come Over and Help. Pastor Dragisa Armus, Serbia.

[@persevere6326]

Excellent Thanks for posting

[@cybercab]

This all feels super optimistic. I don’t really disagree with it but it feels hollow to me. I bet it’s helpful to some. I’ve just heard it all before and don’t see how it is helpful during one’s life at all if it doesn’t make a difference in life. Eternity is set. That’s great. But it’s hard just waiting for a rain check. The danger is that if I say it’s not working at church people assume it’s a spiritual issue because some cannot fathom how reality works for some.

[@georgeroberts9111]

Haven't had much help from the said "Church". I'm glad to know I'm not the only believer that has problems with depression though. For IT to go away would be a huge relief. And yes, It's outside--> in type depression. You question everything~?

[@pamelamyers9613]

Bless you. Have you read the Book of Psalms? It seems David had plenty of struggles with depression! But God is to us, a God of deliverances. God is very close to the depressed. ❤❤❤

[@idiotbun3552]

I don't think that he was given much time. He should have been given more time.

[@knukus1992]

”우울증에 빠지면 자신이 세상에서 가장 나쁜 그리스도인이라고 생각합니다“

[@carolynbohannon4602]

I dont know what to do.

[@SleeplessinOC]

great...so now Christians who are not depressed have to live in fear that God will cause depression in them to "teach them something" or because the Christian wasn't depending on God enough. What does depending on God enough even look like? Praying enough? Praising enough? Asking God his opinions or guidance on something and hope to hear some sort of an answer? And that if someone is struck with depression, that it means they were not doing enough to satisfy God so God has to teach them by bringing depression into their lives. It's a very disturbing thought that God will keep someone in depression as a way to keep them pathetically dependent on him, the kind of dependence where they are groveling for some mercy, not as a child depending on their parent with confidence. It almost seems like a punishment for not performing enough for God. Instead of giving me hope, this video made me even more depressed.

[@franceseattle]

Dear SleeplessinOC, your note gave me great sorrow for you and I wanted to reach out and encourage you, little though that is. The Christian is not to try to please God in the way you describe. We don't have to prove anything to him, we have confidence in our ultimate destiny of salvation, but in the meantime, there are those of us who suffer all the same ills that beset other people. What is different is that we can have confidence that our depression will not be pointless suffering. He will transform that into something beautiful in a way that gives us real significance and purpose. This is not something that will be true for the person who doesn't believe in Christ. The person suffering from depression, who in addition has no concept of life on earth being anything other than a pointless journey of randomness, has no sense of how this depression can be used for growth, depth, and meaning. Depression for the Christian does not mean that one is not "doing enough" at all. The fact is, all of us are dependent on God for everything. The older you get, the more likely you are to realize that you have little control over life, yourself, your body, let alone anybody else. For the Christian, this is not an unsettling fact, as we learn to rely on him more. This does not mean that we take no action. We live as if everything depends on us, while understanding that everything depends on God. There is no reason to assume that God "gives" us depression, more that he can use this for our good, and we have confidence that he will do so. The Christian does not have to do anything to earn God's love. To understand this myself (since I've had my own bouts with depression), I think about the difference between looking at the short term and at the long term. In human understanding, when one knows that suffering has an end point, it makes it much easier to endure. The fact that women know that childbirth is usually painful, at least unpleasant, and possibly dangerous, has never been seen to stop women from desiring the greater good, to be a mother. So, we undertake an unknown 9 month journey, often willingly accepting chronic discomfort, nausea, etc. because we know it is finite and that it will be worth it eventually. It's why we spend so much time and effort at school, etc. We all know that much of mature life consists of putting off immediate gratification for a long time good. This is part of my confidence as a Christian. I know the suffering is finite, whereas the infinite life in Christ, that is the life which is to come, will be permanent and complete joy. It may not sound like much to one who doesn't know Jesus, but to the believer, it means a lot of comfort and understanding. Peace and best wishes.

[@pamelamyers9613]

I seriously disagree with that! I believe God uses the Holy Spirit and his Word to reach us, correct us, and discipline us!

[@pauljudd9825]

depression is suffering like other illness. Illness in a fallen world.

[@natashaprince5654]

Your alternative that God is not in control and things happen that God doesn’t want is even more scary!