Have you ever been out in an open space after a heavy snow? The way that blanket of white covers everything, muffles sound, and changes the landscape is remarkable, beautiful, but also dangerous. Landmarks that once guided are changed. Cold winds blow and even though your voice carries farther, you can feel cut off from everyone and everything else. Ask anyone who has been trapped in the snow, and they’ll tell you just how harrowing it can be. It gets difficult to maintain traction, your body starts to lock up from the cold, and everything you do seems to take more and more work just to gain some sort of progress. Movies are made about such herculean efforts.

This is the life of someone who suffers with depression. Everything seems to take more work. It feels hard to gain progress. Everything feels muffled, cold and distant. It leaves you feeling isolated, trapped and like no one can hear you when you cry out. The blanket of sorrow weighs down, and impedes your life.

Sure, we’ve all been upset by things. You may have been sad or grieved for a season. But those things are not the same as depression. It almost requires having it yourself, or walking the path with a dear friend or loved one to begin to gain insight into the depths and struggles of this emotional and mental condition. We must be mindful when seeking to help or address those who struggle under depression to listen to their cries, and not try to equate them to our own past sadness or brief periods of hurt.

It’s not a simple matter of “cheering up.” And usually, it’s not just something to “pray away.” It’s not the effect of a lack of faith in most cases, and can’t be solved through human affirmations, positive statements or books on self-esteem. For many, it’s the result of a genetic chemical imbalance (in their DNA) or can come as the result of trauma.

The help of a professional needs to be employed.

(Try here and here to start, or here for support groups, being mindful of who you’re connecting to there.)

Psalm 34:17-18 says this: “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.“

People who are suffering with depression need to know they are heard. While we need to be mindful not to enable poor thinking patterns, we do need to simply sit with them at times and hear them out. We don’t have to offer direct advice, leave that to the professionals, but we can offer up scripture that meets them where they are at.

Ask them what passages, if any, have stood out like a beacon of hope to them. Ask them about their salvation, and the moment they became recipients of grace in Jesus Christ. Help them find a few things, small or large, to be thankful for that can stand as evidence of God’s continued faithfulness and love over them. But do these things gently, with all compassion, and be very mindful of your tone.

If you’re in a position to help, do so with “kid gloves” being gentle. Also, know the boundaries of your comfort and ability and be prepared to step away for a moment if you find your compassion dwindling.

The person dealing with depression is made in the image of God, just as we all are.

The person dealing with depression can receive the same grace in Jesus Christ that God gives to those He calls.

The person dealing with depression needs a gentle reminder that the same Holy Spirit who indwells all Christians, if they are one themselves, also resides in them.

The person dealing with depression needs to hear that their depression is not their fault, that it does not diminish their identity, make them less than and that they are not, in fact, a bother, a project to be fixed, or a burden to carry.

Life is hard. Life brings burdens.

People are never, ever a burden.

If you are the person who struggles daily under the blanket of depression, I want you to hear these things today. I also want to encourage you to ask 1-2 qualified people for some introductory-level help. God doesn’t intend for you to do this yourself, and much of your help will come from people who get it.

Yes. There are people who do indeed understand the fullness of what you’re feeling.

You are not alone, not for a moment.

It may well be that the people you’re currently around do not understand and aren’t qualified to help. They’re probably not pastors and counselors. They probably have no training to properly speak hope, help and guidance over you…but that doesn’t mean no one can. There are helps available. But, as you know, those things don’t often fall into our laps. We do need to reach out.

If you’re struggling to do that, maybe a less direct approach will help you take your first step so you can know “Yes, I did do something good today.” Try calling the KLOVE or AIR1 Pastors: 1-800-525-5683 or the Billy Graham Prayer Line: 1-888-388-2683 as a first step. You can stay anonymous, and you can do it from the comfort of wherever you are right now.

Depression isn’t the identity of the depressed. It never was. It never will be.

If you are in Christ, your identity is in Him. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” – Galatians 3:27. This is an all-encompassing statement. If you are in Christ, then your identity is defined by Him. There are no exceptions to this rule. Our feeling do not dictate how much God loves us, nor are the truths of His promise dampened by our sorrow.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” – Psalm 56:8

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” – Revelation 7:17

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

God – Sees – You

God knows your hurts.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” – Isaiah 53:3

Jesus understands, and meets with you where you are. But He has also come to lift you up.

How does God help?

1. He meets with you in His Word, showing you He knew these feelings would come.
2. In His Word, He provides comfort for us in our sorrow.
3. Jesus wore this same flesh we wear. He shows you He knows those burdens of sorrow.
4. The Gospel reminds us that these things we experience now will not be the way things always are. We have hope.
5. God has provided for you from His people. People to be friends. People who understand because they walk under it, too. People who have been trained and qualify to help you.
6. He tells you that —you— are worth helping, worth loving, worth taking the time for every single day. You are loved by Him, seen by Him, and provided for in Him.
7. He is your sufficiency. You and I don’t have to be “enough” because He already is. Turn to Him.

Talk to God in prayer again today. He provides the faith we need, the strength we need, the help we need.

You don’t have to come up with it on your own. That was never the plan. But we need to seek help.
Start there today. Make one call. God will guide you through.