[Annie]

not every case is a medical situation. Sometimes depression is an indication that there is just something wrong in that person's life that needs to be addressed. It could be a spiritual problem, perhaps things just aren't right between the person and God. But i do believe it could also be a medical problem.

Medication to treat depression when it is indeed a medical issue shouldn't be considered wrong or bad. The way i look at it is that those who do suffer from a chemical imbalance today that causes depression have been blessed God because He chose to place them in a time and place to receive the treatment they would need.

i think a lot of people throw out that "you just need to have more faith" argument because they can't believe that a fallen body could have anything wrong with it. Its a faulty argument because every single person who pushes that line of thought will get sick at some point in their lives and they will die (provided the rapture doesn't happen first). Sometimes God asks us to stand and watch as He does great miracles to heal people, but those time are always at His will and His timing not ours. We can have faith in faith all we want but we cannot force God to move in a way that He is not willing for whatever reason.

I suffer from fibromyalgia which occasionally causes me to be depressed as well. In my case i know its just my body working against me so if my depression ever got to the point i couldn't handle it anymore i would be seeking medical treatment for that. I have sought medical treatment to manage my other symptoms and i am taking medication to control them and am confident in what i said earlier that God has blessed me by placing me in the right time and place to receive the treatment i need. God could heal me in an instant from all my problems if He chose. I have no doubt whatsoever about that. But for now this is just my thorn in the flesh and something i know He can use for His glory.


My favourite passage to reflect on for this sort of thing is:


7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, ?My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.? Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ?s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Cor 12:7-10