Suffering and the Christian

Ed Welch recently shared the top four answers from a survey of 365 respondents who had suffered with depression. The question on the CCEF website was, “What has helped you to endure in the midst of depression?” After working through those responses, he provides the basic summary of their witness as to what has helped them. He provided the following four basic summary statements:

1. 1. daily time in Scripture supplemented by anything spiritually good,
   2. time in prayer,
   3. time with people who understand and care well, and
   4. wise routines.

Just a few thoughts as I consider what the respondents said compared to my own counseling and life-lived habits.

A Slow Steady Journey

When I read these four summary statements, I am grateful. If you notice, for the average follower of Jesus Christ, these four steps are both normal and doable. At least on this survey of those who said they had suffered with depression at one level or another, these answers bubbled up to the top as the most helpful responses to their suffering. When read as a group, my first thought is, “Of course, and praise the Lord for His grace in the midst of struggles.”

• Bible reading supplemented by anything spiritually good: Consistent Bible reading is the fuel for the Holy Spirit’s power in a Christian’s life. The key here is not the quantity of what you read, but primarily taking time to read it and understand what you are reading. When reading the Bible plus supplementing it with anything spiritually good, it helps fortify what is being read in the Bible. Examples of anything spiritually good include good Christian literature and music. You are reading a blog now, and blogs can be a very helpful resource for you (biblicalcounselor.com, ACBC’s resource page, the BCC, Faith, and others).
• Time in prayer: Talk to God! When suffering through depression, for sure you are talking. Depression includes so many talks to self. Your thoughts seem to never end. What you say comes through the perspective of suffering. This certainly is normal. However, when we take those thoughts and turn them into an ongoing conversation with God, they can become helpful. The Psalms are full of those who take thoughts about their own personal suffering and turn them to God. We call those laments. Begin by telling God your thoughts through prayer. Ask God for His help. In addition, be sure to thank Him for what He is going to do in you and in your situation. Find places to praise God. Rehearse His love and character back to Him through your own prayer. In many ways, part of your prayer is informed by what you are reading.
• Time with people who understand and care well: Spend some time with people. In this sense of caring well, it may be a friend who can be with you in his or her presence, provides a hug or a smile, or someone you can share coffee with who will listen and respond to you as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. This time with people needs to include the normalness of friendship between siblings in Christ. The Apostle Paul often refers to this as practicing the “one-anothers.” This conversation continues over time. The participants wisely understand that every issue one is dealing with cannot be or even should be handled in one conversation. Instead, this conversation develops over time and begins by listening well, demonstrating compassion, and walking with another person. As Christians, we have much more work to do here. Often, people who suffer walk away from these conversations with a sense of let down because of unwise words or manners in the process, even though the motives were pure with a true desire to help. As well, because of the awkwardness of previous conversations or situations, many Christians fail to move toward those who suffer for fear of hurting them or failure. Essentially, at the end of the day, people are part of God’s grace to help the one who suffers with endurance.
• Wise routines: Wise routines can include almost anything but must include something. Suffering often makes us say “No” to ourselves. Sometimes we say “No” because we do not want to be around people, cannot concentrate, or just simply do not feel like it. But the respondents in this survey wisely and helpfully pointed out that doing something regular is important in this battle. When I help people, I often encourage them to do things like taking a daily walk, routinely doing a small project, practicing a hobby, being part of a small group, worshipping routinely, going for a hike, doing something outdoors, swim, clean, take a shower or relaxing bath, make a bed, and on and on. Some of these things include others, like small group, sharing a cup of coffee, or worshipping routinely. Other things can be done alone or with someone, whichever is best. Add an animal to the mix to spice some of it up.

Suffering and the Christian: A Slow Steady Journey…in the right direction

I have shared one of my favorite quotes before, but I think it is helpful in this discussion as well. Eugene Peterson describes discipleship as a “long obedience in the same direction.” I think these are wise words for this topic as well. Depression almost never comes overnight (if it does or did, go see a medical doctor). Just like it comes, as you work through this suffering, you will want to keep pointed in the right direction even when the steps may be short. Sadly for some, they will deal with this suffering possibly throughout life. These four steps are not a magic cure for alleviating suffering; instead, these four steps help you maintain faithfulness even in the midst of suffering.