DEPRESSION

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates sixteen million adults in the United States suffer from some form of depression. The World Health Organization estimates 350 million people in the world suffer from depression. Over thirty thousand suicides take place in America each year above sixty percent suffered from depression. The suicide epidemic has become the fourth leading cause of death among adults ages eighteen to sixty-five. This sermon topic seems to be overlooked by our pulpits today. There are millions of Christians within the 350 million suffering from depression. These brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering from something they cannot control. They awake each day to another day of dread, crying out to God for relief with none in sight. Lost in a dark, never ending tunnel, looking for a way out. No light, no hope, and no direction. There is a stigma attached to being a Christian suffering from depression because we believe this is not supposed to happen to real Christians. After all, aren't we to be content in all things? We are to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. How do we share our condition with other Christians who are void of understanding? We are not alone in our fight to drive this beast out of our lives. There are millions fighting this battle each day. Searching for the light at the end of the tunnel. The time has come to talk about depression in Christianity.