Stacy Davis

Being a Christian or a disciple of Jesus does not mean that you are exempt from struggles in this life. On the contrary, being a follower of Jesus opens you up to persecution and suffering precisely because you follow Him. Consider these Bible verses about depression: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. – 2 Timothy 3:12-13, NIV “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” – John 15:20, NIV We ought to banish the thought that following Jesus will mean smooth sailing in life, perfect health, and no issues in our relationships. Instead, in Jesus we have comfort, true meaning, and a purpose that can help us navigate this world well during these trials. When we face challenges of any sort, we can face them with the strength God provides, and with joy, peace, and hope. A quick explainer on depression It should come as no surprise that disciples of Jesus can also experience depression, just as everyone else in the world is vulnerable to depression. Being depressed doesn’t make you less godly or Spirit-filled; it simply makes you a human being living in a broken world that is in the grip of sin and death. For the believer, hope lies in the promise that though we face trouble, we have peace because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16: 33). Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for [...]