Jeremiah’s Depression

They call him the Weeping Prophet. There’s a reason. God set Jeremiah aside to announce judgment to a people who refused to listen. He saw the destruction of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and his people led into exile. Is it any wonder he struggled with despair? Read this passage from the book that bears his name: (Jeremiah 20:14-18)

Cursed be the day I was born!
May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,
who made him very glad, saying,
“A child is born to you—a son!”
May that man be like the towns
the Lord overthrew without pity.
May he hear wailing in the morning,
a battle cry at noon.
For he did not kill me in the womb,
with my mother as my grave,
her womb enlarged forever.
Why did I ever come out of the womb
to see trouble and sorrow
and to end my days in shame?

Jeremiah vents his full frustration to God. He would rather not live than face what he faces. Notice that he also keys in on shame, an emotion many with depression struggle with. I wonder if he was tempted with the thought that if he was a better prophet, perhaps some of the people would listen? Do you ever struggle with that thought? If you would just try harder, everything would go better?

It doesn’t work that way, though.

And if you have any doubt that Jeremiah experienced depression, go read Lamentations. These are the words of a devastated man, bitter words from a bitter heart.

Faithfulness does not mean a person can escape depression. Working hard will not keep the gloom away. Sometimes a depressed person can feel that their emotional state is their own fault. That if they worked harder, more faithfully, trusted more, just let go and let God, perhaps they can escape the pit their hearts have dug for them.

Don’t fall for that variation of the theology of glory. The theology of glory says that if you believe hard enough, life will be easy.

It is a lie.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. Take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

You may be faithful. You may work hard. And yet you may still experience depression. The world is broken, and your body may be broken in a way that causes you to have depression. Take heart! Jeremiah wasn’t saved because of his faithfulness. He wasn’t saved by clinging to an undying optimism or a practical even-headedness. He was saved because of God’s faithfulness to him and to all the promises he made.

You aren’t loved because you control your depression. You aren’t accepted because you work hard at serving others.

You are saved because God is faithful to you. He is faithful to all the promises he has made to you.

Even on your darkest day, God is faithful to you. You are loved. You are forgiven. You belong to him.