Dealing With Dark Seasons

Tonight, I want to deal with the serious subject of despair & depression. Why both? Because lingering despair can lead to depression. And both must be addressed the same way Biblically. Having read a recent report of escalating depression among young people & adults, I feel compelled to speak on this matter. Is this necessary? A pastor friend whose daughter took her life not long ago would say “yes.” According to the Mayo Clinic, “Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness & loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think & behave & can lead to a variety of emotional & physical problems. More than just a bout of the blues (or having a bad day), depression isn't an emotion you can simply "snap out" of.” Facts—“Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Depression is the cause of over 2/3’s of the 30,000 reported suicides in the U.S. each year. For every 2 homicides committed in the United States, there are 3 suicides. Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 & 34. From 2001 through 2017 for the total population, the total suicide rate increased 31%.”