Christians and Depression

By now, we all know the tragic story of Robin Williams ending his own life. It's...man, it's hard to think about.
"He was so funny! His life was great! He was rich! He always looked so happy!"
Did you have any of those thoughts when you heard the news?
I admit, shamefully, that my first instinct was to think that way.
Because we don't know the personal struggles he was going through. Sure, we knew he battled depression and addictions, but we couldn't possibly know how it was consuming his life.

Or were your thoughts more along these lines:
"I would NEVER do that. How selfish of him. Depression isn't that bad...he didn't have to end his life because of it."

If I may say this: how dare you? HOW DARE YOU??

What right do you have to judge and point fingers when you don't know the whole situation? (By the way, this applies to all of life.)
Oh, it's easier that way though, isn't it? To stand back and whisper and shake our heads sadly, while saying to ourselves and our friends that we're glad it isn't us or anyone we personally know.

I can guarantee you...and I'm completely confident in this...that every person reading this knows someone who deals with depression.
Who's considered suicide or maybe even attempted suicide.
And I can just as confidently promise you that you are the last person they'll tell, if your first reaction was to judge.
Why?
Because they've seen your heart and know you're full of judgment.
And that's the last thing they need.

Maybe you're telling yourself that I'm wrong and no one in your life is depressed.
Don't kid yourself, okay? Please don't be that ignorant.
Everyone you know has things in their past that you know nothing about and that they likely have buried under years of hiding it and pretending it doesn't exist.
But it's there and it eats at them.
So they put up walls, hide under protective shells, wear masks, all in the attempt to keep it together for ONE more day.
It's heartbreaking.

I know several people who've lost someone to suicide.
So, of course, I walked up to them and said, "How selfish of them. I just can't believe it. So how are you doing with all this?"

Yeah, no. Didn't do that, will never do that. Because why should we heap guilt on anyone who's dealing with that? A better way to ask that is: What RIGHT do we have to do that? They've just gone through a terrible loss that they're probably already feeling guilt over. They're most likely already going over all scenarios and trying to think of what they should've done differently.

Don't add to that. Don't be that person.

What they need now, most of all, is love and grace.
They need to know that you're there for them, regardless.
That you care.
That you won't speak poorly of any decisions made.
Above all, that you won't pass judgment.

And people who are going through depression?
They also need love and grace.
They need to know that you aren't going to abandon them.
That you'll sit with them, even if neither one of you talks at all.
That if they do talk, you'll listen.
They need to be loved by you the way Jesus would love them.

And He would.
He would sit and listen.
Listen and love.
Love and cry with them.
Hold them while they cried.
Let them know it's safe to trust Him.

Are you safe to trust?

If you're depressed or have suicidal thoughts, please know there's no shame in it. There are real, genuine people who care and want to help.
I'm one of them.

Because this is so important to me, here are some resources if you need someone to talk to:

http://brokenbelievers.com/247-crisis-lines/
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Remember: You're valuable, you're loved, and you matter.