Depression and Disappointment as Part of the Chrisitan Life

It's a common misconception that the Christian life involves holding hands and singing songs in fields of flowers , blissfully unaware of the rest of the world's problems. This has led the non-Christian to think that Christians don't understand suffering and led some young Christians to wonder if their conversion means the end of disappointment.

As Jesus was preparing to leave his disciples he told them many important things, but one always stands out to me, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) The world is not a friendly place and the Bible does not sugar coat these problems.

The book of Ecclesiastes details the authors' attempts to find happiness. He was a Godly man who followed the commandments but still found himself feeling empty inside. (Today, we sometimes talk about this as part of the human condition.)

He tried to overcome grief by learning, but came to this conclusion:

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief. (Ecclesiastes 1)

He was also a wealthy man who could afford many things and tried to achieve happiness through accomplishments and possessions. This brought him to this conclusion:

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2)

The Psalms tell us that life is short and that our works are meaningless:

...let me know how fleeting is my life.


You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.


Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
(Excerpt from Psalm 39)

Am I trying to depress you? No, the lesson here is that the Bible does not deny suffering (in fact, it promises it), but God does give us light, hope, and direction. This world gets pretty dark and depressing sometimes, but Christians always have the lighthouse to follow, to tell us where to go, and to remind us that someone is waiting for us when we get there.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23)