Why am I depressed even though I'm a christian?

Having been depresses and attempted suicide nearly 20 yrs ago i can say there are a few things i can suggest may help

1. Remove from your circle of friends any that have only negative news and a dark view of the world.
2. Get into fellowship and find a pastor to talk to , be open and honest.
3. Pray and fast. This lowers our fleshly blockages to hearing from the Holy Spirit within us.
4. Find a friend who shows you love and kindness. Not a lover! A friend.
5. Read the Bible daily , read it all, then ask questions about the things you read
6. Get the ChatAPP downlaod from this website and chat to christians LIVE, but be aware not all on the APP are Christians

None of that may change your world, some of it may. All of that is what keeps me alive and pressing on to the End.

OP,

I have been there. Oh man have I been there. Depression is no joke! Here are a few thoughts that you might take into consideration:

1. I would agree with @dude123 about exercise. Getting in some really vigorous exercise is a very good thing. I'm not talking about going for a walk. I'm not talking about going for a jog. I mean full on 100% effort - sprints, burpees, weights, that type of thing. It does good things for the body and mind.

2. Just trust me that when you're in a state of depression that molehills really do appear to be mountains. So when you you're looking at that mountain, and it seems so real, and so insurmountable, remember that depression will alter your perceptions! The truth is that most of those things in your life that look scary are really molehills - even if they appear to be mountains to you.

3. Notice that I said "most" in my point 2 above. There are indeed mountains out there. And it could well be argued that it would be logical to be depressed about them! Heck, if you're not tempted towards despair, then you're probably just too stupid/cowardly to see the problems that are really out there! But here's the catch... That is where we lean on our savior Jesus Christ! He said things would be bad. He said there would be mountains that would come. And He said to just trust Him. And that's my advise to you - trust Him. Even when it appears you've been abandoned. Even when He seems distant. Just trust Him.

4. Read the book of Job. I read that book a bunch of times when I was going through it. Why did God allow Job to go through those trials? Perhaps because He knew we would need to read about it and draw strength from it? It helped me get though.

Hang in. Life is a blessing from God, even if it doesn't seem that way.

There are times when prayers do not get answered immediately, or not at all. But do not allow depression to control you. You can decide how to respond to very negative or difficult circumstances by continuing to maintain a positive attitude, and staying focused on what you wish to achieve. You can ask yourself what it is that you can do to resolve the issue, then take action.

yuo need to more out the room be cause when you are inside 4 walls you brain feels like is prison and god can't contact you inside stone walls

When someone is depressed, it's hard for them to do things like that

depression is not real men

Forgive him, he obviously doesn't know what he's saying... People could as well say to a bereaved person to just exercise and go out and it will be okay. It is true that physical activity may help, but it is not the wondrous cure for everyone. Not every depression is the same, it can come from many various causes. People have different scans, different things are going on with the brain, that's why not every medication works for everyone - if you get a prescription, you might get lucky and be prescribed the right medication that fixes a lot of things for you right away, but don't give up immediately if it's a miss.

One thing that helped me is acceptance. Depression is typically a reaction, a combination of nature and nurture. At some point I accepted that I, or my body, react in that way to some things I face in my life or the world. Acceptance did a lot more for me than fighting it. It's a reaction, instead of identifying yourself with it (it is the worst thing in mental health when you start identifying with the illness) start seeing it as your reaction, as to what, it could be many different things. Then, I don't know where you will choose to go from there, but I think it's a good first step to not beat yourself up, show kindness to yourself a little, and - I know this is difficult - not to get immersed into what's happening to you to the point of getting swept away by it.

I am hoping and praying that you will get proper care as soon as possible and feel better spiritually.

no he just need to exercise and do something about it instead of feel sorry for him self)))

That may help, and can be good advice, but suggesting that it will cure everybody like you do is wrong and dangerous

Now when you say that, reaching out to people around is very important - I forgot to say that to the OP. I hope they reach out to other people in real life too. We are social beings, and it can help to speak with others who will understand us.

You listed many things that may help. I am not saying exercise or sun is dangerous. I said literally "that may help"... I am saying that your suggestions how depression "isn't real", are dangerous. You do not know the OP personally, you did not medically examine them. Yet you're telling them they aren't depressed. How can you know? Invalidating people when they have a problem when they ask for help doesn't come across as very compassionate. Don't you want them to consider your words, for their own benefit? You're not encouraging to try it with your attitude.

Hey! I so appreciate your vulnerability with us. I want to let you know first and for most that I recognize that and everything that I say has your best interest at heart. I know exactly what you are going through. I remember being severely depressed and in pain every time I read the bible and prayed. I felt disconnected from God and was oppressed with a heavy weight that did not allow me to do anything else. It feels like it takes more strength to get better than you have, and so we dwell in what we are feeling. I want to give you what helped me. The most important thing you can remember about God is that he loves you. He loves you more than you know. You can never be alone with God. I know you might be disappointed from unanswered prayer, an unfruitful life, or even just wrong doings in our lives. But no matter what, God's will for you is that you walk in the position that God has ordained for you in the beginning. For the bible says, "All things work together for the good of those who are called according to his purposes for them." (Romans 8:28). I want to direct you to this passage in the bible. i want you to imagine what's going on here. In 2 Samuel, Nathan the prophet just comes to David and tells him that God is angry at him for his evil relationship with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah. God pronounces that David's life will be spared, but he will lose the life of his son. This passage reads, "After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah's wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleased with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. The on the seventh day the child died." (vv. 15-18) Can you imagine what David must have been going through. Regardless of his actions, he went to the Lord on behalf of his son. All the emotions he must have felt must have been overwhelming. He could have felt anger, loss, regret, sadness, depression, yearning, and sorry. He experienced the depression you and I go through, yet it was ten times worse. We feel depression because of what we go through, but he felt it because as a father, seeing his child suffer was much worse than anything happening to him. Side note, the same way David felt about his child, is the same way the Father sees you. He loves you and does not want to lose you or see you in pain. But going on I want you to notice what David does when he ends up losing the child. The bible says, "When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. 'Is the child dead?' he asked. 'Yes,' they replied, 'he is dead.' Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate." (vv. 19-20). David even after everything he felt, noticed that staying in emotion was not going to help him. Him relishing in his depression was not going to help him. So he got up and pimped himself up. This is what I encourage to you. Whenever you feel depression, go to God and pray. Pray about what is bothering you and ask him for help in what you are going through. Then worship him. Tell him that no matter what he is a good God. Then pick yourself up and go on your day. Go shopping and get some new clothes, or exercise, or make yourself feel good in any clean, holy, and fulfilling way. I promise you that if you show God that you are not going to let depression stop you, he will not let it stop you either, and he will give you the strength to rise victorious. If you have read this whole thing, God bless you and you are awesome. I want to leave you with one last scripture. Habakkuk 3: 17-19 says this:

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.

We all love you with the love of Christ. And God loves you even more. I know I will be praying for you and I can't wait for you to share what God does in your life after this!

May I address your question? Please don't assume your position in Christ makes you immune to such things.
There is nothing wrong with you.
You are not further from God because of it.
It's easy to say but it's times like these where actual faith needs to be exercised.
Choosing to believe His promises and who He is, regardless of how we feel is excercising faith. Having hope when hopelessness surrounds us is the kind of faith that pleases God.
Yet, we expect these things to change how we feel, yet I can't recall God ever promising that.
This is something I've learnt over the years. It can be hard, but it's about choosing regardless.
You might start choosing to believe the right things about Gods promises and then fall back into pity mode, just get back up and keep going - talking from my own experience here.
I struggle emotionally a lot myself, at times I allow it to dictate what I do and how I think. But when I realise I've fallen back into that, I get back up and keep going.
You'll see in David's psalms he struggled a lot emotionally, he lays them out before God and the next line He's boasting about God!

I'm happy that people fall into depression slumps and find breakthrough out of it. But some of us, emotional issues (from past traumas etc.) some of need to learn how to navigate such things. I believe everyone has some lifelong thing that they need to learn to lean on God's grace for - I believe these things are to help us steer us towards Him, not away.
Anyway, I've gone on more than I intended, hope it makes sense and helps somewhat.

We've all been there emily, i am not saying your struggle has no meaning or anything but try to live life one day at a time.
You know, you go to sleep. next day repeats and so you have only to endure one day. Let the future to god, you are in good hands.

I've been there too many times, i send you my support and i hope you find a really good friend.
You know, life can be boring but i am sure you will find some good friend to share different things and or a soulmate. Just try to keep a hobby or do something... Do you have a hobby?

When you overthink things is like you are living them all over again and that is harmful, train to just keep your head still, think about other things, do other things, that's why having a hobby is precious. I absolutely understand you and i hope you get better.
Life is like this, some people suffer more than others.
Do not listen to the ones that say that this is not real i know it is real for you, you just do not have to listen to those voices in your head that say that you are not OK you are OK and more importantly you are OK accordingly to GOD himself...If you disagree with go who is wright? YOU ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

I disagree. Sometimes the problem of depression can lie deeper than we think and ignoring the problem can have negative consequences. Of course, not all professionals can be trusted, but people we live in XXI century, you can read reviews of various services that provide e counselling, online therapy and choose the most suitable.

And yes exercises and less time in front of the monitor will help too, but only as addition. I think at least she need to consult with psychologist

Sometimes depression stops people being able to exercise... sometimes at first, the most they can do is open the windows to get more oxygen, maybe sit outside and get some daylight...depression and anxiety can be debilitating...

i totally agree. Nevertheless it should be a responsibility to do so even when you are feeling like sh$t. Even more when you are feeling like that. It should be our work to be okay no matter what.

Many times I have asked God to help me and have waited, trusting Him... and He has lifted me up as on eagles wings. He is my helper and the lifter up of my head. He helps me when I am unable to do anything... even when I think He isn’t going to help me, He has even answered prayers as small as one word: ‘Help’...
When we are weak He is strong, and He is faithful... and what pleases Him is us trusting Him🙂

God is always there never forget