A brother in Christ sent me this message:
Hi, Brother Bon, I always watch your preachings on the Makati Believer’s page. I also read the daily devotionals there. They have helped me a lot. I’ve been a Christian since childhood and I attend church every Sunday. But I still often feel sad. Even small things trouble my mind, and because of them, I feel depressed. What could be missing? What could be wrong with me?
God bless, and kindly include me in your prayers.
-Your brother in Christ.
ANSWER
Dear Brother in Christ,
Thank you for your message and for continuously following the preachings and daily devotionals on our church’s page. It is always encouraging to hear that these teachings have been helpful. However, I can sense that despite your Christian upbringing and dedication to attending church, you are still struggling with feelings of sadness and depression. You mentioned that even small things weigh heavily on your mind, leading you into emotional darkness.
First of all, I want you to know that you are not alone in this struggle. Many of us, especially me, have experienced similar feelings at various points in our lives. Sadness and even depression are part of our human experience, and it’s something we must confront with the wisdom of God’s Word.
While I cannot pinpoint exactly what causes your sadness, I can provide general guidance and share spiritual truths that may help.
Understanding Sadness and Depression
One thing to remember is that sadness and depression often affect us for different reasons. Sometimes, it’s about unmet expectations, failures, or even perceived inadequacies compared to others. I want to share an example from my own life:
Whenever I meet my classmates, they often ask me, “You have two doctorates now, but why are you still in the same position at work? Why are you not yet promoted? Why not apply for other jobs?” Weel, as a matter of fact, I have applied to over fifteen higher positions, aiming for promotions, only to be told I am either “overqualified” or never receive a call back. It can be depressing, especially when I see others with fewer qualifications excelling in their careers.
Despite my efforts, things didn’t go as planned. At times, I’ve wondered, “Lord, I’m serving You faithfully. Why haven’t You blessed me with this promotion or higher pay?” But here’s a question to reflect on: Would attaining these things really make us happy?
Happiness vs. Joy: Understanding the Difference
The Bible teaches us there are two kinds of emotions that people often confuse:
Happiness (Kasiyahan): This is based on material things or external circumstances. It’s fleeting and temporary because it is rooted in physical desires and comfort.
Joy (Kaligayahan): This is a deeper, lasting emotion, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Joy is rooted in the truth of God’s Word and the assurance of our salvation. It’s a spiritual assurance and peace that cannot be taken away by changing circumstances.
Happiness is often linked to the physical world. For example, when a child receives a toy, they are happy, but that happiness fades as they grow bored of it. Joy, on the other hand, is when you know deep within that you are saved, that the Lord is with you and will never leave you, and that His promises are true. This kind of joy is not tied to earthly conditions but to the eternal truths of God’s Word.
In Nehemiah 8:10, it says, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” It’s this joy that strengthens us during difficult times. Satan wants to steal your joy by making you doubt your salvation, but remember: those are lies. God is not angry with you, and He loves you deeply.
Why Do We Become Sad?
Sadness comes from the soul—our soul is the part of us that contains our emotions. We often become sad when we focus on things of the flesh. When you give your flesh what it desires (material things, comforts, status), it may lead to temporary happiness. But true and lasting joy comes when we feed our spirit—when we receive revelations and truths from God through His Word and Spirit.
The problem is that many of us focus more on making the flesh happy rather than feeding the spirit. There are people I know who have wealth, cars, big houses, and all the material comforts one could imagine, but they are not joyful. They are not even truly happy. They don’t have peace.
Here’s why:
Material Things Are Unstable: Material things break, disappear, or lose their value. If your happiness is based on these things, your emotions will constantly shift with their condition.
Materialism Is a Bottomless Pit: It can never be satisfied. It always wants more. The children of this world are constantly chasing after material gain but never find true joy because they are chasing something that can never fill them.
This is what the book of Revelation tells us: in the end, those who are focused on material wealth will be found lacking because they have neglected their spiritual needs (Revelation 3:17). The pursuit of worldly success, comfort, or approval leads to depression because it is a never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction.
So, What Should You Do?
Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives us important guidance:
Phi. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Paul tells us to rejoice not because everything is going well, but because we must focus on what is true and eternal. Here are a few final pieces of advice:
1. Be Content with What You Have
The Lord knows what you need, and He will provide. Focus on the blessings you already have rather than the things you do not. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Don’t let material lack lead you to depression—God will never let you go without your daily bread. Remember that.
2. Focus on the Source of Your Joy
Fix your eyes on what is true—Jesus Christ and His Word. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. He knew what was waiting for Him beyond the suffering. Similarly, focus on the eternal joy that comes from knowing Christ. Meditate on God’s promises, not your present struggles.
3. Surround Yourself with Spiritually-Minded People
Fellowship with those who prioritize spiritual riches over material wealth. Being in a community that values the Kingdom of God and supports one another in their walk of faith will help you stay grounded in the truth. Choose a fellowship where the focus is on growing in the Spirit rather than accumulating worldly comforts and wealth.
In conclusion, I want to remind you that you are not alone in your battle with sadness. Remember that true joy comes from your relationship with God and the eternal truth of His promises. Do not focus on the temporary things that fade, but instead, set your heart on the things that last—on the love and salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is now dwelling in you and He cannot be separated from you. So those things that you experience, He also experience. Those sadness and depression that you feel, He also feel. He exactly knows how you feel.
As for my situation, I do not mind now if I am promoted or not. Or if I stay in my current work or not. I have learned to surrendered this life to our Lord. So if He wanted me to stay and suffer, then I will stay and suffer. If He wanted me to leave or get promoted, then I’ll leave or accept the promotion. It is His life now, not mine. So I will let Him do whatever He wants to do with it.
Anyway, our jobs, materials possessions and other physical things are not the main reasons why we are put here in this world. We are put here to be used by our Lord to further the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. As children of His Kingdom, we are to focus on Heavenly things.
Lastly, always remember this: Sadness and Depression are just feelings and emotions. And because they are just feelings and emotions, they are not permanent. They will change. They will go away if you let them out. So the best way to deal with them is to pour them out to the Lord. Or if you have a mature believer with you, you can share them so that those feeling will be let out.
As we are still living here in this physical world, we will continue to experience them. The good thing is, all of them are not permanent. Not all the time you will be in misery. Not all the time you will be depressed. Not all the time we will be at the bottom. Our situation will change. Wait for that time.
May the joy of the Lord fill your heart and strengthen you as you continue to seek Him.
God bless you, and you will be in my prayers.
Your Brother in Christ,
Bon
