When I see people, who are depressed over things that are beyond their control I feel that same weight on my heart. I wish I could do something. Sometimes, I even want to remind others that they have no control over that which does depress them. I want to tell them that they cannot make people stop hurting them. They cannot make people be sympathetic to their pain. They cannot undo the mistakes they have made. What they can control is how they react to suffering. They can hold onto the things that make them happy. They can cultivate relationships with the people who give them the strength to press on.
They can accept the unconditional love of a creator, not a higher power with a plan, but a loving father that feels their pain along with them. A father that will not judge their mistakes once they are confessed, but only wishes that they be acknowledged so that they may no longer be a source of shame or regret. This is someone, who aches at his core with the pain of the whole world like we all hurt for our friends and family closest to us when they have lost what feels like everything. For every child lost senselessly, for every home or livelihood destroyed by disaster, for every atrocity perpetrated in his or any other name he aches like we ache for those for whom we would die. The ones for whom we live to love.
For me, depression has never been about hopelessness, but about eliminating a hope for what will never be in this life. Struggle will not end, but joy can begin as soon as people can find out what to be happy about. Be happy about your freedom to determine your happiness. Be happy that you can love whoever you want as much as you want. Be content that no one can take away your ability to be content with nothing but grace.
