Biblical Answer

The point of going to therapy when it's just going to make me feel worse is a common concern for those struggling with depression. The passage suggests that physical treatments may alleviate some symptoms, but they do not address the spiritual aspects of depression, such as guilt, fear, and self-loathing. In fact, depression can be so overwhelming that it can even affect one's faith, making it difficult to feel jubilant or believe in God's love.

The author's personal experience with depression reveals a faulty theology of suffering, where they assumed God's plan was to heal them because they were loved. However, this perspective failed to acknowledge the complexity of depression and the fact that God's sovereignty is not always about healing or fixing our circumstances. Instead, God's plan may involve allowing us to go through suffering, which can either give us a deeper understanding of ourselves or destroy us. The author suggests that therapy can be a helpful tool in navigating this process, not as a means of avoiding suffering, but as a way to gain insight and develop a more mature understanding of God's sovereignty.

In this context, therapy is not about finding a quick fix or a spiritual high, but rather about facing the reality of depression and its effects on one's life and faith. It's about being willing to listen to others, to understand the complexity of depression, and to develop a more nuanced theology of suffering. As the author notes, it's essential to keep the cross close at hand, to be on guard against self-pity, and to focus on the spiritual essence of depression, rather than just its physical symptoms. By doing so, we may find that our pain loses some of its devastating power, and we can begin to feel lighter, even in the midst of suffering. (2 Cor. 4:16-18).