How are you doing?

A typical greeting faced daily.

Our answer? “Just fine.”

How many people do we pass who look content on the outside, but inside they are shriveling up. Many people have unmet needs, losses, failures that take their heart, mind and soul down to various depths of depression. Fifteen per cent of people in developed countries have severe depression.

Depression is increasingly touching the lives of our children.

With all our prosperity in North America, why the significant increase in depression even among the very successful?

Some are depressed from short term circumstances and others from long term childhood experiences. How did we get here?

Circumstances out of our control, unmet expectations, lost relationships, a natural feeling of emptiness, choices we make with their consequences, guilt from disobeying God or even other deeper spiritual factors deflate our soul. Doctors, counselors and medications play a significant and important part in helping many, but unfortunately they have their limits. Too many have tried and worked with what a variety of medicines have to offer, yet struggle on in states of confusion or with an ongoing inability for life.

Dealing with the basics of rest, diet, counsel, schedule changes and even just a break, can go a long way.

One area at times dismissed by some are the spiritual factors. To do this we need to connect with God through Jesus Christ. Without Him we cannot deal truly with our guilt of the past.

With His help we can be forgiven and forgive others. There can be even deeper spiritual aspects requiring deeper spiritual counsel.

The Bible talks about a “thief” who is out to steal, to kill, and destroy any and all who can be affected. Without Jesus Christ in our lives we are susceptible to his schemes.

The hope in all of this whether our depression is great or small, in Christ we can realize a life that is full and abundant. All that separates us from this reality are simple acts of faith in God’s Word.

Too many live in fear and uncertainty. That does not come from God. What He desires us to realize in life are lives of confidence and inner strength, enjoyable relationships and sound minds.

We need not plan an escape through alcohol or drugs. Face life head on with confidence and the power of God being “more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.”

Greg Dalman is pastor at Maple Ridge Alliance Church.