John 10:4 "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice."

When coping with depression, the journey to healing is a daily trek. For believers, this means drawing close to God, daily, and leaning into His strength. Devotions, when pursued with a lover's fervency, become times of power and reassurance in the Father's presence. 

This time together leads to a sharpening of one's spiritual ears to God's Word, which produces greater confidence in and closeness to the One who rules the universe. The world is in a dark time, and the sources of hope in this life are, at best, fragile. I keep coming back to relying on God to ground me. When I hit rock-bottom, the Rock is my Foundation.

Yet, with depression, it is hard to summon the desire to engage in Bible reading or prayer. Sometimes devotions become merely a religious exercise, and the mundanity of routine dulls the impact. When I choose not to engage with God - when I choose to stay on the sidelines of my relationship with Him and use my depression as an excuse not to try - I work against my own mental wellbeing. It’s like taking antidepressants, but much more vital – devotions with God are just something I need to do each day.

But what do these daily devotions look like? For me, it is a conversation with God. For example, I was recently reading Psalm 139: 9-10: “If I ride on the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the furthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.” Through these verses I believe God said to me, “My Strength is supporting you, and I will never leave you! I am guiding you through this to healing, even if you don’t feel it.”

That is the kind of supportive relationship that gives me hope for today, and the strength to continue on my journey of healing. I cannot stress enough the importance of daily devotions with God for believers.