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While there are various factors that make some more susceptible to depression than others, no one is immune to it. After all, Moses, David and Elijah all struggled with bouts of depression, and even Jesus was known as a “man of sorrows.”

Today, depression is largely thought to be a biological problem and much depression is attributed to chemical imbalances. But thinking about depression exclusively in this way fails to take into account that we are more than just physical matter - we are souls who live before God. Hence, a more comprehensive, biblical model is in order.

Understanding depression from a biblical framework begins by recognizing it as a form of suffering. Because of the sin that entered the world through Adam, suffering is a regular part of life - and depression is one variety of suffering.

To address the suffering of depression effectively, it is useful to see it working itself out on two levels.

The first level has to do with those things that happen to us or around us. When we hear about a tragic accident or bad economic news, feelings of depression can quickly overtake us. Or if we experience a family illness or a bad encounter with an acquaintance of ours, depression can suddenly color our mood as well.

The second level at which depression works itself out has to do with what happens in us. It has to do with how we react inside to those depressing occurrences that we face in our lives. Do we doubt, fear or run? Or do we cling to God and seek to grow in trust in Him?

Luther identified these levels as trials of faith and appropriately so. Because as we face depressing happenings and feelings, our hope is challenged by fears of abandonment. But it is at these times we need the perspective that faith brings.

We need to remember that even during our dark days, God is trustworthy and sovereign over our suffering. And it’s with this hope our faith becomes a rudder that not only guides our reactions and decisions, but also leads us out of the darkness into the light.

The world, the flesh and the devil all seem to conspire at times to take us down into the darkness of depression. But God is greater than these.

Consequently, in the face of this world’s evils, we must always take the high road. When the corruptions of our own flesh seek to overtake us, we must not let sin have dominion over us. And when Satan assaults us with his fiery darts, we must maintain total trust in the goodness of God.

To succumb to the lies and enticements of our souls’ adversaries is to enter a path of despair.

The joy that prevails over the perplexities of this life only comes by trusting the One who rules over every hardship.

If you faithfully do what you know is right, your countenance will be lifted up (Genesis 4:7).

This guest column is part of the Rev. David Bostrom’s “Seed for the Harvest” series of newspaper columns. He can be reached by e-mail at dbostrom@centurytel.net. More information about “Seed for the Harvest” is available at www.seedfortheharvest.com.