Episode 57: Living with Depression

Podcast

Sep 6

Summary of this Episode:

How many of us deal with depression, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts, but don’t ever talk about it? In places where we should feel safe, we often fear judgment or diagnosing where our thoughts may be coming from. Not to mention the stigma that comes when we begin discussing mental health. On this episode of God Hears Her, Eryn and Elisa talk with Sarah J. Robinson about mental health and her journey of understanding her own depression.

“Nothing helped because I had an illness that needed to be treated, not a lack of prayer or a lack of faith.”

– Sarah Robinson

A B O U T T H I S W E E K ’ S G U E S T :

Sarah Robinson

Sarah J. Robinson once believed her lifelong battle with depression made her a bad Christian. And yet, through her years of shame, self-harm, and suicide attempts, Sarah learned that God is present in our deepest darkness. Sarah is now an author and speaker who helps others discover that mental illness doesn’t disqualify them from living rich, beautiful lives in Christ. Drawing from a decade of ministry experience and the mental health field, Sarah helps readers fight for wholeness and cultivate joy. She lives in Nashville with her husband.

T W I T T E R | F A C E B O O K | I N S T A G R A M

Notes & Quotes:

“I didn’t know my thoughts were not what everyone else was thinking.”
“The common misconception is that depression is sadness.”
There is a difference between intrusive thoughts and suicidal thoughts/tendencies.
“We sort of overlooked passages in Scripture where God walked through suffering with people.”
“There is that honeymoon phase of faith where everything is new and awesome, but I quickly learned that I couldn’t just ‘choose joy.’”
“Nothing helped because I had an illness that needed to be treated, not a lack of prayer or a lack of faith.”
“I remember journaling and thinking, You deserve more than this, God. You are perfect and deserve more than this mess.”
“People mean well, but they are ill-informed or ill-equipped.”
“People who really wanted to love me well are the people that said the most hurtful things.”
“God choosing to take the long road with me has revealed His kindness and His character in a way I would not trade for anything.”
Discovering joy vs. choosing joy.
“You are worth everything it takes to get better.”