Depression Is A Part Of This Life

[Jack Ryan]

Brother Nathan Fuel delivers a talk entitled Depression Is A Part Of This Life.

[JW Insider]

Depressingly low turn-out.

(Of course, this is not the actual picture of the KH during the talk. It's just a "still" picture used as a background and kept there during the entire recording.)

Perhaps if someone "leaked" every meeting and talk, more people would make an opportunity to listen.

I think the focus of the talk was about Witnesses getting "worn down" by the "strain" of repeated activities of meetings and service and keeping up, as he said, "week after week, month after month, year after year," or discouraged by difficulties dealing with opposition, and world conditions, difficulties in old age, health, marriage, singleness, being stuck with a bad partner "forever," stress, etc.

The speaker admitted that depression is not admitted by many people who suffer it, and that it is probably a problem among us that is "bigger than we may realize." He gave the comparison of our Witness activities to the world as if it was a reason to explain higher rates of depression among Witnesses than the rest of the world, because, as he said, the world 'has more time to relax, take naps, go out on the town on the weekends, watch TV etc. So we shouldn't be surprised that we [Witnesses] get depressed.'

Barren Hannah was the initial example with vexation, crying, and lack of appetite. But even this was never tied to medical depression, just an example to show that depression has been known through history. The speaker read a couple of quotes about these more serious forms of depression, but tied them only to "depressing problems" such as the bad economy. For younger ones in the congregation, it was mostly focused on how saying always saying "No" to pressures about dating, sex, drugs, masturbation, sports, and college education "gets old" and the speaker said it's a worse feeling for them when they want to do these things, but feel "hemmed in by Jehovah's righteous standards." (Unfortunately, statements like this can directly produce a judgmental attitude against fellow congregation members who become depressed.) 

I like that there were good reminders of why we should not let certain people like the elderly become "invisible" and "forgotten" or even how pioneers might be going through problems with apathetic territories, and loss of joy. Self-sacrificing efforts don't seem appreciated by elders and publishers, the speaker says. Ministerial Servants are like "unsung heroes" who aren't noticed and may feel continually passed over when wanting to become an elder. And elders have a lot expected from them, and it's a lot of work with a non-stop schedule and may fall short, or they are dealing with a lot of spiritual problems in the congregation.

But there was nothing about medical or clinical depression. And the examples and solutions were not appropriate to that kind of depression. I was a bit struck that from very early on, the talk included the same standard encouragement that would be given even if the talk had nothing to do with depression, re-using material from a standard marriage talk, standard encouragement for single persons, elderly, and those who feel overworked or underappreciated. (e.g., To become better prospective mates: sisters should learn to cook more than one or two dishes, and brothers should be more spiritual than the sisters: spiritual heads, not their spiritual peers.)

He read from 2 Sam 12, where David could have got depressed when he lost a son by Bathsheba who lived for a week. But seemed cold and hard-hearted and did not grieve. Similarly, he says, we have "no reason to depress ourselves over the past and hang onto that but instead live in the present and for the future." This can be good advice in general, but has little to do with serious depression, and David's example is depressing in itself, because it seems to be insight into his own unique personality, not intended as advice helpful to a seriously depressed person. 

On the overworking of elders, the suggestion to delegate to MS and other baptized brothers is a good idea to reduce stress, which gives more time for elders to reduce their own stress and focus on shepherding. But he says there has been a branch-wide trend for brothers not to reach out when they could. 

A good reminder at the end was that depressed people shouldn't feel that Jehovah has left them. He added, that it's not the time to isolate themselves, but to get more involved in the congregation. In conclusion, he read two verses. The first  in 1 Cor 10:13 that says:

(1 Corinthians 10:13) 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to men. [speaker inserted the word: "depression" here] But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Don't know how appropriate it is to link depression with temptation, but the idea was that it would never go beyond what you can bear, which is why he added the caveat next. There was finally, an acknowledgement at the end that really serious depression can exist, too. It took a total of about 6 seconds:

"Now at times a person's depression can be so severe that it may require professional help and if that's the case, so be it."

And then he immediately spoke for a few more seconds on the grave dangers of professional help, and the fact that it could result in bigger problems than the depression itself. This can be true, but I didn't think he was being supportive, encouraging or consoling to those who may have found it necessary to seek professional help. It's really a discouragement and even a kind of judgment for those who have felt it necessary to seek this kind of help.

Similarly, twice in the talk he had mentioned how Jehovah doesn't forget our "work" and another verse used at the conclusion appeared to provide a word of encouragement that was a bit out of context.

(2 Chronicles 15:7) 7 But you, be strong and do not become discouraged, for your activity will be rewarded.”

I was hoping he would have focused on a less reward-centered message, but use the motivation that Christians find happiness in, including our inward response to "undeserved kindness" the opposite of a reward-centered message. Therefore, I think a good conclusion could have included ideas from passages like this one, instead:

(Ephesians 5:15-20) 15 So keep strict watch that how YOU walk is not as unwise but as wise [persons], 16 buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked. 17 On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is. 18 Also, do not be getting drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but keep getting filled with spirit, 19 speaking to yourselves with psalms and praises to God and spiritual songs, singing and accompanying yourselves with music in YOUR hearts to Jehovah, 20 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks always for all things to our God and Father.