Small Steps

If you are in the midst of postpartum depression, anxiety, or a general form of either one, here are a few small steps you can take today to help relieve your feelings of darkness and worry:

Read your Bible, or better yet, ask someone to read the Bible to you!
After Ruthie was born, Brian started reading the Bible to me. Together, we read through most of 2 Corinthians. One of the verses that stood out to me was 2 Corinthians 1:8: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” So often, I felt like Paul. I “despaired of life itself.” We can be encouraged, though, because the man who “despaired of life itself” also wrote these words of faith: “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10). Jesus is the ultimate and best deliverer, and the only one who can give us the strength we need to fight onward through the fear and darkness. We can learn from Jesus, who knew of the unimaginable darkness He would suffer on the cross, but loved God and His people so much that He prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). God’s Word provides what we need to heal, and reading the Bible with someone else reminds us that we are cared for by His people.

Make a list of all the people you know who support you and care about you.
This activity is fairly straightforward, but so beneficial! Those of us who have been through depression know the crushing loneliness depression can bring, but we must remind ourselves that people love and care about us. We can reach out to the people on our list when we need help, and pray for them even as they pray for us. Start your list with your family, church family, and closest friends.

Make a list of things you are thankful for.
One of my favorite Bible verses is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Depression and anxiety are really great at making the world seem like a hopeless, horrible place. But, as we know from the Bible, the world is filled with God’s beauty and goodness. Making a list of the things we are thankful for reminds us that God is faithful and that He gave us good things to enjoy, and that we should go out and enjoy those things. Find something fun to do from your list, and praise God as you do that activity.