Healing for the Hopeless
Naging malaking balita ang famous Christian personalities na dumaan sa depression at nag-suicide. Maraming shocked dahil ang ating akala, walang Cristianong nade-depress.
May ilan akong kaibigang mananampalataya na may clinical depression. Minsan, natanong ko ang isa sa kanila: Ano ba ang pakiramdam ng isang taong depressed? Ang kanyang sagot ay nakakaramdam daw sila ng matinding emptiness. They feel so pained by this emptiness that they just want their lives to end.
Ang sabi naman ng isa, wala na siyang maramdaman sa dami ng nararamdaman niya. They get overwhelmed by so many different feelings all at the same time. They become numb and this numbness drives them to feel unsettled.
May ganito ka rin bang kondisyon? Huwag kang mahiya o matakot na ipaalam ito sa iyong pamilya at mga kaibigan. Lalong huwag kang mag-atubiling lumapit sa isang specialist. Higit sa lahat, tumawag ka sa Panginoon.
Please don’t lose hope. When you do, you lose everything. Maraming depressed ang nagpapakamatay because they no longer see hope in what they’re going through. They succumb to the feelings of helplessness.
Maraming contributing factors ang depression, at kahit tayong mga Cristiano ay puwedeng maapektuhan nito. It doesn’t mean we are lesser Christians if we get depressed.
Sa hindi nakararanas ng depression, sana iwaksi natin ang judgmental na kaisipan. If we are not careful, we may end up aggravating our loved one’s condition by being mindless of our words. I experienced this one time habang nagra-rant ako sa isang kaibigan. She asked if I could refrain from venting to her. Initially, I was offended. Hindi ko pa alam noon na may depression siya. She carried it so well. I was glad that she took the courage to tell me.
Our negative energies can worsen one’s state of mind. Let’s try to filter what we tell or share with our friends, kahit feeling natin ay strong Christians sila. They may be fighting battles and we are unknowingly aiding their defeat. Before we dump our emotions and thoughts on them, tanungin muna sila if they are okay with it. If not, let’s offer our ears to them. Our thoughtfulness could spark hope in their hearts.
Ama, mahina ako, ngunit malakas Ka. Naniniwala akong kaya Ninyong alisin ang bigat ng aking kalooban. Nawa ay loobin Ninyong maging pagpapala rin ang aking buhay sa iba. Amen.
May kilala ka bang dumaranas ng depression? Puwede mo bang pagaanin ang kanyang kalooban sa linggong ito sa pamamagitan ng mga sumusunod?
Tawagan siya (as in tawag sa cell phone number niya) at ipag-pray.
Padalhan siya ng GIF or videos na pampa-good vibes.
Mag-arrange ng video call at isama ang iba niyo pang tropa at kantahan siya ng paborito niyang kanta.
Magpa-deliver sa kanyang address ng kanyang favorite food.
I-tag o mention siya sa 10 funny memes na makikita mo for the day.
Gift him or her a coupon, voucher, or ticket.
Surprise dalaw sa bahay or office at magdala ka ng food.
This is an excerpt by Marian Erika Terredaño, from G! Devotional Para Sa Mga Ganap Natin Sa Buhay, available at OMF Lit Bookshops, shop.omflit.com, Shopee, and Lazada for P250.
G! Devotional para sa mga ganap natin sa buhay is a weekly devotional written by six millennial writers for GenZers. The book is filled with God’s Word and life lessons perfect for this day and age. Each entry has a short reflection, prayer, and a weekly challenge to help readers reflect and build their character.
Marami ka bang dapat pag-isipan, pagdesisyunan, at gawin? Sa dami ng mga nangyayari every day, may time ka pa bang huminga o no-chill na? Back to normal man o new normal, these 52 weekly devotions (+ 2 bonus devos!) will help you find strength and rest in the Lord. May weekly challenges din to help you reflect and build your character para tuloy-tuloy ang level-up. Anuman ang pinagdadaanan mo, sa tulong ng Diyos, keri mo ’to! Kahit maraming ganap, G ka pa rin!