It is a comfort to Christians facing depression that it was not unknown in the experience of God's people in Biblical times. Elijah wanted to die, convinced he was a failure (1 Kings 19:4). The Psalmist felt cast down, deprived of the fellowship of God's people which he had formerly enjoyed (Psalm 42:1-4). He called to God "from the depths" (Psalm 130:1).

A greater comfort still ought to be the Bible's positive approach to the subject. It tells of those who successfully resisted the pressures which drive many to depression; of those who kept fighting to shake off the problem and of those who were delivered from the depths of depression.

Paul, for example, was exposed to circumstances which cause many to crack up. He was in inner and outward turmoil: hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. But he didn't succumb to these pressures: he was not crushed by them; he was neither abandoned, destroyed nor in despair (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). He had learned to be content whatever his outward circumstances (Philippians 4:11) and delighted in his own frailty knowing that when he was weak in himself, he was strong through divine grace (2 Corinthians 12:8).

David took himself to task over his depression, exhorting himself to trust and turning his mind to the joys produced by confidence in God (Psalm 42:5, 11). Similarly, the Psalms which begin in the depths end in the heights. "Out of the depths I cry" gives way to "Put your hope in the Lord" (Psalm 130:1 and 7). Even Elijah's near-suicidal depression was soon dispelled.

Given these Biblical examples, we take the view that there are spiritual factors involved in depression. It always has spiritual repercussions; therefore there must always be pastoral involvement. Sometimes it has spiritual causes, therefore there should be spiritual solutions provided.

Yet depression is not simple. There are many intertwined causes, varied and complex symptoms, diverse solutions. No two cases are exactly the same. But there are common factors found in the midst of this diversity.

The purpose of this article is to isolate and examine from a Biblical viewpoint one factor in this diversity — what, I believe, is an important factor. I am calling it the High Expectation, Low Performance factor: H.E.L.P. for short.

The Tension⤒🔗

The inherent tension in H.E.L.P. makes it a factor in depression. On the one hand, there are great hopes, about oneself, about one's work and family, about life in general. But, on the other hand, performance does not match up to expectation. The gap between high expectation and low achievement causes tension and strain which can lead to break down and depression. Elijah thought he would do better than his fathers. When he thought he had failed, he cracked up. David was cast down because his hope of lively company was not fulfilled. Similar high expectations and low performance can happen today in many aspects of life.

The young married couple that start out looking forward to a large family feel frustrated and inadequate by their childlessness. The energetic minister hoping for growth in his congregation is driven to despair by the apathy which appears to be the fruit of his efforts. The perfect Mum who knows exactly how children should be brought up can't cope when her children learn bad habits at school, become cheeky and disrespectful, and won't respond to maternal discipline. The lonely old spinster drives herself to distraction thinking of what might have been had her boyfriend come back from the War. The ambitious middle-aged man is filled with shame at the lack of character or ability or the errors of his earlier days that deprived him of the promotion on which, as a younger man, he had set his heart. The old man rages at his increasing physical weaknesses which stop him living the active retirement he had expected to enjoy.

All these are examples of the tensions that arise when reality does not live up to expectations. If not dealt with, this sense of inadequacy, shame, worthlessness and failure becomes an obsession, driving people to the brink of despair and depression. A combination of these factors or other adverse circumstances — like a bereavement, an illness or economic problems — can push people over the edge into the pit of depression, into a completely negative self-loathing that deprives them of all energy and initiative, all sense of meaning and enjoyment in life.

Today's World←⤒🔗

That the H.E.L.P. factor is present in depression today doesn't surprise me, if for no other reason than that unrealistically high expectations of life are frequently promoted.

There is an attitude that says: "Everything comes to you on a plate. Life is going to be easy." Perhaps not so common as formerly, it is still with us. A dozen times a night TV watchers are invited to identify with the rich, the successful and the famous, and to share in their lifestyle by buying the products that they use. On screen and in glossy magazines, the lifestyles of the high and mighty are portrayed, stimulating in the gullible and impressionable wild dreams, high ambitions and unrealistic expectations.

Christians are not exempt from such feelings. They feel the influences that mould society around them. In addition, the very message of the gospel creates high hopes for the future. Sometimes these hopes are completely baseless; sometimes simply imbalanced. The "health, wealth and prosperity" gospel and certain types of "charismatic" teaching can promote an unhealthy expectancy of immediate, overwhelming, even tangible blessings. An unbalanced or ill-informed view of the nature of the Christian life can similarly lead to unreasonable spiritual expectations.

Whether unrealistic hopes are awakened by secular pressures or spiritual influences, it is not surprising if the High Expectation, Low Performance factor comes into play when they are not fulfilled. Wild dreams, hopes dashed are comrades of spiralling depression.

Preventive Measure←⤒🔗

How can this be prevented? Notice that we are not dealing here with the cure to depression. That is obviously necessary, but it is much easier and better to stop folks falling into the pit than to drag them out of it. How can an attitude of mind be created which will enable Christians to dispel the H.E.L.P. factor?

There is a beatitude that runs: "blessed is he that expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed". Its apparent attractiveness is obvious. To have no expectations avoids the grief of disappointment. Hence happy is the person who forms no clear hopes and cherishes no great expectations! The beatitude, of course, is not biblical; it doesn't provide the help needed for those threatened by the H.E.L.P. factor. Indeed, it may create more problems than it solves.

The Bible does not encourage lack of expectation; nor does the human psyche live happily with a life that is painted in undifferentiated grey colours. A drab, hopeless existence imposes its own tensions and frustrations. According to our faith it will be done to us, so where hope disappears, blessing goes with it. The tragedy is that too often, probably unconsciously, expectations have been abandoned so as to protect ourselves against the turmoil, shame and tension of the H.E.L.P. factor. This results in a visionless, hopeless, dead, formal expression of Christianity which is not worthy of the name of Christ.

Realistic Expectations←⤒🔗

The Christian cannot lower his expectations: the promises of God are too clear to allow that. The key is to have realistic expectations. This involves a balanced approach to the future.

There is ample hope of the triumph of grace in the experience of the individual. The promises are there to be claimed: ask and you will receive; seek and you will find (Matthew 7:7). Our God will meet all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). He that began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Thus we will still bear fruit in old age (Psalm 92:14).

The example of others who progressed to spiritual maturity is there as a stimulus. Paul says he had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. He could do everything through the one who gave him strength (Philippians 4:12-13).

There is the same ground for optimism on a wider scale. The church of Christ is founded on the rock and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18). None will be lost of all given to Christ (John 17:12). The time indeed is coming when the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9).

The Christian is entitled and encouraged to lay hold on these promises by faith. Resting on them produces legitimately great expectations. The Christian who doesn't cherish high hopes is not displaying trust in Christ's keeping power. Lowering the standard of expectation as a means of relieving the tensions created by low performance is not a legitimate option: it is not honouring to God.

Prevention of this tension comes from a sense of balance: a realistic awareness of the nature of the Christian life. Other statements of the Scriptures have to be taken into consideration lest there be imbalance in the way that we look at the Christian life.

The Christian life is a warfare, a struggle, not against flesh and blood but against supernatural spiritual forces. We must therefore put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-12); fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12) and be men of courage (1 Corinthians 16:13). There is no room in the kingdom for the cowardly (Revelation 21:8). Rather we must through many hardships enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

Too often we have looked for an easy, soft life as Christians. The result has been that the rough parts have knocked us off our stride; the difficulties have deterred and depressed. High expectations must be tempered with a realistic appreciation of the true nature of the Christian life as a battle to be fought.

Living with Failure←⤒🔗

But to hold that balanced approach is only part of the solution to the H.E.L.P. factor. It is disturbing to discover Christians that cannot cope with a sense of failure, who crack up when their hopes come to nothing. Are they not aware of what being accepted on the basis of grace means?

We profess that we come to God with nothing in our hands. We have seen ourselves as having no soundness in us. Spiritually speaking we accept that we are full of wounds and bruises and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil (Isaiah 1:6). We have looked total inadequacy in the face, come to terms with the fact that we are moral failures and acknowledged unreservedly our total incapacity to achieve the standard set. So we rest on grace. Everything has to be done for us; we cannot live an independent life — only one that is lived in union with Christ.

Moreover, we believe that this leads us to the heights of privilege. We are not simply forgiven by grace. We are justified: declared accepted in the Beloved. A new nature is imparted to us that makes us members of God's family circle. A new status is given us: we are adopted and given a right to all the privileges of the children of God. We are so united to Christ that we are actually seated in heavenly places in him, treated by the

Father as Christ himself is treated.

If a low view of our performance goes hand in hand with an acceptance to a high position with God, why should fresh realisations of our low achievement drive us to depression? What is new about being a failure? Did we not face up to what we were and abandon our inflated opinion of ourselves when we came to Christ? Why are we clinging to the need to achieve or to have our life regulated according to our own desires, when we are staking our all on the achievements of Christ?

If day by day we are feeling afresh our spiritual inadequacy and laying claim to the exalted privileges of union with Christ, then fresh evidences of our low performance will drive us to our knees, to Christ, to repentance and to fresh endeavour but they will not drive us to depression.

The best help when threatened by the H.E.L.P. factor is to be well-trained in the realisation that low performance does not debar us from access to God in Christ: rather it qualifies us.