What Robin Williams Can Teach Us about Depression
For decades, Robin Williams was the man that had us all–black and white, saved and unsaved, young and old–laughing. He lifted our spirits, all the while, his own spirit was being crushed beneath the weight of depression. What a tragic paradox! No amount of “R.I.P.s” can make his earthly or eternal death peaceful. From Scripture to Mary K. Baxter’s Divine Revelation of Hell, we know Hell and its ever-burning fire are very real. As the Church, we need to be straightforward about the topic of depression.
1) Depression is a Spirit.
Some people think “depression is a medical condition…NOT a demon…” Yet this statement defies Scripture. There are plenty of medical conditions caused by spirits such as Rottenness of the Bones (Proverbs 12:4, 14:30), Wasting Disease and Fever (Leviticus 26:15-16), etc. The Bible also speaks specifically about depression.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the SORROW OF THE WORLD produces death. (II Corinthians 7:10)
The Bible also provides the remedy.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to…heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for MOURNING, the garment of praise for the SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS… (Isaiah 61:1-3)
Treating depression’s natural symptoms is good and necessary. However, if that treatment doesn’t include addressing the spiritual root, then all of our efforts will be in vain.
2) Depression Stems from Fear.
Back in 2009, for about half a year, I wrestled with depression. Eventually, I had a mini-breakdown. I shut down emotionally, socially, physically, etc. and the ugly root of it all was fear. Fear comes with torment, but that torment is illegal for those those who belong to God. Fear and its torment only stay where they’re tolerated.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. (I John 4:18)
For God has not given us a SPIRIT OF FEAR, but of power and of love and of a SOUND MIND. (II Timothy 1:7)
With the recent developments about Robin’s dealing with bipolar disorder and the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease which he was “not yet ready to share publicly,” it would seem that fear had definitely taken root in this star’s life.
