Depression haunted Miss USA Cheslie Kryst.
On Sunday morning, January 30, she jumps from a 60-story building.
Why? Why? Why?
Looks like she had it all.
- MBA
- Law degree
- Beauty queen
- TV correspondent
But, “she was dealing with high-functioning depression,” her mother said.
In March 2021, Cheslie wrote an essay in Allure Magazine.
“Turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes. How do I shake society’s unwavering norms when I’m facing the relentless tick of time? I discovered that the world’s most important question, especially when asked repeatedly and answered frankly, is: why? Why work so hard to capture the dreams I’ve been taught by society to want when I continue to find only emptiness?” Selected quotes, Allure Magazine, March 4, 2021
Three pathways light our escape from emptiness and depression.
Depression is rooted in hopelessness
The way Cheslie Kryst killed herself is disturbing.
Any way is disturbing. But, jump from a skyscraper?
That’s despair.
The end of her Allure essay says it all.
“Now, I now enter year 30 searching for joy and purpose . . .”
Depression is often treated like it’s merely a medical illness.
- Counselling
- Medication
But, it’s more.
It’s a spiritual void. A crisis of meaningful hope.
“When people prattle on about needing to find their life’s purpose, what they really mean is that it’s no longer clear to them what matters, what is a worthy use of their limited time here on earth, in short, what to hope for. They are struggling to see what the before/after of their lives should be.” Mark Manson
The first pathway out of depression is openness to a spiritual problem.
A smarter and brighter hope
Imagine the best way for God to fix depression and answer the tough questions Cheslie Kryst posed about . . .
- purpose
- meaning
- suffering
How would he do it?
- Take the worst evil away?
- Take all evil away?
- Take our free will away?
How should He appear to speak to our pain, our fear and our despair?
“…many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.” Mark 6:2-3
It’s interesting to me that God chose to intervene in our world as a carpenter.
Why?
Because carpenters know how to build things.
And when they are broken, they know how to fix them.
Things get scratched, broken or stained.
Carpenters repair them. They glue things back together.
Jesus did this with all kinds of women, men and children.
God works among us as a carpenter.
- Reversing pain
- Reversing loss
- Reversing disease
And culminates his stay on earth with his resurrection.
But, he doesn’t wrap up all of our problems.
He doesn’t wrap us up and take us out of this world with all its trolls and troubles.
Here’s why.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5: 16-17
Purpose? Here it is. Hope? Nothing better.
- There is a heavenly Father.
- You have special gifts.
- You have a life long commission.
The next path away from depression is to practice your gifts with an unending crescendo of good works.
Healing treatments for depression
Internationally-known psychiatrist Frank Minirth was only one of 122 North American physicians certified by the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
He authored over 100 books including the best seller, Happiness Is A Choice.
I had the privilege of taking several courses from him at Dallas Seminary.
Here is Dr. Minirth’s summary for victory over depression.
- Accept responsibility for your depression.
- Forget about yesterday’s losses and focus on today’s possibilities.
- Catapult depression out to God through prayer.
- Scripture in your life makes a supernatural difference.
- Walk outside everyday. Demons hate fresh air.
- Begin a new activity or pursue a new interest.
- Deal with anger. 95% of depression is anger turned inward.
- Nurture your friendships.
- Meet dependency needs in healthy ways.
- Focus on behavior you control with a daily schedule.
- Realize everyone is hurting. No one is perfect.
- Realize a deadly cycle and boldly interrupt it.
- Recognize feelings.
- Realize there is hope.
- Stop getting even and start forgiving.
- Antidepressants are short term and don’t solve anything.
The third path away from depression is to follow a valued doctor’s advice like Dr. Frank Minirth.
What have you learned about depression?
Tremendously insightful and extremely helpful to me personally, Steve. Thank you so much.
So good to hear from you Wayne. Your comment is encouraging and helpful to me. Thank you!
Good stuff, Steve. Thanks for the encouragement for us all.
It’s an encouragement to hear from you Brad. Blessings today to you and Mary Ann.
Beautifully concise! It’s the little choices that can bring us the greatest joy.
Great to hear from you Gail! Your comment gives me an idea for a blog post . . . “The Magic of Thinking Small”