Depression is a confluence of three rivers. One is called Body, one is called Soul, and the third is called Spirit. When they blend together, they are one whole and complete river.
You are not one of these rivers or another; you are not
two of these rivers. As a whole and complete person, you are the one river. And so healing of depression must address the whole you, not one or two of the separate rivers.
To only concentrate on the body often means taking medications to mask the symptoms. To only concentrate on the soul (psychotherapy) neglects the realm of the body – as in different conditions, like a thyroid out of whack or a chemical imbalance of the brain – and may possibly let depression advance way too long without proper treatment.
The spiritual realm, to me, is the capstone of triumphing over depression, but to only concentrate on the spiritual brings up such unsupported beliefs that if only a person had more faith or properly confessed his/her sins, then a cure would come. How would anyone want to face Charles Spurgeon or David Brainerd or King David and many saints throughout the history of the church, and say to them, “Oh, if only you had more faith. Oh, if only you could seek forgiveness for your sins.”?
Body, soul, and spirit, these three, and the greatest of these is spirit…but ignore the other two to your own peril.
