In the United States alone, around 10% of the population of 18 years and older struggle with depression. I wrote a paper on depression this week and the statistics were profound. People really struggle with depression and as sad as it is to say, it's an increasing problem. Most people who have this struggle don't like discussing it with others, but there are a few who do seek help. I commend them for their determined action to tell others about their struggles.
Recently, a lot of my friends have been struggling. Their struggle has been different than usual though. It has been silent. To get you to relate to what i'm talking about it's like when you see your friend in the hall, ask 'how are you' and they respond 'good' ,but you can see in their eyes or with their body language that something is wrong. As a friend you don't want to pry so you just kind of brush it off,but the truth is; we all need a little boost here and there. You don't necessarily have to spill your guts out to anyone,but if that's how you roll than go for it. I have found that giving someone a quick word of encouragement, praying for them or doing something nice for them can go a long way.
We all have struggles, so that's nothing new, so if you see a friend that's down or struggling, go the extra mile. Give them a hug, a joke, an encouraging word, say a prayer with them, or invite them to hang out and just have a good time. Showing God's love to others goes a long way.
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