Pastor of Soul Care Jeff Ballard opens up the topic of depression so that we can see that it’s encouraging that a person would share this with us, that even the famous pastor Charles Spurgeon struggled in this way, and there are practical takeaways for us to help:

1. Listen well. Don’t jump to assumptions of what might be causing the depression or what they mean by “depression.”
2. Don’t seek to fix the person. First seek to understand their heart.
3. Give empathy. Try to feel a bit of what they’re feeling.
4. Pray meaningfully for this person.
5. Don’t assume what they want from you. Ask them! This could include check-ins, helping them make a plan, etc.