14‘And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle
of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child,
and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of
Beersheba.
15And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of
the shrubs. 16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way
off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child.
And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. 17And God
heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of
heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath
heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him
in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 19And God opened her
eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with
water, and gave the lad drink.
20And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and
became an archer. 21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his
mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.’
Gen.21:14-21
Hagar, the maid-turned-wife to father Abraham was sent out due to her
misbehavior towards her mistress, Mama Sarah. She was sent out along with her
son, Ishmael. In the hot wilderness, the water quickly finished and extreme thirst
and exhaustion set in for the exiled mother and son. Hagar was helpless as there
was no help in view. Naturally, it was a hopeless situation and she obviously sank
into depression. She awaited the slow and painful death that awaited both of them.
Then, the story quickly changed when the Bible records that the Lord heard the cry
of the boy and sent an angel to the rescue. The Lord opened her eyes and she saw a
well of water.
She was blinded by depression, even when there was a well nearby, she couldn’t
see it until God opened her eyes.
Many women are victims of depression due to varied reasons but the Lord has
answers for every crisis.
What is depression?
According to Mayo Clinic, ‘Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent
feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or
clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a
variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal
day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.’
Symptoms of depression in women
appetite disturbances (eating more or less than usual)
weight gain
sleep problems
fatigue
depressed mood — sadness and guilt
lower sex drive
According to the World Health Organization, Depression is a relatively common
condition affecting more than 264 million people, and many of those individuals
are parents — moms and dads with rich family lives.
Depression affects 1 out of every 10 women
From clinical and seasonal depression to postpartum depression and bipolar
disorder, depression affects many women. In fact, depression affects more women
than men.
Certain types of depression are unique to women
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, for example, is a severe type of premenstrual
syndrome (PMS) that affects women in the weeks before menstruation.
Perinatal depression is a type of depression that strikes during pregnancy and after
childbirth, and perimenopausal depression can make a woman to have feelings of
irritability, anxiety, sadness, and/or loss of enjoyment at the time of their transition
into menopause.
Most new moms experience postpartum "baby blues" after giving birth, which
commonly includes mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty in sleeping.
Baby blues usually begin within the first 2 to 3 days after birth and may linger for
up to two weeks.
But some new mothers experience a more acute, long-lasting form of depression
known as postpartum depression. Sometimes it's called peripartum depression
because it can start during pregnancy and continue after childbirth. Rarely, an
extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after
delivery.
Postpartum depression is not a character error or a weakness. Sometimes it's
simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, quick
treatment may help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your
baby.
Symptoms of depression after delivey vary, and they can range from mild to acute.
Baby blues symptoms
Symptoms of baby blues — which last only a few days to a week or two after your
baby is born — may include:
Mood swings
Anxiety
Sadness
Irritability
Feeling overwhelmed
Crying
Reduced concentration
Appetite problems
Trouble sleeping
Postpartum depression symptoms
Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues initially — but the
symptoms are more intense and last longer. These may eventually interfere with
your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually
develop within the first few weeks after giving birth. But they may begin earlier —
during pregnancy — or later — up to a year after birth.
Postpartum depression symptoms may include:
Depressed mood or severe mood swings
Crying too much
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Withdrawing from family and friends
Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much
Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Intense irritability and anger
Fear that you're not a good mother
Hopelessness
Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
Restlessness
Severe anxiety and panic attacks
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Untreated, postpartum depression may last for many months or longer.
In conclusion, if you are a mother experiencing depression, there is hope for you in
Christ. Just as the Lord encountered Hagar and turned her sorrow into joy, the Lord
will surely visit you and turn your situation around in Jesus name. Turn to the Lord
Jesus in fervent prayers now and cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.
He understands your situation more than you can imagine. There is light at the end
of the tunnel. Don’t give up hope.
Jesus is the Answer.
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