Postnatal depression is more than just the “baby blues”; it is a significant and often overwhelming challenge that affects the heart, mind, and body of a new mother. If you are standing alongside a friend or loved one navigating this journey, you may see them struggling with symptoms like deep, persistent sadness, a sense of being “crushed or broken into pieces,” or a frightening lack of connection to their new baby. They might experience intense anxiety, a feeling of being “fuzzy and distorted” in their thinking—as if they are seeing “men like trees walking”—and a paralyzing sense of guilt or shame.
As a support person, your role is vital. You are the one who can hold the light when their world feels dark. By understanding the spiritual laws of restoration and the nature of God’s life, you can provide the encouragement needed to help them reach for the “Jubilee” of their own healing.
The Gift of Zoe: Tapping into God’s Own Life
The Gospel of John opens with a profound word: Zoe. Found 130 times in the New Testament, Zoe refers to a specific kind of life—God’s own life. This isn’t just biological existence; it is an abundant, supernatural vitality that we have a right to possess as children of God. Postnatal depression often feels like a draining of life, but Zoe is the “heavenly sap” that recharges the inward man even when the outward man feels weak.
God is “Jehovah,” the Self-Existent One, the Great “I Am.” He exists outside of time and is the source of all strength. When a mother feels she has nothing left to give, she can tap into the “eternal fatherhood of God.” He is the one who fills us with strength and renews our youth. Restoration is often a process—a gradual recovery where things get better over a period of time—but God also specializes in the “moment of time” miracles that can shift a perspective faster than the blink of an eye.
Scripture 1: John 10:10
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Rolling Away the Burden of Guilt and Shame
One of the most destructive aspects of postnatal depression is the “different degrees of guilt, shame, and embarrassment” that a mother feels. These emotions act like “fish scales” over the eyes, preventing her from seeing herself as God sees her. Guilt destroys faith and undermines confidence in God’s love. To receive healing, that burden must be rolled off.
We must remind those suffering that they are “bought with a price” and that their bodies are “the temple of the Holy Ghost.” Sickness and depression are not “teachers” sent by God; they are oppressors that Jesus came to set at liberty. Being made “holy and washed by the Blood” means we can stand before God with confidence, knowing we are clean and made right. When guilt is removed, faith naturally rises to the surface, allowing a person to reach out and “grab” the healing that is already provided.
Scripture 2: 1 Corinthians 6:19
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
The Law of Faith: Expecting an Honest God
Faith is not a “logical reasoning” that obliges God to act; it is the “full opening of the heart” to receive what He has already promised. Just as Noah acted on things “not seen as yet” by building a ship on dry land, we act on faith by expecting God to do what He says. If God says He is the “Lord who heals you,” then we should treat Him like an honest being who keeps His word.
In the account of the blind man, Jesus put His hands on him once, and he saw “men like trees.” But Jesus didn’t stop there. He put His hands on him again until the vision was “crystal clear.” If your loved one doesn’t see total victory today, do not be discouraged. Stick and stay where you are assigned. Be faithful in your encouragement. Sometimes healing is a “sign” of what is available to all, and other times it is a gradual restoration. Both are manifestations of the same “Great I Am.”
Scripture 3: James 5:16
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Standing Whole in the Name of Jesus
Every miracle, sign, and wonder should culminate in one truth: “Jesus did this.” Whether it is a lame man at the Gate Beautiful or a mother restored to her family after a season of darkness, the result is the same—a person standing “whole.” Jesus revealed the unchanging will of God by healing all who came to Him; He never told anyone it wasn’t “God’s timing” or that they needed to suffer a bit longer to learn a lesson.
As a friend or family member, you are the “Ananias” in this situation. You go where you are sent, you stay where you are stationed, and you speak words of life until the “scales” fall away. Encourage your loved one to “give the more earnest heed” to the promises of God. Let them know that their body and spirit belong to God, and He is the “Lord of Sabaoth”—the Lord of hosts and armies—who has the power to drive out every oppressor.
Choosing to Believe
Ultimately, the Gospel gives people a clear choice: to believe or not to believe. Divine healing is a part of God’s revelation of grace to a “needy, fallen race.” It is a demonstration of His great love that exists in spite of our circumstances. When we refuse to relax our effort and remain serious in our attention to the Word, that Word “effectually worketh” in us.
Remind your loved one that they don’t have to be “perfect” to be healed; they just have to be “believing.” Like the woman with the issue of blood who “pushed and grabbed” her healing without even asking, we can reach out in faith. God is waiting for His people to be free so that they may serve Him with joy. The next ten years can be better than the last ten. Renewal is possible, restoration is promised, and the “Jubilee” of health is here.
Helpful Resource: To learn more about the symptoms and professional support options for maternal mental health, visit the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Website.
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About the Authors:
Tony and Lorna Egar are Christians based in Brisbane, Australia.
Lorna moves in a gift of healing.
She has seen God’s power, heal many people.
Tony is a Christian author with 30 books published.
His most popular book is called, “A Gift of Healing.”
It is on Amazon and Google Play.
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