Is God depressed?
Just speculating.
If we are created in God's image, he therefore has feelings as we do. If God is all-knowing, he is therefore not learning. This is stagnation, which I believe to be a cause of depression. To see all creation grow while you sit in knowledge would be tormenting.
Perhaps God needs to be saved?
@cyanessence you make a interesting point💖 maybe he needs saving from us. He sees the good but also the bad, he knows which paths we should follow yet see's us go the wrong way🙁 maybe one day people will learn to choose love and not hate, and God will smile once more💖
@Tinywhisper11
As God would be a true empath, I can imagine he would be sad to witness so much suffering.
@cyanessence
Well. I think Tiny wrote some fine words for you. Here comes mine: Is God depressed? (Your question). The Bible says: "God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all" 1 John 1:5. So here is no place for depression. I think you're putting God in your "thinkingbox". Remember he is so much higher than our thinking: Isaiah 55:8-13
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Also I want to says about God (you talk about feelings) - he is different than us. This is what the Bible tells what he is like:
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
@Helgafy
Thanks for this, it brings great comfort. I was feeling sad about things I cannot control or understand. Overthinking, overanalysing, a bad habit of mine. You make a lot of sense! Tiny made me feel less alone in my thinking at the very least. All valuable input.
@cyanessence we are created in God's image and likeness and that's why He sent His Son to suffer and to take on human form, so He too would feel pain, suffering, weakness, depression etc. But God is infallible and whole and He only desires our commitment to emulating more 💜🥰
@Amanda84
It's all such delicious food for thought. I love the mental exercise. It's hard to speak in absolutes when one can only have faith. But if God is real, I can't help but have empathy for Him too.
@cyanessence
@cyanessence This is an interesting question and discussion! My initial thoughts were along the same lines as what Amanda shared. Perhaps Jesus in his human body experienced something like depression in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he asked God if there was any way this cup could be passed from him. He asked his friends to stay awake with him while he prayed, needing that support. But ultimately he remembered trust in the Father and commitment to do His will.
@PiecesOfWhoeverIWas
There's a philosopher in us all it seems!
It was quite literally an exercise is reason. If this then that kind of thing. I never hoped to reach a definitive conclusion, I think that would be unreasonable. I just like tackling these topics with an open mind and seeing where things go.
If God exists, I think they would be so sound of mind it's scary to fathom. They may well feel a cosmic kind of sadness that actually only makes Him happy to feel. Seeing only light in darkness. Shadows are illusion after all.
I'm learning about all this stuff still, I feel like a child in many ways. But you teach me! I can see how the self may be separated into different domains, and how God might be the embodiment of logic and wisdom. Really... who can fathom what that feels like. It's just, if we were created in His image there are then similarities correct?
It's a reach, but I have a feeling weakness is just hidden strength. The disassociated may have capacity to be healers as they can radically detach and process.
It's all just food for thought. I like being wrong and/or learning something new.
@cyanessence You said, “weakness is just hidden strength”. Yes! I think so. I want to tread carefully, because I don’t want to insinuate that those of us who have serious trauma are “better off for it” or anything like that. People have been retraumatized by other people trying to make their abuse seem like a good thing. But I think about my own traumas, and how Jesus talked about suffering being necessary to follow him. I do feel like I have gained wisdom from my experiences. I sense you are similar.
@PiecesOfWhoeverIWas
For sure, this is rocky terrain. I don't think it's right to frame suffering as positive. You can just learn and grow from it.
By the same logic, you could say, "If we are made in God's image, then we should be omnipresent." No. We are made in the likeness of God, not exactly like God, or else we would be God. Does that make sense?
@jesusredeemedme2425
That makes perfect sense. It's sharp, and just a very good argument.
I don't think we're meant to understand God. I think there's meant to be some mystery, and that He is likely happy with his creation.
@cyanessence
To help us understand God, he has described himself as happy when we do good and promises us reward, and as angry when we choose evil and if unrepentant it could lead to punishment.
But our emotions are not like God's emotions.
We grow with our emotions to build values for our purification. God is perfect and pure , so what's the need for growth through emotions?
its only the creation that has to grow. because its on a test of purification. The Creator doesn't have to grow or learn.
Also the creation can only grow with mercy and support from the Creator....not by itself.
God is not just the Creator. He is provider, supporter, guide, and judge.
The Creator just doesn't feel - he takes just action based on the emotions
You really made me think. 🙂
@Creamyyy
You touch on something there, that God is perfect and pure, and so does not need to grow with emotion. What you said in general makes a lot of sense!
As always, learning a lot from you. I don't think I have much to add at the moment, I just get you. I think I have a cold and my brain is a little fried.
@cyanessence
Basically
Our job: we feel to -> grow (to good or bad).
God's job: God feels to -> support and evaluate our growth.
Take rest. Even I want to do something lighter. Tough questions make you tired and better to tackle them slowly. 👋
@Creamyyy
Yes, I think I need rest! I do not want to burn out. There is plenty of time left to think. We do not need to understand God right now.
Thanks for your care Creamyyy.