Depression and anxiety can be terrible roommates. They are messy, demanding, and they don’t often follow through on their promises. At least, that is the standard view of these pesky emotional forces. But, what if depression and anxiety had a good side as well?

A great friend once cautioned me about my negative view of depression and anxiety. He asked, “Is there anything good about your anxiety?” My first reaction was to be annoyed. After I gave it some consideration, however, I started to see his point. Today, I want us to imagine what benefits depression and anxiety may have. Let’s consider one good thing about each to keep things simple:

1. Anxiety can prepare us for what is ahead.

Do deadlines freak you out? How about driving, or job interviews? I feel anxious about those events, but my anxiety can actually help me prepare for the circumstances I may face. I work extra hard when a deadline is approaching. I drive extra careful when I feel nervous about driving. I also thoroughly research a prospective employer and iron my pants well when I feel anxious about a job interview. It seems almost ridiculous, but experiencing anxiety can sometimes be a good thing.

2. Depression can point us to the only one who can truly help.

I tend to reach for help when depression weighs me down with sadness and helplessness. Calling a friend is mildly fulfilling, but coming to Jesus on my knees for help is usually the best help I can find. He is the only friend I know who has the capacity to understand me fully and even change my attitude – his presence is wonderfully comforting. If you are a Christian, remember that your biggest advocate is the God you serve.

Arbitrary Tools

What if you and I viewed depression and anxiety as arbitrary tools? A gun, while lethal, is not innately evil. The value of a gun as “good” or “bad” is shaped by the one holding it. Crimes can be averted or committed depending on how the user shoots the weapon.*

In a similar way, your depression and anxiety are not inherently bad. Sure they can be pests, but they can also prepare us for what is ahead and point us to the best source of help. So, what can you do to redesign how you view anxiety and depression this week? What ways might you even be thankful for their presence?

*I derive this idea of “arbitrary” from Kory Floyd’s Communication Matters. In this book, Floyd argues that communication is “symbolic” and thereby inherently “arbitrary.” See Chapter 4 of his text for more on this concept.