The Harsh Realities of Life: A Christian Perspective on Struggle, Depression, and the Appeal of "To Die Is Gain"

Life is hard. If you’ve been a follower of Christ for any length of time, this truth has probably hit you squarely in the face more than once. Despite the promises of joy, peace, and victory in the Christian life, there are seasons where everything seems to go wrong—where depression and despair weigh heavily on your soul, and you feel like you’re just stumbling from one failure to the next. In these moments, the words of the Apostle Paul, “To live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), take on a weighty, almost tempting allure. Sometimes, the "to die is gain" part sounds more appealing than continuing to press on in a world that seems to offer nothing but pain and failure.

The Reality of Struggle

Life is not just hard; it can feel downright impossible. The daily grind of responsibilities, the constant barrage of disappointments, and the overwhelming sense of inadequacy can all conspire to make us feel like we’re drowning. It’s easy to slip into the mindset that everything we touch turns to dust, that we’re failures in every aspect of our lives—at work, at home, in our relationships, and even in our walk with God.

And the truth is, we do fail. We sin. We hurt those we love. We make promises to God and break them. We set goals and fall short. This is the human condition. The Apostle Paul himself lamented, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing" (Romans 7:19). If Paul, a pillar of the faith, struggled with this, what hope is there for us?

The Temptation to Give Up

When life feels like an unending cycle of failure and disappointment, the thought of heaven—of being free from this broken world—can seem incredibly appealing. Paul’s words, “to die is gain,” can become a whisper of escape, a longing for the end of the struggle, and the beginning of eternal rest. For those battling depression, this can be particularly dangerous. Depression twists our thinking, making it seem as though our loved ones, our world, and even God would be better off without us.

But here’s the thing: while it’s true that heaven is our ultimate home and that being with Christ is far better than anything this world can offer, Paul didn’t write those words as an invitation to give up. Instead, he followed them with a powerful affirmation: “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account” (Philippians 1:24). Paul recognized that as long as God has us on this earth, He has a purpose for us, even when we can’t see it.

The Hope in Christ

In our darkest moments, it’s crucial to remember that our struggles don’t surprise God. He knows how hard life is; after all, He walked this earth and experienced the full weight of human suffering. Jesus wept. He felt anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane. He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Jesus understands our pain because He’s lived it.

Yet, He also overcame it. His resurrection is the proof that death does not have the final say, and neither does despair. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us (Ephesians 1:19-20). This doesn’t mean that life will suddenly become easy or that we won’t continue to struggle with depression, failure, or the temptation to give up. But it does mean that we are not alone in our struggles, and that there is a hope that transcends our circumstances.

The Call to Persevere

The Christian life is not about living in perpetual happiness or avoiding all pain. It’s about perseverance—about pressing on in the midst of hardship, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). It’s about trusting that God is at work, even when we can’t see it, and believing that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

This doesn’t mean we ignore our pain or pretend everything is fine. It’s okay to acknowledge that life is hard, to confess that we’re struggling, and to seek help—whether through counseling, medication, or simply the support of a trusted friend or pastor. God doesn’t ask us to bear our burdens alone. In fact, He commands us to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

A Final Word

If you’re reading this and resonating with the struggle, I want you to know that you’re not alone. Life is hard, and sometimes the "to die is gain" part does seem more appealing. But God has placed you here for a reason. Your life has value, even when you can’t see it. Your struggles are not wasted; they are shaping you into the person God created you to be. And as hard as it may be to believe right now, there is hope. Not a superficial, feel-good kind of hope, but a deep, abiding hope in the God who loves you, who sees your pain, and who promises that one day, every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

So hold on. Keep fighting. Keep trusting in the God who never fails, even when you do. And know that to live is Christ—to walk with Him in the midst of your struggles, to trust Him when the way is dark, and to find your hope in Him, no matter how hard life gets.