Pepper Soup for the Nigerian Soul – Sadness Makes You Blind

(Yes, this section is named after the ”Chicken Soup for the Soul” books! I used to read a lot of these in my teenage years!)

What do you say when your friend tells you she contemplated suicide a few weeks ago?

How are you supposed to feel?

Do you feel sadness for the pain she was in?
Do you feel guilty because you weren’t there at that exact moment — because someone you love felt so alone, so overwhelmed, and you had no idea?

How do you shake off the weight of that guilt?
How do you convince yourself it’s not your fault — that maybe, just maybe, what she needs is you now, not then?

Because that’s where I’m stuck.

My friend told me the thought of suicide flashed through her mind last month. She said she rebuked it immediately — because we’re those kinds of Christian girls. No such thought has the right to linger. We laughed about how she stood up and started praying, then reported herself to her mother. Honestly? Great idea.

But I was still deeply saddened. Why didn’t I know she was going through something so heavy?

How can someone whose life looks so full still feel so empty? She’s got a great job, a thriving business. Heck — she’s a social media influencer in the making! What could possibly be so wrong?

Then I catch myself — that dangerous line of thinking. My generation has taught me better: validate people’s pain. Don’t compare it. Don’t minimize it. Don’t judge it.

I almost judged her — and then I remembered: I fought the same battle just three months ago.

My life is beautiful. My parents are well. I’m growing, thriving. Yet the quiet whisper of death crept into my mind just because I didn’t get a job I really wanted. A job. That was enough to break me.Terrible

And here’s what I’ve come to learn about depression:

Sadness makes you blind.
It hands you a magnifying glass but steals your vision. You can’t see the good. You can only see what’s broken. What’s missing? What’s failing? It’s like drowning in invisible water. Heavy, consuming, and painfully quiet.

It’s strange. And scary. And real.

So, what do you do when the weight feels unbearable? When sadness blinds you and your mind whispers lies?

You speak back to the voice speaking to you! You respond with the word of God!

Because feelings are real, but they are not final. And nothing speaks louder than God’s promises. Here are some Bible scriptures for depression that I hold close!

Alcohol won’t help! Drugs are a no-no! In the words of the great philosopher, (Adekunle Gold) Sometimes, your friends or your spouse also do not feel like home. True REST comes from the LORD!

Do not worry about anything! The job you didn’t get. The man or woman that broke up with you. Worry about nothing!

My all-time favourite verse! This verse has seen me through so much!!!!

Sadness blinds you but God’s word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path!

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