In order to deal with depression we have to enhance our belief in the temporary nature of this life. Remember that life is short, it’s easy to get caught up in our own stresses and anxieties.

However, if we remember that this life is temporary and the hereafter is the everlasting, this will put our worries in the perspective.

This belief in the transitory nature of this life reminds us that every difficulty, every anxiety, every sorrow that we suffer from are transitory and a test and they will go away with time. But the reward will be everlasting.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once whispered something in the ear of his beloved daughter Fatimah and she cried; and again he said something else and she smiled. Aisha asked why was that?

She said:

The first time my father whispered in my ear saying that his death is very near, so I cried. The second time he told me that I would be joining him soon, so I smiled. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah has shown us two tools to use in our tough times in the Quran 2:153:

Prayer and Patience

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.

This advice was applied in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Through prayer, you connect to the master who has the keys to all problems.

And sabr means a focused struggle to achieve one’s goals and to remain steadfast against all odds.

What should be our goal primarily? It is to please Allah. Only this is the most important and everlasting goal. All other goals are short-term goals.

Even goals in this dunya can be shifted to the akhirah account if their intentions are checked and revised (which is done for Allah).

For example, education, earning halal rizq, getting married, bringing up children all for the sake of Allah.

And patience in attaining this goal also demands that we refrain from all that angers Allah.

The third aspect regarding patience is to keep your behavior under control in difficulties. And this covers the vast subject of anger management.

Today psychology proves that if stress and anger are controlled, consciously at its first and initial stage, they don’t transform into massive psychological disorders. And above all, the most beautiful thing about patience is that Allah says:

I am with the patient.

So who can be luckier, stronger, more fortunate than a person who has Allah by his side?