‘God kept taking me back to 2 Corinthians 12:9: Boast in weakness. So I did. I talked about mental illness, medication, therapy, exhaustion, and the crushing pressure on Christian women - especially leaders’ wives - to be perpetually perfect, endlessly helpful, and never in need,’ says Kathryn Segal.
I never imagined I’d be the one writing this. People like me don’t get depressed—at least that’s what I thought… and fought. The past five years had been a relentless onslaught: breast cancer at 32, the chaos of COVID lockdowns, £30,000 stolen through financial fraud, life-saving surgeries, and the kind of soul-deep grief that lingers. I was running on fumes.
I tried everything to feel better—long walks, extra-strong vitamin D, journaling, gym sessions, even Christian counselling. But still, the darkness didn’t lift. Eventually, I had to admit something that felt both nauseating and crushing: I was depressed. I couldn’t fix it with effort or positivity. I needed medical help.
After leaving my job in early 2024, I could barely function.
After leaving my job in early 2024, I could barely function. The only energy I had was reserved for the school run, to maintain some semblance of normality for our girls. I’d walk them to school with pyjamas hidden under a long winter coat, then crawl straight back into bed when I got home. Most days, it was just me, my spiralling thoughts, and the TV for company. I was bored, lonely, and utterly depleted. My social battery? Flatlined.
READ MORE: Five things I’ve learned living as a Christian mum with depression
But God hadn’t gone anywhere. He hadn’t abandoned me - just as he promised. As the medication side effects settled and my strength slowly returned, I started to feel a nudge. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew I didn’t want to keep waiting for life to happen. Then I heard it, quietly but clearly: influence. That’s all he said.
And where do you find people who influence? Social media.
So I began again. I created a new Instagram account—not to perform or impress, but to tell the truth. To share the struggle and the sustaining grace of a God who walks with us through the dark valley. The God who meets us in the pit. (see Psalm 40!)
READ MORE: Set free to set others free
Almost immediately, women began reaching out—pastors’ wives, ministry leaders, women with strong faith and silent battles. They saw themselves in my story. They felt seen. And in that shared honesty, the Spirit whispered to them what I needed to hear too: You’re not alone.
Evangelical Christianity often teaches us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” But what happens when joy feels impossible? What if your brain won’t let you “get happy”? Are you suddenly a bad Christian? God kept taking me back to 2 Corinthians 12:9: Boast in weakness. So I did. I talked about mental illness, medication, therapy, exhaustion, and the crushing pressure on Christian women - especially leaders’ wives - to be perpetually perfect, endlessly helpful, and never in need.
Slowly, a community formed. Women messaged to say my honesty gave them permission to be real and ask for help. To book the GP appointment. To open up to their husbands. They weren’t weak—they were just human. And God wasn’t ashamed of them.
READ MORE: We are calling for a 40-day prayer and fasting relay for God to bring revival in the UK
Social media doesn’t have to be shallow or self-centred. It can be sacred space. A strange but powerful kind of sanctuary. A mission field. A discipleship tool. A lifeline.
I’m not a professional—just a mum in her late thirties, showing up online with s cup of tea in hand and truth in my posts. But if my weakness can point people to God’s strength, then I’ll keep sharing. Jesus meets us in the pit. He lifts us out. And sometimes, he uses Instagram to do it.
Come join the conversation: @kathrynsegal You don’t have to pretend anymore.
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