Have you ever felt low? Most of us have. Some of us have felt so low that we could be said to be depressed. Amongst its many negative consequences, a low mood can make it harder for us to make decisions. The indecisiveness and biased thinking that are symptoms of depression can create delays in making important choices. Not only that, but the decisions we do make at such a time are more likely to be poor ones. Recent research at the University of Groningen suggests that difficulties with decision-making when we are depressed reflect a reduced responsiveness to rewards and punishments. It's not hard to see why such a response deficiency could lead to poor choices. They also suggest that the ruminations of the depressed disrupt decision-making by making it harder to navigate between, and weigh up, different options. Few would suggest that spirituality is an instant answer to depression. In fact, history and scripture both contain many examples of spiritual men and women who, at times, felt very low. But a living personal relationship with God does open a channel to Heaven through which the joy of Heaven may flow, even in the darkest night on earth, The Bible says that “The joy of the Lord is ourstrength.” There is a joy that may be known, a joy that can even penetrate depression, and a light that can illuminate our decision-making, even when it may seem as though all is lost.