Therefore I Say Unto You Take No Thought For Your Life What Ye Shall Eat Or What Ye Shall Drink Nor Yet For Your Body What Ye Shall Put On Is Not The Life More Than Meat And The Body Than Raiment Matthew : 25 Kjv
The Lord does not want us to be burdened by worrying about trivial matters. Instead He wants us to put our faith in Him and trust that He will provide our needs.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”
God provides and cares for the birds and the lillies and He will also provide for you. There is a good reason why the NIV translation of verse 34 states, “…do not worry about tomorrow… each day has enough trouble of its own”.
Showing gratitude for each day and the blessings it has and having faith enough to place the needs and worries of tomorrow in God’s hand is a great way to deal with anxiety while exercising faith in God’s provision.
There Is Hope For Our Future
God doesnt make mistakes. He created each of us for a distinct purpose. We might be struggling in extreme sadness, but God has delivered his people from the depths of sorrow. He will deliver us and the reassurance for that promise is in Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
When King David was depressed, he wrote Psalm 30:11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my mourning clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.
Dancing is fun but might feel impossible if we are dealing with Major Depression. With God, all things are possible. As King David did, lets allow God to turn our mourning into joyful dancing. What we are going through is very hard. It is possible to find some healing for our hurting souls through daily spiritual disciplines like prayer, gratitude, journaling, nutrition, and exercise.
For I Know The Thoughts That I Think Toward You Saith The Lord Thoughts Of Peace And Not Of Evil To Give You An Expected End Jeremiah 2: 11 Kjv
This Bible verse is an excellent promise that may help to deal with depression.
God thinks about us in a positive manner and this is the same way we should think about ourselves. We should look at the future with hope, think positive thoughts, and make plans for our lives with confidence and optimism.
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Romans : 1 You Have Nothing To Worry About As Long As You Hold On To Your Faith
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
God will never condemn you for sin if you are a follower of Jesus. Paul contrasts two lives. For those who are in Christ, one is a life lived in the Holy Spirit, and the flesh lives the other. God is hostile to those who are in the flesh.
Those who put their faith in Christ are saved. There is no alternative. God so closely identifies with us when we put our faith in Christ that He gives us the benefit of Jesus sinless, righteous life and accepts Jesus death as atonement for our sin, which deserves death. Additionally, those who reject this salvation wont be delivered from judgment.
God Strengthens And Cares For His People
God wants to have a loving relationship with everyone. He wants us to rely on Him during difficult times. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
When we feel so overwhelmed by depression and fearful that it may never subside, we can remember Gods word in Isaiah 41:10, Dont be afraid, for I am with you. Dont be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
God is described in different ways, but during times of depression and sadness, He can be our comforter. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, the Bible says, All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
Depression can knock on anyones door. But we can cry out to God when it feels too painful to endure. Psalm 34:17-18 proclaims, The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
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A Prayer For Battling Depression
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that you never change, even when everything around me is changing and unpredictable. Thank you that you are stable, even when I feel so very unstable. It feels like Satan has been whipping me around! Please sustain me, protect me, and enable me to stand.
I know that because sin entered the world, all of creation is under a curseall creation groans. Because of this, I struggle physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for how my body is made, and that it sends me warning signals to tell me that I need help. Right now my brain and emotions are telling me that something isnt right.
Help me to see if there is something physical that is causing my depression. Help me to sift through my circumstances to see if there is a need for change in some way. If I am experiencing depression as a result of a spiritual battle, please bring that to light and show me the best way to fight that battle.
Please lead me to the right source for help. Thank you for understanding what I am going through , and thank you that Your Word tells me that even Your Son went through hard times emotionally. There were times that He was distressed, grieved, faced loneliness, experienced deep sorrow, and after the death of John He went into isolation . He cried in prayer , and at times he was overwhelmingly sad . There was even a time that he was afraid his body would not survive the anguish he felt.
The Lord Hears Your Cry
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles .
When you are sunk into the valley of depression, it feels like you are totally and completely alone. Like no one cares, like no one is listening. You feel isolated, cut off, and like God has abandoned you.
But has not, and could never abandon you. When you cry to him for help, he hears and delivers. Maybe the deliverance wont come tomorrow, but make no mistake, it will come. God does not leave his people to wallow and blunder their way through depression and hopelessness.
He hears every cry you utter, sees every tear that rolls down your cheek. You are not alone. You have a good Father who is with you and for you.
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The Flesh And The Spirit
Depression and hopelessness can be described as a wrestling in the mind between the flesh and the spirit. The two Bible passages below describe this tension place. Again, the key is to speak and believe Gods word by faith. This reconnects your mind with truth, Jesusthe word made flesh.
2 Bible Passages Describing the Tension between Flesh and Spirit
Romans 7:15-20
- For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me nothing good dwells for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
- Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.Matthew 26:41
So That We May Boldly Say The Lord Is My Helper And I Will Not Fear What Man Shall Do Unto Me Hebrews 1: 6 Kjv
The fear of how others will treat you or what they will do to you may lead to anxiety. Being suspicious about losing a job, the fear of losing a loved one, or suffering from a life threatening illness may all lead to anxiety and depression.
In moments like these the lesson in this Bible verse becomes very potent. Affirm yourself as you repeat the text trusting that the Lord is your helper.
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Finally Brethren Whatsoever Things Are True Whatsoever Things Are Honest Whatsoever Things Are Just Whatsoever Things Are Pure Whatsoever Things Are Lovely Whatsoever Things Are Of Good Report If There Be Any Virtue And If There Be Any Praise Think On These Things Philippians : 8 Kjv
Conditioning the mind and realigning thoughts and feelings are great ways to address depression. This text encourages us to think about things that are: honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report.
There is much truth in the saying so a man thinketh so is he. If you think positive thoughts it is more likely that your mood and actions will be positive.
Final thoughts on depression
The Lord does want us to be anxious or do anything to hurt ourselves physically, mentally or spiritually. That is why He states in His word over and over that He is with us and He will never leave us. He doesnt want us to feel depressed but to be hopeful and remain optimistic as we exercise faith and rely on Him.
Psalm : 11 We Have The Ability To Manifest The Situation We Want
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
Psalm 30:11
We have a strong tendency to assume that things will always be good when they are. When we realize our error, we begin to feel guilty and consider our carnal security to be foolish. Even if no other calamity befalls him, a good man is troubled if God hides his face.
God eventually brought the psalmist out of his tribulations. When we praise God, it is never more true that our tongue is our greatest asset because we have the ability to command good and bad.
The believer must prepare himself for temptations and afflictions because the Lord, in his favor, has fixed his safety firm as the deeply rooted mountains. When we become negligent, we commit sin, the Lord covers his face, our comforts wain, and difficulties overwhelm us.
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Even More Comforting Bible Verses About Depression
Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Psalm 3:3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world.
How I Found Hope In Depression
I was that person the one who condescendingly said about people dealing with depression, They just need to get over it. It is so very true that pride goes before a fall. Without going into too much detail, lets just say that soon thereafter, I would battle this exact difficulty for several years.
While I knew the bible verses for depression mentioned below, I didnt know how much I would need to cling to them.
Ive been hesitant to write this post. Why? Because of the stigma attached to mental illness. As Christians, perhaps our honesty can help to end some of this stigma.
This post is not meant to be a sob story about what I went through. In fact, I dont want that to be the focus at all! I want the focus to be on the light, the light that is most assuredly at the end of the dark tunnel.
To those readers dealing with depression and/or anxiety, I want to give you hope! There is so much hope, more than you think possible.
*Important note:
Please know that while grounding yourself in these bible verses for depression gives you confidence, it wont necessarily change the way you are feeling. It is paramount for those dealing with depression to seek treatment from a health care professional and/or therapist. There are often neurotransmitter imbalances at play that need to be attended to.
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The Signs Of Depression
Ongoing and progressive depressionfor a period of two weeks or longercan disrupt your everyday life. The symptoms of being depressed include:
- a loss of interest or pleasure in something you once enjoyed
- feeling sad, anxious, indifferent, or hopeless
- feeling irritable, frustrated, or restless
- feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
- overcome with pessimism
- loss of appetite or other eating issues
- unplanned weight changes
- difficulty remembering or making decisions
- problems with self-image or confidence
- ongoing thoughts of death or suicide.
Another experience of depression is seasonal affective disorder, where you find yourself feeling oppressed or moody, typically starting in late fall and early winter and ending during spring and summer. Being depressed can be debilitating and depleting.
Severe depression should be treated with professional care.
Romans 1: 12 Know That God Hears You
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
Because we have hope in Christ, our hearts ought to be filled with joy. When facing difficulties, patience will keep us from quitting before realizing our success. We constantly pray in every circumstance because God will hear us. Christians should be glad because they have hope in Christ.
Despite our circumstances, we have hope in Him because He has promised us victory. You can find rest in Him when you place all of your hope in God and nothing else.
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Biblical Quotes For Depression
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you do not faint, for I am your God I strengthen you, I help you, I support you with my right hand.
Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for prosperity and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own reason. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Psalm 143:7-8 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My mind fails! Do not hide your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Let me know of your unwavering love in the morning, because I trust you. Let me know the way to go, because to you I raise my soul.
Psalm 30:5 – For his anger lasts a moment, and his favor lasts a lifetime. Crying can last all night, but joy comes in the morning.
What Is Depression And Hopelessness According To The Bible
Depression and hopelessness feel like black, heavy clouds following you throughout your day. Sad moods, grief, and frustration are generally short-lived and are part of everyday life. But when these general moods progress into something more, overtaking your thoughts, depression and hopelessness dominate the mind.
Depression and hopelessness bring heaviness in the spirit, trying to rob you of joy, hope, and faith. They tempt you to isolate, focus on the trials, and keep you from confidently coming before your loving Father who longs to touch your heart, healing it in this time of need.
Isaiah 61:3 says, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil for joy in mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
The Bible speaks about the spirit of heaviness. Isnt that a description of depression and hopelessnessa heavy cloud that doesnt seem to lift?
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God Never Loses Sight Of You
Deuteronomy 31:8It is the LORDwho goes before you. He will be with you he will not leave you or forsake you.Do not fear or be dismayed.
In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste.
Deuteronomy 32:10: In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him he guarded him as the apple of his eye.
Psalms 34:17When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalms 40:1-3Iwaited patiently for the LORD he inclined to me andheard my cry. He drew me up fromthe pit of destruction, out ofthe miry bog, andset my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He puta new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many willsee and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.