Depression In The Bible
Proverbs 12:25 – Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Psalm 9:9 – The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Does The Bible Have The Answers
Many people wonder if the Bible even addresses the struggle of depression because the word depression doesnt appear in Scripture. However, its important to know the major factors that lead to or increase depression. For example, feelings of depression are most often a result of emotional stress.
Here are some emotionalstressors that multiply feelings of depression:
- Anger
- Guilt and Shame
- Broken Relationships
Recent studies of individuals battling depression have identified these emotional stressors that multiply the feelings of depression and trigger waves of depressed feelings.
We cannot effectively deal with depression without evaluating our responses to the difficult circumstances and emotional stressors of our life. The Bible provides much guidance on how to respond better.
In order to reduce feelings of depression, we have to learn how to respond to emotional stressors.
Everyone has emotional stressors. Each person has stressors that hurt them and distract them from living a full life as God offers. At BCC, we often say that depression begins with disappointment. Our emotional stressors are often rooted in a deep feeling of disappointment regarding something we had and lost or about something we have longed for and never received. Depression is a progression, which left unchecked can go deeper and deeper. The following chart illustrates how this often happens:
Who Has Died Of A Broken Heart
Confirming that you can indeed die of a broken heart was a former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, who announced that both of his parents suffered fatal heart attacks in one day within minutes, in 2015. Flutieâs father was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack and eventually succumbed to the condition.
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Signs Of Feeling Alone
We all feel lonely at times but feeling disconnected from others for long periods of time can have serious side effects.
Boredom, depression, feeling excessively tired or just numb are all symptoms of feeling alone.
It doesnt matter if you are married or single, you can still feel alone.
It doesnt matter if you have children or not. Loneliness can happen to anyone.
When We Feel Extremely Tired
The devil knows the right time to attack us with *depression. Weare especially weak when our bodies feel very tired. It was certainly like thisfor Elijah. He sat down under a tree and wanted to die. He had no physicalenergy at the time . First, he had run nearly 20 miles to aplace called Jezreel. Then he heard bad news in the city. So, he ran for morethan another 80 miles. He was certainly very tired. It is no surprise to readthat he felt depressed.
This may be the main cause for your *depression. Perhaps you dofar too much in a day. You do not take care of your body. Please do not forgetsomething. If you are Gods child, your body is the special house of the HolySpirit. Do not be careless aboutyour physical needs. This brings dishonour to God.
You should say some things to yourself. Perhaps I do not haveenough rest and sleep. Perhaps I do not make enough time for my leisure.Perhaps I need to relax with some activity. Perhaps I do not have meals atregular times. All these things are very important. They have *spiritual aswell as physical importance. There are times when it is easier to becomedepressed. The devil will try to use them. These times are when our health isweak.
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You Can Find Strength By Leaning On Community
When youre depressed, the last thing you usually want to do is be around people. The problem is that being alone with your thoughts is probably the most dangerous thing you can do when youre really depressed. Depressive thoughts tend to spiral, and because depression overwhelms your emotions, its easy to believe the lies that your life is hopeless and no one cares about you.
As much as you do not feel like being around people, its crucial to have someone who can just be with you and be a physical reminder that people love you.
If you are at the point where going anywhere or even just getting out of bed seems impossible, ask a trusted friend to come by and spend time with you. Give that person a key if you are at the point where you cannot get out of bed. If you do not feel like talking, watch a movie together or listen to music.
If you are able, go to places where you can receive support and encouragement, like a church small group or a family gathering. Sadly, sometimes those places are not supportive or encouraging. If thats the case, it is really important to find at least a few key people who can walk through your depression with you.
If you do not feel like you can muster the initiative to get yourself out and go somewhere on your own, ask a friend to help. Have someone who attends the same church come by and pick you up on their way to church. Have a small group member in the same neighborhood meet you to walk to group with you.
*depression Always Makes Us Unable To See The Facts As They Are
There is humour in 1 Kings 19:4. Elijah asks the *Lord to take awayhis life. If this was what he really wanted, he should have stayed where hewas. He need not have had such a long, tiring journey! Jezebel promised to killhim in the next 24 hours. But poor Elijah did not look at the true situation.We are like that too, sometimes.
So, you should avoid making important decisions when you feeldepressed. You are not seeing things as they really are. There will be a daywhen you will feel much happier. That would be a better time to make adecision.
Notice something else about Elijah. His wrong opinion of thesituation appears again. You can read about it in 1 Kings 19:10, 14. Like ourown sad accounts of trouble, it went on and on. He repeated the same thing. Itwas not an accurate account either. He almost forgets the great events onCarmel mountain. His sad words are not even true! He says, I am the only oneleft. God says that there are 7000 people who love him !
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More Loneliness Bible Verses
Psalm 23:4Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.Psalm 147:3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.Psalm 146:9The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.Psalm 139:7-10Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.Isaiah 49:15Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
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What Does The Bible Say About Feeling Worthless
Isaiah 43:1 -> You Are Valued. But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you I have called you by name, you are mine. When I feel worthless, I remind myself that God doesnt create or choose or call His own things that are worthless.
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Is Depression A Sin
Depression is the sadness evolving from patterns of thought which do not reflect the existence of God as we know Him through Scripture. We usually define sin as a willful violation of the known will of God. Depression is sinful in that it is keeping you from rejoicing always as the Lord has commanded, but it is different in that we dont choose to be depressed. The word for this in Scripture, which is often translated into the word sin, is iniquity. Often in the King James Version, this word is used. David, in Psalm 51 said, Wash away all my iniquity. Iniquity is unchosen sinful thoughts that lead to unchosen behavior. So we are doing what God has commanded us not to do, but it is not a choice. In fact, we would give anything to have the power to stop doing what we are doing.
Depression is the emotional state developed because of spiritual cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are habitual patterns of thinking that are not accurate with a negative outlook. But often, depression is caused by things that are very true and very real. When I say depression is a spiritually cognitive distortion, I am referring to a blindness to the unseen reality of things. Let me give you an example.
As Christians, we are taught there is an unseen reality as God works above our circumstances. We cant see this realm, but we have faith it is there. To think that all is lost is to ignore the unseen reality of Gods chariots of fire coming to our rescue.
You Are Not Cut Off From God
The ultimate friend we find in our pain is Jesus Himself. He wept for us. And on the cross, He experienced separation from God in its fullness. Our Savior knows what it means to suffer darkness.
But when you are experiencing a mental health crisis and feeling isolated, its very easy to forget that God is literally within you. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God Himself, living and active in the life of everyone who trusts in Jesus.
When Jesus was about to be arrested and crucified, He sensed the distress among His closest followers. He knew the crisis they were about to go through. His solution was to reveal to them that their very reality as individual humans was about to be transformed in an unprecedented way.
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.
Jesus promised His followers the gift of the Holy Spirit God within them as His way of providing peace and guidance to them every day of their lives.
If you have placed your trust in Jesus, that same Spirit lives within you. God literally could not be closer to you in whatever you are experiencing.
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Misconception: Depression Is Not Real
Reality: Depression is a real illness that impacts the brains ability to function as it should.
The idea that depression is not real is a very dangerous misconception that prevents many people from getting help.
I remember sharing about my depression with a friend. He shared that he had similar experiences. He even felt so bad in high school that his mother took him to the doctor. The doctor diagnosed him with major depression and prescribed antidepressants. When they got home, his mother threw the medication sample in the trash and said that depression was not real. They never went back to the doctor or mentioned the diagnosis again.
My friends mother is a strong Christian who cares deeply for her son, but she bought into the myth that depression is not real. She seemed to think it was something shameful. Sadly, my friend to needlessly suffered from depression for years and even despaired of life itself. He finally got professional help for his depression a few years ago and is now thriving.
Our Enemy The Devil Uses *depression
This is to make us less able than we usually are. If the devilgets us depressed, he wins a major success. I saw these words in a Bible. Icompletely refuse to please the devil by being depressed. The devil can useall sorts of tests and troubles. He uses them to make us feel depressed. Petercalls them different kinds of troubles. The word that heuses means many colours.
Our tests are of various kinds and shades. But there issomething great. It will encourage us. Gods grace is always sufficient. Peter writes about different kinds of troubles. But he also writesabout different kinds of grace. Remember Pauls wordstoo. God says: My grace is all that you need .
Notice 3 things about *depression. It often comes:
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David Was Troubled And Battled Deep Despair
In many of the Psalms, he writes of his anguish, loneliness, fear of the enemy, his heart-cry over sin, and the guilt he struggled with because of it. We also see his huge grief in the loss of his sons in 2 Samuel 12:15-23 and 2 Samuel 12:18-33. In other places, Davids honesty with his own weaknesses gives hope to us who struggle today:
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. Ps. 38:4
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.Ps. 42:11
God Can Bring Good Even Out Of Something As Painful As Depression
God can handle your doubts, frustrations, failures and darkest moments because He is astoundingly gracious. He loves you through it all because thats simply who He is.
God will use us to bring hope to others. Hope means the most when it comes, stumbling, out of the dark places.
I find myself in tears whenever I hear people say they want to kill themselves because Ive been there. Empathy is powerful. It enables us to comfort others and know how to pray for them.
As I was healing from a season of deep depression and anxiety, I got to sit next to a young woman who was in the thick of it. I listened. I offered my story. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, Me too, again and again. I put my arm around this woman and prayed for the things I had needed just a few months before.
Ultimately, God will use us to bring hope to others who are hurting because weve been where they are and made it to the other side. Hope means the most when it comes, stumbling, out of the dark places.
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Bible Verses For Depression
Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:7-8
In this psalm, David feels lost and helpless and on the edge of death. He feels a sense of desperation that only God can help him to overcome. Rather than wallowing in his misery, however, he cries out to God, looking to Him for guidance, trusting that He will help.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18
When you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, as if you are being crushed beneath the load of the troubles you are experiencing and you dont know where to turn, David teaches us that God hears the prayers of His people.
Not only do we have the promise that God will hear us when we cry to Him for help, we read that God comes alongside those who are downcast and depressed and saves them. He does this by giving them Himself. His grace is the answer to our pain.
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11
Are you down and depressed? Remember that God loves you and that even the most extreme aspects of creation cannot come between God and His people.
What Are The Causes Of Depression According To The Bible
The Bible would teach us that depression is an issue of directional perspective. Gods plan for us is what we have not seen, and depression establishes itself in what is seen. We get depressed when we see the tragedies and coming nightmares that we feel we cant avoid. We want to see God change the things in our life. We want Him to reach out and change our circumstances and bless our environment so that we can get out of the depression. We look to be blessed outwardly to inwardly. Gods ways are higher than our ways. He doesnt bless from the outside in but from the inside out. Depression is the hopelessness that comes in the absence of Gods blessings. We look outwardly first and when things are not good all around us, we get depressed inwardly. God doesnt work that way.
Ok, sometimes, He does bless us when we are down and depressed. He blesses us outwardly to support our inmost spirit. He does something good in our life to give us hope in our spirit. But if our relationship with God was dependent upon everything around us being good, or at least more good than bad, we would become like spoiled children who want what they want no matter what. We would be unable to praise God until He blesses us outwardly. We would take Him for granted and worship Him for His gifts.
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