Depression in the Bible: What Do the Scriptures Say?

What do the Scriptures say about feeling down and depressed? In this article, we’ll take a look at several passages about depression in the Bible that offer hope and encouragement. In 2020, over 8% of American adults had at least one depressive episode. The DSM-V, which is the gold standard for mental health diagnoses, defines major depression this way:

“A period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and had a majority of specified symptoms, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth.”

If you’re struggling with these symptoms, you know they can drain the life out of you. But depression does not have to define you. It doesn’t make you any less of a Christian or make you any less valuable than someone who doesn’t struggle with it. At Lake Forest Christian Counseling, we offer hope, support, and faith-based guidance to help you find healing.

But depression tells us lies. And one of those lies often has to do with our faith. For those of us who are believers in Christ, we may internalize overt or subtle messaging that “strong” Christians don’t struggle, especially not with hopelessness and lethargy.

After all, aren’t Christians supposed to be full of love, joy, peace, and the other fruits of the Spirit? Aren’t we supposed to be happy? If we’re struggling with despair, doesn’t that mean we’ve done something wrong?

Not necessarily. While it may be the case that we’re dealing with gross sin that we’re refusing to repent of, it is more often the case that our depression has some other cause.

The term “depression,” is not in the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of Scripture. But depression, as a concept, is a part of the fallen human condition, and we can see it throughout Scripture.

Depression in the Bible

Let’s take a look at depression in the Bible, what God has to say about it, and how the truths of Scripture can encourage you in your battle with this debilitating mental health condition.

Depression in the Psalms

Many people throughout history who are struggling or suffering turn to the book of Psalms for comfort, particularly when looking for hope from depression in the Bible. That’s because there’s probably no other book of Scripture that provides such a realistic connection to the emotions of the human condition.

What we often see in the Psalms is the psalmist describing his condition, in his heart and emotions, and then bringing those raw, honest feelings before God in prayer. While the psalmist often confesses his guilt for sin, he does not confess his emotions. He simply acknowledges them and brings them to the Lord.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! – Psalm 4:1, ESV

In Psalm 4, David is distressed because of the idolatry of the Israelites (vs. 2). He’s unable to control what other people do, and he feels discouraged by the faithlessness of those around him. How many times have we felt demoralized or disillusioned because of the way other people act? It can cause great distress and contribute to depression.

Here we see that the solution for David’s distress was prayer and asking God to have mercy on him.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. – Psalm 31:9-10, ESV

David is in even greater distress in this psalm. His anguish is consuming both his physical body and his life. And it’s gone on for years. The conclusion of this psalm is in stark contrast to this vivid description of anguish and despair. David turns his heart to hope:

I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help…Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! – Psalm 31:22, 24, ESV

David’s only hope for rescue comes from God. He hopes in God, believing that even when the rescue has not yet come, even when he is still in great distress, God hears him and will help him.

Perhaps one of the most comforting promises for depression in the Bible is this one:

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18, ESV

God does not ask us to cheer up before serving him. He draws near to the broken and needy, those who are honest about their need for him and who are not relying on the things of this world to distract them and make them feel better.

Comfort for Depression in the New Testament

Although depression is also a theme we can explore in the rest of the Old Testament, let’s see what the New Testament has to say about sadness, discouragement, and soul-weariness.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV

This beautiful passage shows how we can receive comfort from God, and then be used by him to comfort others. In Christian counseling for depression, which is what we hope to convey. We seek to be instruments of God and part of his provision here on earth to treat mental health conditions and do so in a way that brings honor and glory to him. We know that depression can involve doubt and despair, and yet we believe that God loves and cares for us even when our faith is weak, and we feel hopeless.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39, ESV

The comfort of knowing that we are loved no matter what can carry us through some of our darkest days. Trust in God and relying on his promises may feel far-fetched in the throes of depression, but no matter what our emotions are, we can still turn to him. Sometimes we need a Christian community to surround us when we’re struggling – people who are the hands and feet of Jesus to us.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, ESV

In this passage about depression in the Bible, Paul is referencing the treasure of the gospel, the good news of salvation through Christ, being carried in fragile human vessels. We are fragile because we are physical beings who are dependent on food, water, and sleep to survive.

And God makes it this way to show His strength, and that the power of the gospel does not come from people, but from him. Paul describes his experience as an apostle, with other apostles, as being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But, in the encouragement of God’s love, he also describes them as not being crushed, despairing, forsaken, or destroyed.

The paradox of depression and comfort is seen throughout Scripture. God does allow us to experience suffering and discouragement in this life. An experience of depression doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong.

It’s part of living in a fallen world, in a human body and brain that don’t always cooperate with us. But God can use your experience of depression for good, even though it may seem nothing like it at the time.

Depression may have many complex physical and psychological causes. When you go to Christian counseling for depression, your counselor can also work with your medical provider to ensure you’re receiving the best treatment for your situation.

At Lake Forest Christian Counseling, we desire to connect you with God’s love even during your darkest time. We believe that God has provided evidence-based techniques to treat depression and other mental health conditions. If you would like to be connected to one of the experienced counselors for depression at Lake Forest Christian Counseling, please contact our office today.