Bible Questions and Answers

Depression is a very serious affliction. Many millions of people suffer with depression every day. There are a variety of causes of depression and many different degrees of depression.

If by depressed, you mean "feeling the blues," that is a normal part of life but still unpleasant for all that. The Bible is full of uplifting passages in the Psalms and Prophets especially. I like passages such as Isaiah 2:1-4 which speak of the coming Kingdom of God on earth. That will be a time when the earth is full of God's glory and the earth will be at peace. Just as importantly, men and women will be at peace within themselves. Isaiah also spoke of the power available to those who "wait upon the Lord" - Isaiah 40:31.

King David of Israel, who wrote many of the Psalms, was, as the Bible calls him, "a man after God's own heart." Yet he suffered from depression brought on by the troubles in his life. Look at the following Psalms most of which were written by David:

Psalms 6, 13, 18, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 37-40, 42-43, 46, 51, 55, 62-63, 69, 71, 73, 77, 84, 86, 90-91, 94-95, 103-104, 107, 110, 116, 118, 121, 123-124, 130, 138, 139, 141-143, 146-147)

When you are depressed, put your trust in God: Proverbs 3:5,6; Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:4-8; 1 Peter 5:6,7; 2 Corinthians 4:8-18. Often, reaffirming our faith in prayer will be enough to bring us up out of the darkness into the light of His joy and peace.

Along with spiritual help from depression available in the Bible, there are some physical things you can do that will help. Physical exercise helps to alleviate depression. When you are feeling low, go for a walk especially if you can go with someone else and walk where there are other people. We are designed not to be loners but to live in community. Just being in the presence of others can be of some help with depression. Winston Churchill suffered from depression and he managed it by walking. At such times, he used to say that he was walking his "black dog." His black dog, of course, was his depression.

When you are feeling low and the last thing you think you need is companionship, that's when you need to be with people most of all. Sometimes, just getting out of the house and going to the local mall where there are lots of people can help pull you out of the depths. If you have a close friend who is a good listener, talk to him or her. That's what friends are for.

Modern medical insights into some of the physical causes of depression are a gift from God. If your depression is severe and perhaps has a physical cause, consult your doctor. Some depression is caused by an actual chemical imbalance in the brain. There are remedies that work for these causes of depression. We are blessed that we live in an age with such resources available to us. We need to feel empowered to use these resources and to thank God for them.

Read Isaiah 35. Isaiah talks of a time soon to come when all the ills that beset the world will be healed. One of the most important afflictions to be removed from our world will be depression. The Father hates to see His children immobilized by sadness and sorrow. It's interesting that depression is the last thing mentioned in this chapter. It is mentioned at the very end of the chapter so that our attention will be drawn to it. We long for that time when the Father's Kingdom will fill the earth with His glory and depression will be no more or as Isaiah puts it, "Sorrow and sighing will flee away." Therefore we echo with joyful anticipation the words of our Lord and Saviour, "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven..." Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus

I hope you have found this to be helpful. Why not enroll in the online Bible study course available at This Is Your Bible ? You will find it helpful in giving you a good foundation in understanding God's word and rekindling within your heart the joy of salvation

God bless and keep you
Mike