Bible Questions and Answers

A visitor writes,

"Whats the bible say about being depressed?"

Psalms 42 & 43 are psalms about depression:

Psalms 42:1 «To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.» As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3  My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, "Where is your God?" 4  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. 5  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. 7  Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. 8  The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life. 9  I will say to God my Rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" 10  As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 11  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalms 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! 2  For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3  Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. 4  Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. 5  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

The advice is to place our trust in God.

Psalm 9:9  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. 10  And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 34:17  The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18  The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 23 is encouraging:

Psalm 23:1 «A Psalm of David.» The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

In the New Testament we have the words of Jesus:

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

And the advice of Paul:

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

And Paul’s experience:

Philippians 4:11... I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

James points us to the experience of Job:

James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose of God and coming into Covenant relationship with Him by baptism gives us a hope for the future which should help in times of depression. 

The fellowship of likeminded believers is also of great value.

The aim in life is to look outwards instead of inwards - to love others as God loves us. 

Philippians 2:4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

John 13:34  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

I hope you find this helpful,

God bless,

Glenn