by Rex Rouis

One of our most popular pages is Scriptures Against Depression. Despair and heaviness is everywhere. It is in the news and it seems to be in the air. Last year, there were over 33,000 suicides in the United States. This is tragic, especially since there is a known cure.

God is the best answer to depression, not pills. Pharmaceuticals (e.g. Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Paxil, Celexa, etc.) only mask the effects of depression; the issues remain. Read the following from Wikipedia about medication survey results:

In the published literature, anti-depressants had 94% success in treating depression. In the withheld literature, they had below 50% success. Combined, all studies showed 51% efficacy – only two points better than that of a placebo.

I am not recommending that you get off of your medication, and I am not against medical professionals. They are doing all they can. We are all in this fight together. What I am saying, is that earthly things can go only so deep. Most of our issues run much deeper. Pills can bring temporary relief but then can also mask the problem. God’s involvement goes to the heart of the issue. Only the power of God can change you on the outside and also change you deep down on the inside. He can work in our surroundings and in your heart. He starts with the heart.

I am not recommending that you get off of your medication, and I am not against medical professionals.

I am not against any form of help, be it medicine, professionals, friends, or whatever. Use everything available. There is no shame in receiving any kind of help. Helping others is just another tool in your belt. Use it.

Depression is the ‘feeling’ of hopelessness, and the simple cure for hopelessness is hope. God is the author and source of hope, so He is the one and only true antidepressant. Again, use everything at your disposal to get your head above water so you can catch your breath. Only, use that breath to also find something firm under the surface, something that you can stand on. God is there and only He can effectively support you forever. His ways are the only true long-term cure.

Each day I concentrate on three things: trust God, clean house (morally), and help others. Jared Akers

The Bible shows us the mind and ways of God. God does not want you to just manage your depression, He wants you to be totally free from depression. Believing the Bible releases His presence and power. However, one must also act on the scriptures to see His hand move – to make depression leave for good. Knowing hope on a legal level is fine, but experiencing hope firsthand is quite another thing. Feeling His approval and the joy of giving will change you forever.

Helping and serving others will do the following for you:
  • It will help you to get your attention off of your own problems. Sometimes we get in such a hole that we can’t see anything else, or find the way out. Helping others works to break this cycle, and opens our vision. It gives perspective, shows that your problems are not insurmountable.
  • In helping to heal other’s wounds, yours will heal much quicker. The love and compassion you show to others in your time of pain will come back to you in healing and joy.
  • Helping others will once again reveal your true self worth. It will show you that you do have value and that you can make a difference. We all seek this; it was planted in our hearts by God.
  • The appreciation you will feel from those you help will bring joy and fulfillment to your heart. Our hearts long for fulfillment and only by serving can we best find it.
  • You will find that you aren’t the only one with problems. We know this intellectually, but seeing it first hand is healing. Sometimes we feel like we have been singled out for pain. We are not that special. It comes to all. Receive healing as you work to heal others. Do something; get out.
  • The ‘feeling’ you get from easing someone else’s pain and stress, sometimes called “helper’s high”, can give you a mood boost.

Isaiah Chapter 58 provides information about how to get out of darkness and despair. The answer is simple – serve others less fortunate than you. If you do this you will find help. Let’s read:

Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

Repentance and even fasting is a first step in breaking destructive cycles. A humble heart of repentance brings God’s presence. Fasting weakens the desires and strongholds of one’s mind and flesh.

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58:7

Helping the poor and helpless is your door to recovery. Find someone who cannot pay you back, and give them something that everyone can give – love and acceptance. And if you can afford more than that, give it. Give out of your need. God will bless it. This verse says that when you shelter and help another person, you are also sheltering and helping yourself.

Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8

As you help others, the light of God’s hope and a sense of His joy will flow into your life. Your recovery will come faster than you think. The original language that is translated ‘recovery’ in this verse speaks of the healing of one’s scars. The Bible is telling us that as we labor to heal others, our scars will heal. It is a promise from the God. Believe it.

Now go out. You will have to make yourself, but do it. Take a risk; love someone. God says He will protect you. Not everyone will accept your help, but He promises to guard your heart. Keep going and don’t stop loving them. Do exactly what you would want others to do for you. Do for them what you need, and in so doing you will help yourself.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, Isaiah 58:9

Stop blaming others. Unforgiveness will destroy you. It does no harm to the other person(s). Let go and start loving others, and watch God show up. He will come to you and say, ‘Here I am, what do you need?’ Imagine how that would change your life. Allow yourself to imagine it and then go out and do it.

And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. Isaiah 58:10

Once you decide to satisfy others, God will satisfy you. Light will pour back into your life. Darkness will flee. Your depression will disappear as a shadow in the midday sun. It is possible, believe it and act on it.

And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11

Keep it up, and He will walk with you and be your personal guide. He will satisfy your hearts desires. It really does not matter what the conditions are around you. He will strengthen you and water you. You will become a fountain for all those around you. The water you draw for them will nourish you.

A huge aspect of being hopeless is being purposeless. In the darkness of despair, one looses sight of one’s capabilities. Find your purpose in God and you will go a long way to regaining your hope. You were made to have value, and you release your value when you value others, and you value others by serving them. In helping others light comes. Your purpose is found in finding your appointed service in God. Through the act of giving to others, God will give to you. You’ll regain your value as a person. We were made to do this.

Serving others may not be the only answer but it is part of the answer, and maybe it is the part that will activate your big answer. Go out, take a risk, help someone and then believe you will get better. Go ahead and believe for the sunshine again. It is out there. We love you.

Helping others is your door to recovery.
Helping others helps you.

Comments

  1. I have battled depression since having an abortion at 21. I’m ow 60. I pray for God to take me home. I’m in a tough marriage. My husband has lots of anger. I have never attempted suicide but was hospitalized in 2006 because I was suicidal. I received ECT on my brain to snap me out of it. I’ve been on antidepressants since 2006/7. I recently started having seizures. I’m concerned the antidepressants are what caused the seizures to start. I went off of them. This latest episode started about a month after going off. So, I’ve started taking them again.

    I am a believer in Jesus and KNOW He is with me and that I have the Holy Spirit living inside me as helper. Please pray with me that I get through this bout and come out the other side with an even stronger testimony.

  2. Yes I have had depression since I was 17 years old on and off. I am now 71 years old. It seems that I have to have my own way or things are going my right on the life line of life. And I have the habit of sabortaging any goal I try. I have had a shame life on and off all my life. Meaning I have always took the easy way out, which the bible says board way out. I have done the narrow way in marriage, but I live with my parents until I was almost 41 years old. I got married at 46 yrs old. I missed up the marriage, not her. She was a good wife, very selfless smart etc. My wife died over 8 years ago. The, yes I did sex before and during marriage. I wasn’t faithful to her. I have alot of fake realities in my mind. The people that loved me I hurt the most like my sister and her husband, wife and inlaws and my parents. The pastor says Jesus will forgive me for this at 71 yrs old, but I can’t forgive my self. I wish alot that I was younger . I have had this bondage on and off for approx for almost 55 years. One pastor30 years ago told me I am addicted to myself. I haven’t had a job since 2008. I do some voluntary jobs, for rescue animals and the VA , but I don’t like myself. I have had alot of lust in by Heart. No I can’t get married because I don’t know the difference between lust and love. I would say I wasted at least 15 too 20 years of my life or more. My wife left me alot of money. but after 4-5 years . Money does not make you happy as the bible tells us in Ecclesiastes . I am not on drugs , but twice in my life I had the feelings to hurt myself and 17 yrs old and before I got the shame marriage.

    1. Gary, you are too hard on yourself. We are all flawed, we all have shame, we are just trying to move on with faith and God’s grace. He did not grant us life to have us squander it. No matter how old you or how much you think you wasted your past, you are alive today so do something positive and constructive. Act as if you will live forever, or else gloom will follow you. I wish I could send you my secret paper. At a gathering of my group I had everyone write down their biggest sin/shame/regret/etc. on scrap of paper; we folded them and put them in a bowl of water. Within seconds they had disappeared and we were all freed! Try to visualize that in your mind and grant yourself the forgiveness and freedom God gave you when you were born.

  3. I have been struggling with depression for awhile I am just praying that the lord would deleiver me from it I dont like feeling hopeless and sad all the time

    1. Tiffany – it is terrible to feel that way and we all know how hard it is to climb out. Please just keep looking up, not down, let the blue sky and white clouds lift you closer to God. Blessings.

  4. I agree with some of what your saying however, when there is a reduction of neurotransmitters in the brain, it is necessary for medication to be used as a means to bring balance back to the brain. This is no different than a person with diabetes who requires insulin to help reduce there blood sugar or anti-hypertensives to reduce high blood pressure.

    Scripture is the prescription for deep psychological problems that plague people with childhood trauma, abandonment, abuse, rape, molestation and PTSD and the like. All these factors contribute to depression and over time diminishes the neurotransmitters in the brain which in some instance requires anti-depressants on a long term basis. Other mental health issues will ensue as a result of not receiving appropriate treatment; spiritual or otherwise. How many pastors do you know who have experience in appropriately ministering to people with mental health issues and don’t further the stigma associated with the disease? How many are truly equipped to deal with the suffering that these people experience?

    As a result of the fall in Genesis, we all begin to die physically (mentally, physically) the day we were born. The only hope for mankind is that the spirit man be renewed daily. However, for many of the mentally ill, they can even begin to hear the word because they are too chemically imbalanced. There is no for physical death. However, thank God through Jesus Christ our spirit will live eternally in him because of our confession that He is Lord! Please keep the balance in your conversation.

    Blessings,

    Chaplain Alma who also happens to be a Registered Nurse.

  5. Elliot,
    I hope you’re doing better. I too was feeling the same way a few weeks ago. I actually tried to overdose on medication – but I regretted it at that very moment and drove myself to the ER. I couldn’t imagine my 13 year old son waking up and finding me. They kept me overnight to make sure the med was out of my system.
    My life is still very complicated and I continue to struggle but I know God is with me. After several days I checked a comment I left on another page of this website and someone left a reply that really moved me. I printed it out and keep it in my bible

    https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/scriptures/scriptures-against-suicide/

    God created you for a reason, and He doesn’t make mistakes. You will get through this. God bless you always.

  6. Elliot
    Don’t, I ve been there. God loves you and so do I. Roy T Bennet said “Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.
    We can do this, we need to Trust in God, always!
    Love ya in Jesus Name!

    1. Elliot, I am not wise enough to really help you other than to share that faith and the belief that God would not forsake me has gotten me through rough times. I am praying for you.

    2. I will pray for you God loves you . Keep strong as don’t give up. Life’s hard and we need to put God 1# in our life’s . God bless you.

  7. I am really depressed right now. I feel like if I do get better, wouldn’t I just fall into depression again. Can I ever get away from this part of my life. I am jealous of my friend and I feel terrible for being jealous. Right now I really truly hate myself. I do. I hate my body, my mind and I consider suicide. I mean if God truly did love me, why did he create me this way. Why did he create a spirit called depression. All I really want is to be truly truly happy but I don’t think I can get there so i want an easy way out which is suicide…

    1. I will pray for you don’t give up God loves u . Seek God he really cares for u .

    2. Elliot, there is no easy way out. I was very depressed in 2002 , and shot myself in the head. God, stopped the bullet, by melting the stuffing in a pillow that I had over my head. I was taken to the hospital , but the bullet was in the pillow. So you see, if God is not ready for you, you are not going. He will call you home when your time comes and not before. I am so happy that God, saved me . It was a miracle.
      I find that helping others , is the best medicine. I have cancer now, so blessing others who are worse than me, makes me feel good. I try my best to strike up a very positive conversation, with folks in the waiting room , at the hospital. I give compliments to others, everyone loves a compliment. Be cheerful, and smile . The Lord will bless you, for helping others to cheer up and receive a compliment.
      Gail

  8. My problems are not so great but they feel terrible. God doesn’t feel like he is there. I don’t feel him . the answrs are so hard to do. Asking God please help and what I hear is too hard.but still, god please help. I try to love my mother, god please help. God please help. Thank you, Nina

  9. It’s truly very difficult in this busy life to listen news on Television, thus I
    simply use internet for that purpose, and get the most recent information.

  10. Please lift me up in prayer.Am Richard.Av been praying and searching for job here in Nigeria for close to 5 years.I had to go and start doing hard labour jobs at new building sites despite being a university graduate.Been having series of spiritual attacks and im asking God to come to my rescue cos av suffered many health breakdowns.Dear God please come to my rescue and cause my joy to be full,i really need your help God.av prayed and prayed.

  11. All the way from Nigeria, God answered my prayers through your blog. The word of God from Isaiah 58 and the glorious command you gave to go out and help others greatly boosted my faith. Thanks that people like you are on the earth.

  12. Carol Anne Im so glad im going through what im going through if i wasnt i wouldnt have come across your cry plea for Gods help. I know it feels so difficult but go and search about when God is silent and I hope you will see that God has a reason for every situation in our life. Trust our SAVIOUR JESUS WHO DIED to restore our relationship with God. I love the verse where Jesus says in matthew 6v26 God gives the birds what they need God will give us what we need. I didnt know where it was in the bible so i googled it im only giving you something to light your candle of hope and so we can help each other keep the light shinning for another in darkness. Some might ask what is the light it is Love towards one another: our church service today, read 1John3v16 Jesus gave His life for us so we must give our lives for our brothers how? read further John tell us if you see someone in need give. So yes helping others is the first start to healing. You must try and ask Jesus to help you to forgive your husband tell him that you love him as Jesus loves you and forgives you and thus you forgive him. I know what you are going through im there but know God has a plan and see it like God is the potter and you are the pot and God loves you and He wants to mould you and shape you in the person He needs you to be the light that will shine in anothers darkness. If you and me and many others havent endured this how can we help another they will feel very lost and scared as if they are the only ones. God wants to use you but you need to Trust Jesus. Please pray for me and I will pray for you. Just too add a little more hope God must love you that He wants to mould you and shape you. Maybe it is forgiveness or something else ask God and he will reveal it to you. God loves you. Amen and Amen Jesus Lord Jesus your word tells us that you are the way the Light and the truth please Lord be the Light in Carol’s life and all the deppression sufferes Lord, thank you Father God that you showed us that you love us and that You have not turned Your back on us by sending your only son Father God to save us bless us with Your unfalling love, grace and mercy. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen amen and amen.

  13. Like Christine, I am feeling this too. I have been abandoned by everyone I have loved in my life. The most recent abandonment has been the hardest. My husband has left me and has no reasons. He has completely checked out on me to the point that he does not even answer personal texts that ask him to deal with the marriage that he abandoned. The worst is that we have two kids in the middle of all of this. Throughout the years we were together and pretty much my whole life i have had depression. I was always able to bounce back, so to speak. Then at one point i cried out to my husband in deep pain and not understanding me, he pushed it away like i was crazy. He started to tear down my self-esteem and self-worth- now i am lost and completely empty. I can’t see the point in praying after all of the pain I have endured. I’ve been beaten down to nothing, fearing I cannot get up anymore. I’ve tried a few times to take my life, but I am even to much of a coward to follow through. Then i think that even if I tried, I would be saved, just to suffer even more. I was in and out of foster care, adopted by a family ( turned out that the father I had, had plans for me). He raped me repeatedly for many years. I got away from that only to suffer more years of countless trauma. I got injured on at work- through out 7 in years had 10 surgeries. Right before my injury I met my now husband. He helped me through so much, even when my whole family stopped talking to me, because I had a heart and determination to feel that i deserved respect from them. All they wanted was to control my every move and thought. So after being w my husband for now 14 years, it comes as a heartbreaking blow- that he would abandon me. 5 years of separation and he still holds onto the marriage- without even giving any clues as to what really happened. Life just sucks.. and i can’t even end mine…

    1. where, oh where is the God that I have believed in? to watch me suffer and never allow me his mercy. I can pray so much, can’t really see what I am praying for as a reality. i’m trapped. my depression, abandonment and lack of hope have left me in a pit of despair. How can God pull me out of this to ever feel again, to actually see the good I know in my heart he has for me? The never ending vicious cycle that no prayers can even find me peace… I’m just filled with all negative and the positive has been drained away. Someone please tell me how do I pray to a God who will not hear me, when I can’t hear myself?

      1. Author

        Carol – I am praying for you. Don’t cry out or beg God. Try to look away from your emotions for a moment and just put the word of God into your heart. Read, speak it, and meditate on it. Just do that and let IT work in your heart. It will. It will put hope back into your heart, and along with that comes strength and joy. It will. We love you. God loves you. He does. He has not forsaken you. Your lifeline is the word. Just put it in until it works. Do it expecting. Again, we love you. Rex

    2. Carol Anne, I don’t know what to say, my heart hurts for you. But think of your kids, if your husband is so out of the picture, they really need you. I hope you have a church or pastor you can talk with, if not please check your local health department for therapist referral, it should be low-cost, you need to see someone now. And read through this site, you’ll find others who are suffering but seeing some daylight. Remember that you were born loved by God and he will not forsake you. You are in my prayers. Blessings

  14. Thank you. Light shines again where it has been dark for many years.

    1. Author

      Heather – Act selflessly and live joyfully. We don’t give to get. We give because people are hurting and we love them. We are not codependent – no manipulation or control. We love you. Rex

  15. Suicide was my option as i speak but the light of God came n rescue me,psalm 70 is my weapon.

  16. I desperately needed to read this tonight. Depression can quickly destroy my life if I let it. Repairing what is has already damaged seems impossible… I am going to need to force myself to put more faith in God and be of service to others.

  17. May God Bless and help you Kendra .
    Never give up. Jesus loves us.

    God Bless you!

  18. Kendra, we must remember that the devil creates the darkness, not God, and we have to fight through it because God is there on the other side. We have to work at it. I’ve been finding comfort when I’m awake all night to recite prayers, scripture, site quotes and even singing (silently) old hymns. It does help get me through to the morning when things are brighter and I once again feel some hope. You are in my prayers.

  19. I’ve had major depression for over a year or so. It has gotten to the point where I feel like God is not here maybe nonexistent. It’s a scary feeling. The hopelessness keeps me from reading my bible or pray. It’s actually the hardest thing to do. Please pray for my deliverance and for God to give me the truth

    1. Kendra – Try watching emmanuel.tv online when you get the chance.I hope you get encouraged

      1. Rita, we understand. The articles here are so true, the more I concentrate each day on thanking God for just being here and asking Him to please let me help someone today, the better my days go. Try to do that and it really does ease that dark hole’s pull. Blessings

  20. Christine, I wish I had magic words that would help you, but I don’t. I think I understand feeling a mere shell with nothing inside, I’ve described myself that way, but I can’t honestly say I’ve experienced the same depth of despair as you. I am very very sorry you’ve been so mistreated and abused, your family sounds like your worst enemy, and I can’t even imagine how a person could be so mean and hateful as to take your precious pet that way, your father is a terrible human being and I hope you are not living with him and can cut him out of your life. If you are on your own please consider getting another pet, not to replace the ones you’ve recently lost, they cannot be replaced, but because you should not have to live without the love and devotion they provide. I hope someone here has the words to help you, I do not have that knowledge or talent, but I’m glad you found this site. Please keep seeking God’s help and try to trust Him, I really believe He will not desert you, and please keep us posted on how you are doing. The people here are truly caring and loving and we honestly care about you. Blessings

  21. I am 43 years old. I have suffered depression my whole life. Which I am being medicated for. I also have bipolar, anxiety etc. I have spoken to God many times over the years. I asked him to come into my life an carry the burdens of my troubles. I have asked for forgiveness for all my sins. I have done good things ffor others and am devoted towards rescuing animals. I have tried to have faith. I have pleaded and begged for help. I have read my bible and accepted God in my life. However, the depression is still there. I am constantly miserable. I lost 2 off my doggies recently, my precious little girls. I am being discriminated at work. My parents mentaly abused me and sometimes beat me up. My dad once took my dog and shot her in the head in front of me. I have had nothing but misery my whole life. It’s neverending. No matter how much I pray, believe, have faith over the years – nothing has changed. I have seen psychologist, psychiatrits, and had cchristian counselling. People have told me not to lose faith, believe in God and many other things. But I just can’t anymore. I am tired of trying, tired of believing, tired of having faith. Saying to me not to loose hope will not help. I have heard it so many times. And I have tried. But, I can no longer do this, no matter how many times people have told me various things about hope, faith, God’s love. There is no more will left in me. I want God in my life, but I have become so weak. I cannot fight this fight all the time.. My live has been 43 years of misery. I am so tired. I am an empty shell.

    1. This isn’t a spiritual answer, but one book that’s helped me greatly recently is “Feeling Good” by Dr. David Burns, which helps address thinking patterns associated with depression. Even just reading it without the exercises can be helpful. Many of us don’t have nearly the traumatic history that you do, and yet still feel this sense of hopelessness and despair, which shows the force of thoughts even absent serious trauma.

    2. Christine, I’ve reread your heartbreaking post and wonder how you are now? Please let us know.

    3. How are you doing now, Christine? Are you okay? It’s been some time since your post, but is there anything you need prayer for? Or maybe if you need to talk. I hope you can work through this.

    4. Christine van Duuren – Try watching emmanuel.tv online when you get the chance. I hope you get encouraged

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