Depression is real, and if you are fighting it you are not alone. Depression seems to have been the bane of many of life’s great leaders. In the Bible, Moses, Elijah, David, and Job all had to deal with it. In the secular world, Sir Winston Churchill used to call depression his ‘black dog’, and Ernest Hemingway referred to it as ‘the artist’s reward’.
President Abraham Lincoln battled depression and suicide all his adult life. There were times when for his own safety Lincoln would not allow himself to carry a knife, for fear that he would hurt himself, or worse. Read about Lincoln turning to the Bible to relieve his depression. Let the Scriptures help you just like they have helped so many of us. Sometimes depression can be a purely spiritual thing, read this – Depression Is a Spirit – It Must Be Fought with the Word of God.
Depression is the physical and emotional result of hopelessness – the ‘feeling‘ of hopelessness. We live in a world devoid of hope, and depression is the emotional product of that reality. The only thing that will actually change one’s life sufficiently as to destroy the cause, mechanics, and effects of depression is God’s hope and His word of hope. The answer is to get God’s hope back inside of you.
Hope will let you again see the ‘future positive possibility’ of your life. Without seeing it you will have no motivation or strength. The good Word of God, and the good word of others to you, can change the outlook and condition of your heart. Fight for God’s outlook with all you have. Fight it with the Word of God. (Also, confess the scriptures on Hopelessness.) Anyone who is among the living has hope.
God’s hope encourages, motivates, and keeps you on the road to faith, peace, and victory. And if you suffer from deep ongoing depression, get help. And please read this – Helping Others Is God’s Prescription for Depression. Send me a comment, we love you and we want to help you. You are important and you have value. You are not alone. With God’s help, you will climb out of this hole.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down (depression), but a good word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25 Holman Christian Standard Bible
These scriptures on depression will give you hope and will build your faith. Confess and meditate on them to win the fight against depression. The key is not losing Hope. Allow the hope of God to seep back into you. Remember, there is a real Person (God) behind each and every one of these promises. He promised them to you for a reason – to help you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 33:27 – The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
2 Samuel 22:17-22 – He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; (18) He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. (19) They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. (20) He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (21) The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. (22) For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2 Samuel 22:29 – You are my lamp O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.
Ecclesiastes 9:4 – Anyone who is among the living has hope.
Psalms 9:9 – The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 27:14 – Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 31:22,24 – You heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help… Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 34:18, 19 – The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (19) A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.
Psalm 37:23-24 – If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumbles, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 43:5 – Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.
Psalm 55:22 – Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 62:5 – Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
Psalm 126:5 – Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
Psalm 143:7-8 – Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I’ll lift up my soul.
Psalm 147:3 – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 145:14 – The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Proverbs 12:25 – Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down (depression), but a good word cheers it up.
Isaiah 26:3-4, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. (Perfect means complete. If I keep my part of the promise by staying steadfastly focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, He will keep His promise to give me His perfect peace. See also Philippians 4:6-7 below)
Isaiah 35:10 – And the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away
Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 53:4 – Surely he took up our sicknesses and carried our sorrows.
Mark 9:23 – Everything is possible for him who believes.
Romans 4:18-22 – Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall they seed be. (19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 7:6-7 – Nevertheless, God, that comforts, those that are depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; (7) And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:10 – Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
2 Peter 2:9 – The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.
1 Peter 4:12 – Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:13 – But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed
1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Read how Lincoln Turned to the Bible to Manage His Depression and other articles: Scriptures Against Hopelessness – Scriptures Against Worry – New Testament Scriptures on Faith & Believing – Do God’s Promises Cover What You Want?
Comments
I can only run the exhausting race and try to give my best for so long without little to hardly any appreciation until this overwhelming numbness has taken over everything I do and feel. My heart is bruised, battered, heavy, sad, and torn. My mind is in a state of turmoil, confusion, and distress. My body is constantly breaking leaving me weary, weak, exhausted, and restless. How long will it take for the complete “package” to collapse? OH LORD! OH LORD! OH LORD! You’ve heard my cry.
I have lost hope in all areas of my life. I am literally falling apart. I am having the most difficult time in my profession with one of my bosses on me about things. I cry at work and cannot take being there any more. I am a single mom of a teenager. My teenager does not want to study and do good in school. I have been ill throughout the year and can’t seem to get over that. I missed several days of work because of it. I can’t seem to get all the bills paid. I really do want to give up. I pray to the Lord sometimes after each breath that it be my last. I’ve never been in this much turmoil and distress.
I am so glad I found this site, it’s so good to know I am not the only one out there who suffers from severe depression. Feb. 20, 2012 I was at my parents with my two young children visiting, when my Dad had a unexpected massive heart attack and died right in front of me. I was so close him. I have been severely depressed ever since, it changed me from being someone who loved life to someone to struggles to get through almost every day. I have been in the psychiatric hospital three times, after becoming suicidal. I am on sleeping and antidepressant meds. I cry at work and have to run and hide in the bathroom until I can compose myself enough to come out. Mornings and afternoons seem to be the worse for some reason. I feel like I’m missing out on life, bc this depression has such a hold and won’t allow me to enjoy it. I am a strong Christian, have been down for prayer many times at church and read and pray every morning before work. Some days are better than others, but I’m just so exhausted trying to keep myself uplifted and able to function. Please pray for peace and healing in my life. I have a wonderful loving husband who has stuck with me through it all, but I don’t want to keep putting my husband and kids through this. I will pray for you all as well.
AR… God has not given you pain. Pain is from the enemy. God wants you to have. peace and love. Praying for you and the others posted on here. God bless!
Dawn cast your cares on God for He cares for you. Declare aloud the WORD of GOD over you and you family. Trust GOD! Father in Jesus name any curse or evil word spoken to me or my family is broken right now in Jesus name. In Jesus blood we are protected I thank you for giving me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. I thank you for opening the eyes of my understanding, that I might know the hope and plan of Your calling in my life, the riches of Your glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of Your power to me who believes. [Eph 1:18-19]For this reason, I bow my knees before YOU Father from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. I pray that according to the riches of Your glory I might be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in my inner man. I pray that Christ may dwell in my heart and in my family through faith. And that being rooted and grounded in love I may be able to comprehend with all the saints, the breadth, length, depth, and height of the love of Christ. And I will know by experience the love that surpasses all understanding, that I may be filled with all the very fullness of God. [Eph 3:16-19] Father, I pray that I would be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, and that I would walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. That I would be strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering, with joyfulness. [Col 1:9-11]
I know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed unto His death. That by any means I may obtain to the resurrection of the dead, not that I have already obtained or am already perfect, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. I do not count myself to have apprehended but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [Phil 3:10]Praise the Lord. To God be the Glory. I put my trust in you Father God.
Yoli – Thank you and God bless you for all you do. And thank you for responding to many of the individuals on the site. Their needs are incredible. I respond to most by email but I have been so busy lately I cannot answer all. The needs are huge in this world, and we have the answer in God.
Raped at age of 4,beat my whole life, father killed when I was 10 grew up in poverty, multiple suicide’s in our family, had children when I was just 16 depression followed me the whole way thru my life I attempted a few times to take my life.now at 48 yrs young I lost the love of life and the will to live. Mom died 5 yrs ago i tried to forgive her and move forward my young brother died 2 yrs ago he lived with me, i miss him and I gave up on my husband as he has been unemployed for 6 + yrs now. And now I just lost my job today.I am glad in a way because of the stress. I paid for my Rn program 6 yrs ago after I got my GED 12 yrs ago.and now the thought of how the mortgage., lights are going to get paid.I don’t want to die God please hear our prayers. Amen and please pray for my sons especially the one who feels the need to cut himself.
thank you god for all i guess what dont kill me want hurt me
I have lost hope in life and felt soo low in life but these scriptures helped me to give some strength that am not alone god has a purpose for the pain he has given me and he will help me over come this please pray for me
Thank you for your encouragement in the scripture. I am a believer, had been a lay leader in recovery ministry for many years. After loosing our family business after 18 years I started a very good paying job. Quite a financial blessing since we had a very large debt to pay after closing our store. The job however is in an oil refinery (refinery ironic huh?). A very different environment from anyplace I have been. Long commute, and long hours. After serving 7 years in the ministry without a break, we knew we had to take a sabbatical as my husband and I both burned out. It’s been about a year since we stepped down. Now I feel like I’ve lost my compass, the sadness in me is so deep. It’s been about 5 years at the refinery. In about 6 more months we should have the debt paid off – God willing of course. And with all the people out of work, I feel like I should be happy and grateful that I have such a good job. But I feel so empty….it’s getting harder, and harder.
Paulo I am sorry to hear about Natalie’s problem with depression and her loss. Paulo this is when you have to spend time declaring the WORD of God over Natalie. You have the power in your mouth and God’s Word.Have Natalie speak scripture aloud to her self. You will be amazed of how better she will feel. Also, take her to a christian church where they teach the bible and have the Pastors pray over her. 2 Samuel 22:29 – You are Natalie’s lamp O Lord; the Lord turns Natalie’s darkness into light. God bless you 🙂
Hi,
I am in a desperate place, please help my Ex-girlfriend, Natalie.
We both divorced and recently our relationship broke down.She has had a very difficult and emotional life..Her father committed suicide when she was 16,her mother passed away 9 years ago, also lost her grand father 6 years ago,who was always by her side, she has been raped..All of this by the age of 25..she has no sibblings..She has 2 daughters Jade and Amber..alot has happened over the past 18 months which has led her to now be severly depresed and keeps saying ” its time for me to go home…and has even said that it could happen over the next couple of days,once the girls go back to their father for the week.”
Her daughters now want to live with their father instead…
Long story, short, could you please,please,please pray for her to overcome this…I believe in the power of prayer, Power of God, even though i myself am not a very religious person..
Please help…
Regards,
Paulo
South Africa
please pray for me and my husband….he is very depressed as he lost his job and he is finding it very difficult to get another one.
Feeling a black cloud over me please pray for me.
I can not get over my depression and social anxiety. I am not sure why God won’t take these feelings away from me. I am 42 and have lived with anxiety since I was a small child. I am on medication, go to therapy and asked for many prayers, but I continue to live in fear. My major support, my girlfriend of three years left me over 11 months ago, and yet everyday I feel like it happened yesterday. The pain, grief, and pure agony of losing someone I love so much. She was my best friend, I truly miss her. I had depression before she left me,(that’s a big part of why she left), with her gone my mind is in a state of panic. I can’t seem to slow it down, I think of her and what I have lost. I worry that with my depression and social anxiety I will not be able to find someone to love me like she did. I miss her. Please pray for me! I have been on my church’s prayer list for over a year, every week they pray for me, I pray for myself, but I can not seem to feel relaxed, or happy, I am in constant fear. Life has lost it’s flavor, I am only going through the motions, but depression is robbing me of living. I want that new life Jesus has talked about, I want that feeling of peace that only he can bring. But I don’t know how to get it, I have prayed and asked, and yet another day brings me much misery. I believe he can heal me, but I don’t understand why he hasn’t.
Im suffering from severe depression and anxiety disorders..every symtom i have. I have a decent job and i dont want to lose it but this depression is killing me. Cant function a lot of times..people ask me whats wrong all day. My eyes sulk down in my head and i cant get motivated to do anything. I have a good wife and beautiful kids but i have my interest and excitement level is the lowest its ever been. Please help and pray. Thank You.
Matthew,
I am praying for you. Hold on to as much light as you can. Dark depression is a spiritual fight. It makes no sense, it is just darkness overtaking you. Resist with everything you have. Depression is like liquid hopelessness. It is trying to put out your heart’s light so that you will lose what you love. Fight it with all you can. Do what you know and not what you feel. Don’t rely on your feelings right now. Feeling hopeless does not mean you are hopeless, but it is a lie so strong you can feel it. Fight it, we are with you. You are not alone and you are not the only one who has felt like this. I know… Fight the fear. Fight all darkness.
Use everything at your disposal to get your head above water so you can breathe again. Only, make sure that you use that time to find something under the surface that you can stand upon. God is there and only He can effectively support you. Depression says, “You are different; this can’t help you, God can’t help you, don’t fight it, don’t do anything”. Matthew, I don’t know your issue but I know your answer. It really is the hope of God flowing back into you.
The power of depression is the intense ‘feeling’ that God is not true and all is darkness. It is a lie. I love you, your family loves you, and you are not alone. God, although unseen, loves you and is with you RIGHT NOW, HE IS THERE. Reach out to Him. True Hope really is within your grasp. I know it does not look that way.
Make yourself speak good things to yourself. Actually say it. Tell yourself that you are going to make it. You will. It does not matter if you believe it or not or feel it, or not. Say it anyway. Spend time in the word and spend time with God. Read His word and speak His word. Talk to him, and work out your issues and your situation with Him (Isaiah 43:26). Then speak out what you get from Him. He is faithful. Do your best to give Him the faith with which to work, and for those areas where you do not have any faith, fall upon His mercy.
Betty hold hands with Tony and prayread the scriptures over both of you. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Praise the Lord He is with you jesus has never left you.Say jesus it is written in your Word Ps35:27 Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; and let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.I want to encourage you to tithe you will be amazed of how God will supply your need.At last, talk to your Pastor to pray over you and watch and see what the Lord will do. Worship Him as much as you can during the day.
please pray for my husband, tony. he was laid off from his job at the first of the year, we do not have children and our pets are our children and we have lost 2 in the last couple of months, and the big ones is he lost his dad about a month ago. he found another job that is not very good one and does not cover our bills and he has to drive 2 and half hours one way everyday – so he is driving 5 hours a day just to have a job. he has become very depressed. please lift him up in prayer. he is a wonderful Christian man but even we Christians can become depressed. thank you and God Bless.
Horace,
I am praying for you and your children! There is hope. Choose 3 or4 scriptures from this website that speak to your heart and meditate on them day and night. God loves and cares for you and your situation.
Thank you for this encouraging post. I am 57 years old, divorced with a daughter starting her senior year in high school. I lost my job right after divorce and could only find one working for half pay. I have gone thru all my savings and at the end of my rope. I have tried to find part time work to try and fill the gap but with no luck. I have always been able to pay my bills until now. Please pray for me and all those that struggle paycheck to paycheck to just break even.
Susan don’t panic believe God will heal your husband. Speak scripture to your husband. When your there at the hopital take a cd player and radio let your husband hear worship music.Remember your power is in your mouth SPEAK. Jesus by your stripes my husband___ is healed. “He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from all their destructions.” [Ps 107:20]
“So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth, it shall NOT return to Me void, it will accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing wherein to I sent it.” [Is 55:11] in Jesus name. AMEN!
please pray for my Husband who has been in the hospital for almost a month with a blood clot and then a reaction to the blood thinner. He has episodes of uncontrolled pain lasting 3 to 6 hours. He is becoming depressed with the hospital life and scared of losing his leg and possibly choosing between his leg and the pain. I have copied several of these scriptures for him in a hope they will see him through
thanks
please pray for me am haveing deprison
i just want to say from 209 am goin true a tuf time be 4 that time ting was all right an till one day i go to work an find my self in a shock an from an from that day when i went home i find my self hard to sleep an start to have fright an folish dream an from that am loseing my apetite worring a bout the lise of thin an some nothing it come an it goes now some time my heart field fonny my helth chingin i field like all hope is goan at time i read my bible some time am even no friend to tell or some one how i field i lose a job an now am tryin to get good jod i have no degree not a good education i field like my life is no good enof to be sucessful please pray for me an my kids
I was feeling extremely depressed. These scriptures really helped me. Thank you for the WORD encouragement!!!
Blessings to this organization! I have no diagnosis (no label)…. yet there is depression/anxiety, which cycles. I have chosen to not use drugs, but herbs to get me through the tough moments ( full-time non-traditional student).
God is faithful and His Holy Spirit is my guide! I filled notecards with your verses and will pray them as my personal promises from God. GOD U SAID …… (VERSE). I am a descendent of Abraham and I claim those promises over my life!!!! God seeks to heal the suffering, oppressed and down right depressed, anxious or addicted. The HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST…..what a comfort from the comforter! I speak in my spiritual language and ‘call those things forth as though they are’……based upon the word! BLESSINGS TO ALL AND POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT BE OVER YOUR LIVES!!
Wow, you are working the WORD and the WORD will work in you. Keep doing it, especially when you do not FEEL like it. That is an aspect of faith and obedience. God bless you, He is faithful to those who are faithful to His WORD.
You just cannot know how God used this email tonight to dove tail what I just learned in a Beth Moore bible study. The importance of seeing all trials as something God will use for our good because of HIS great love for us. Thank you thank you.. for being so committed to seeing freedom in the body of Christ. You will be blessed by HIM ..
in HIM denise