What does the Bible say about the subject of overcoming depression?
What are your thoughts? I know Elijah suffered depression, so it is pretty clear that followers can be in pain. How we overcome that suffering is what I am seeking in this discussion.
How has Jesus helped you overcome your weaknesses?
Praise God and all glory to Him.
Hi Chris,
I have major depression, and there are many ways God has helped me.
The one simple answer, though in application not so simple, is to know that God loves you beyond all your imagination, and that He is right there with you, committed to your wellbeing.
Jeremiah seems to have been a depressed man.
Jeremiah 20:5-18 KJV
5) Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
6) And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
7) O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
8) For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
9) Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
10) For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
11) But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
12) But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
13) Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
14) Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
15) Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
16) And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
17) Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18) Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Jeremiah prophesied like he had been, of the coming captivity, and now, prophesies how God will deal with Pashur, who was so much against Jeremiah.
Then Jeremiah turns on God. You deceived me! You've made a mockery of me! I spoke Your Word, and everyone ridicules me! So I'm done!
But I can't hold it back, I HAVE to speak Your Word!
And they all turn against me! They hate me, they accuse me, they try anything to trip me up, anything to take me down!
But the Lord is with me like a mighty terrible one . . . no one can stand against Him, He takes them all down! Sing, He delivers me! But cursed be the day I was born!
I wish I had died in the womb! Just leave me there dead, that would have been better than this! There's no end. If I shut up, I HAVE to speak. When I speak, everyone is my enemy. But they'll never prevail against me, God will make sure of that! It's not going to stop! I have to prophesy, I prophesy and they hate me, attack me, abuse me, God delivers me, and it starts all over again! I wish I were never even born!
I've wished for death, knowing God alone controls our living and dying, but would have prefered to be dead.
Are you looking for information? Are you looking for help?
Much love!