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 want to give up…I was so close to self harming again and I almost decided to try and drown myself. I want to be done with life….
ColdandWarm – Do not do it. It is not a solution. It is the second stage of the attack of evil. People love you. We love you. God does love you. We will pray hard for you. I will write you more when I can.
You are in a war. Do your best to not make decisions based on your emotions. They are not accurate right now. In combat terminology it is referred to as the ”fog of war.’ It can make a commander make wrong decisions. WE LOVE YOU. Don’t do anything.
There seems like there is no hope because you cannot see the hope that is there. It is part of the blindness of evil and hurt. Do not do anything tonight or tomorrow. I speak love and comfort and protection to you in Jesus Name! You are loved and accepted. You are. You are alone and it is terrible but it is NOT forever. Hurting yourself and other things are forever. Again, we all love you. Rex – We will pray for you HARD.
ColdandWarm, I am in tears for you. Rex is so right, the devil lies in wait for us all and it is only our reliance on God that protects us against him. It is an ongoing battle and, as with any war, there are hills to climb and foxholes to be safe in. You really can’t reach your goal without encountering both. But God is so much more powerful than Satan. Do you still have your puppy? You rescued him, he relies on you for everything, he doesn’t care about your faults, he gives you unquestioning love. It’s the same with God. He rescued us, He loves us despite our faults and gives us unquestioning love. We all care about you and send you blessings. Do not let Satan win!
ColdandWarm, you are so wrong, God cares and we care! I am so glad that you spoke to your pastor and that he was receptive. I hope you will have a sincere and caring relationship with him. And please remember, God made us all the same, no one is better or worse than anyone else. You have friends here and people who honestly care about you and are walking with you, we all need each other.
Yeah…all we can do is pray I guess.
I prayed with my pastor today. Told him about my friend who passed in November and how her birthday is on Wednesday. He asked if I was there alone, and acted very surprised and said he respects me when I told him I was there alone because my family didn’t believe…I don’t think he knew what to say…he did pray with me though… and I came home in tears and no one cared
ColdAndWarm… you did your part. By inviting your family to church with you, you planted a seed. When you invite them again, it will be like watering that seed. We can pray that the seed takes root. 🙂
I almost got my family to come to church with me, though it did not work out. They claimed they accidentally slept in :/ but it’s a little step I guess…
Thank you Kay. There is something that has kept me going and alive for 13 years. Even if I can’t see it right now, I know it’s there…I just have to keep searching… thank you for all of your help!
I have not gone through conformation. I follow the guidelines of non denominatinal Christianity. I have been baptised though, and I took classes, and the person I chose to baptised me was very nice, and I think I would be willing to talk to him, but he sadly works at the other campus… 🙁 but I won’t stop searching, if the years before me didn’t stop me, the ones to come won’t either.
ColdandWarm, I love your last line, good for you!
ColdandWarm, I don’t know your religion but I’m wondering if you’ve gone through confirmation and if so did you have a mentor during that process? Many kids in my church established a close relationship with their mentor and often turn to that person rather than to a family member. Despite your young age, an adult would probably be better at answering your questions or linking you to a good source. Please don’t stop searching.
I honestly don’t know if my church has this…they might…but it’d probably be a bunch of adults. I’m only a young teen… I read many books that used to be my father’s on debates on this religion. They provide some evidence, but also more doubts. I would love to be introduced to this evidence, heck I go looking for it, but no answers show themselves… I will look on my church’s website to see if they have a bible study or something…
ColdandWarm, you are really in a hard spot. Does your church have a bible class or study group on the days you are with your father? Rex can better respond re scripture, I only speak from my experience. When I started studying the bible I too found it hard to believe, but through study I’ve learned so much, such as there is evidence of a large storm or melting or tsumani about the time of Noah and the Ark; at that time all the people knew was what they saw, so when they saw water rising and flooding, of course they thought it was their whole world. Most of what may seem like unbelievable tales can be understood by studying historical events. Also, you know that Jesus spoke in parables. Understanding that can give you a logical and reasonable view of his words. I pray that you find what you sorely need.
First, This is directed to answering Kay. So I do go to worship, but only every other week because my mother refuses to take me to church and it is too far to walk, when I am at my dad’s I walk to church if possible that day. I love my church soooo much, but the problem I have is that it is extremely hard for me to talk to people. I have talked to my pastor once about fear of losing my faith, but I seriously doubt he remembers me. I have not gathered up the courage to talk to any other one in my church.
And I don’t know faithmechanic…I really do feel like my faith is seriously fading. A couple years ago, my faith was very strong, I experienced something that I will never forget and it made my faith sooo strong. People would say I inspire them because even though so much was going wrong they thought I was the perfect Christian (I wasn’t of course, not even close), and at that time I thought nothing could shake my faith, but it is wavering now. Many people say I’m brainwashed for believing this, and present their evidence for how this faith doesn’t make sense. I am just finding it a little hard to believe there is a big man in the sky…and in the Bible well first, all the things mentioned never happen now, and well it’s hard to believe some things like a talking donkey… I seriously don’t want to lose my faith…but I have no guidance and I feel like I’ve tried everything, but it’s all failing
Faithmechanic, I have not been at my best of keeping up in reading scripture, and praying. It scares me that I’ll lose my faith, but when I do read scripture I find myself saying a lot things such as, that’s ridiculous how can that be true? And my faith fades a little. I am scared that it will completely fade. As I said before, my family doesn’t believe, so I am alone in this and it’s super hard without guidance :/
ColdandWarm, I am sorry you are at loose ends. We still don’t know if you regularly worship. I hope you do because my church family is stronger than my nautural one – they share my values, never criticize, and honestly want to help me. So if you are connected take strength from them. As for scriptures, I don’t think we can get their full value without discussing and learning from others. After many years worshipping, it is only through my bible study group that I am now understanding scripture and find it so meaningful and applicable to me. Don’t lose faith, and remember that we are your support.
ColdandWarm – God understands your age and the situation you are in. Do not worry about losing your faith, that is just a fear from the Devil and it is NOT going to happen. That said, do your best to read and confess the scriptures. That will build confidence into your heart and life. Do not worry if your head does not go along with it, and thinks it is ‘ridiculous.’ Some of the things in the Bible do seem over the top but that does not mean they are not true. God is bigger than you realize, and you in God, are bigger than you realize. Faith is not denial but it will speak the miraculous right into the face of destruction and defeat, and it will win. It will tell the mountain to move. I have seen it over and over.
The things of the spirit are nonsense to the mind and intellect. (I Corinthians 2:14) The spirit and the intellect are at war with each other. Do not worry about the thoughts or the lack of feelings. Do it anyway, and as much as you can. Even when your mind gives you fits and you don’t feel anything, God is at work deep in your heart and, if you keep it up, you will see amazing results later. Most people give up and they do not.
Just relax. Even with all your stuff at home and those people that give you a hard time, God has His hand on you for good. You are going to end up on top in life. The more Bible you have in your heart the more peace and joy you will have in the process. Again, look through some of the articles from the front of our site and read the ones you desire to. We cover some of these issues in many of them.
You actually are doing better than you think (or better than the Devil will let you think at the moment). Do not get discouraged or give up. That is what evil and the negative influences around you want to happen. Do not give them or the Devil the satisfaction of winning. We sure love you and God sure loves you. Rex
Kay, I love reading books! I actually do exactly what you explained very often. And I do agree that books can help. They have in the past
Honestly though I’m having trouble getting them to work now :/
I am doing a bit better, I am able to go to sleep without crying myself to sleep, and I’m able to have at least a little hope in the morning to get going. My friends still are doing bad to themselves and my heart still breaks a lot every time they do that, but I have someone who has helped me for years, and is like my big sissy. She saved me and gave me a little hope throughout this whole thing. There is always light in darkness you just have to look hard enough to find it… I have been praying for all who have commented every night, and I hope you can gain the strength to look for the light in the darkness. Hope is never truly gone ♡
ColdandWarm – I am so glad you are doing so much better. It really helps to get with people that care and are willing to communicate that care. But also be sure to take time in the word of God and meditate on the scriptures. Find scriptures take speak to you and confess (speak them out of your mouth) as much as you can. This is putting the word into your heart. You may be doing this but I just wanted to remind you. This is where your lasting help will come. His help comes silently to your heart without much emotion or fanfare. His word is just like a seed that quietly goes into the ground and stays out of our sight as it grows. One day, we see it come up and we will then see a change in our life. Keep putting the word into your heart, especially once you start feeling better. Don’t stop.
Also, read some of the other articles that may jump out at you on this site. Start from the main page and go back. Try this one (Who Did the Greater Work – the Devil or Jesus?). It is about all that God did inside of us on the Cross. We love you. Rex
To ColdandWarm and others, I know some of you have a regular church/pastor/therapist/etc., and that’s great, and you should read the scriptures, but there is also much to be said for reading regular books. I am my church’s librarian and it is amazing how often we’ll be dealing with an issue or obscure passage and I can get up, check the card catalog, and find a book dealing with the exact same thing. I know there is endless information online, but it’s the endlessness that bothers me. There is too much to handle. With books I can go to a subject and be able to track it into related information. If you do not have a church library, you can go to your local library and they will help you find what you need (without following a hundred links). Continued blessings to you.
And Lonely Soul, it took me forever to learn to keep my mouth shut, but when I did it made things in the long run a whole lot easier. It’s hard not to reply to something or someone that might have done or said something you disagree with, but I completely agree with Kay on what she said about it being better to suspected a fool then to open your mouth and prove it. It’s not easy to keep the words you so badly want to say inside, and what helped me with that was excusing myself from the situation doing something to calm myself, screaming into my pillow writing what I want to say to them, and praying to God to help control my tongue and let the only words that come out be the words of love. I wish you the best!
Kay, thank you so much for your time…I will try what you say. Thank you for replied to me when you didn’t have to.
Lonely Soul, I have informed parents, and I have reported it to my councelor, and an officer has come into talk to them. I’m afraid that if I don’t continue to stay with them they will kill themselves and it will be my fault because I was focusing on myself….. my…friend from two years ago offed herself and I still blame myself because I didn’t try hard enough. As much as this is hurting me I can’t be the cause of another death….
What’s going on ColdnWarm?
That is an awful situation you and your friends are facing. Why not communicating with your parents of all the problems arising at school, any public or websites with all these people? Arranging a parents and teachers/principal meetings at school to review and determine an action plan. Bullies and abuse it’s not tolerated in school property at all. Please remain your distance from boys and girls causing emotional stress and please focus on you your future. Sometimes it is best to do that then to consume in someone else problems than you can’t solve and then time flies u get stressed out an anxious because you didn’t took care of current school curriculum to better yourselves to learn and prepare yourself for college/university for a better future ahead. Don’t let this consume you. Please you are too young don’t waste your valuable time on fixing something it’s out of hands to control. Talk to your parents have a family meeting to discuss this issues/problems.
I haven’t reply because I am dealing with such problems myself and I get distance at time. I read what Kay wrote and she opened my eyes. I do to when under stress tend to open my mouth and make myself look dumb at times. The words that come out of my mouth is not from God. I do find myself over and over dealing with horrible people and then turn it around to then make others think that I am the one causing the problems. Typical of individuals with Mental illness.
I’m trying to learn to keep my anger and emotions in control but wow it’s hard to do so when u hv PTSD
I hope and pray that God finally delivers peace in my heart and mind and for all things formed against stop.
Guys…it is so hard to continue throught this life… My friends are playing a game that could kill them, my friend is self harming, and my other friend joined a gang, overdosed, and tried to kill herself. My heart is breaking. I cry at least five times a day. I feel crumbled just seeing the pain they are causing themselves… pray please…
Kay, thank you. No this is not happening in a place I have to be… well sort of, it’s in my neighborhood, and when I’m at my mom’s it’s online. What I have been doing is when they call me those things I will usually just agree and say , you know what Dallas? You’re right I am that, or I will say okay, I am sorry you feel that way. Last time I talked to one of them I said, Well hey Abigail, it’s been a while and she just ignored me. And I actually was friends with one of them. He helped me with some of my problems, then one day I wouldn’t tell him what was wrong and he got angry at me. Then that was when it all first started. He basically said he would turn everyone I care about against me, I almost lost my best friend/sister because of him. Then he decided to hurt a person I care very very very very very much about, and I couldn’t handle listening to all the things they were saying about her. Then all of it took a break for a little, but some other group was mad at Dallas and was planning a “way to get back at him” I convinced them out of it, because I could just see how bad that would turn out. Dallas left for a while and came back. He then asked me if I was mad at him still and I said, “Yes Dallas, I am pissed, because it is one thing when you do all this stuff to me, I can handle that, but when you do that to people I care about, that is when I can not do it anymore. You hunted down one of my friends just to gang up on her with your little group, and you said awful things that are NOT true about Savannah. She is a wonderful young lady and I’m sick and tired of all the lies you are telling people. You say you are going to change, but actions speak louder than words! And every time you say that I have another person coming to me in tears because of you” So, he was not happy at all with that response and he told his group can someone kill the little bit**. So that is the whole story with him and his group.
So the thing is, I can ignore them when they are talking about me, but I can NOT handle just sitting there watching them do what they do to others. I can’t not make a reaction to that
I’m sorry to hear that. You know, there are people who must knock other people in order to elevate themselves. Usually though it’s obvious to others that this is what’s going on. It probably aggravates those people that you do not allow yourself to be drawn into such childish behavior. If you can absent yourself from being around them, that would be good. If you can’t, though, just keep smiling at them and take some pleasure in knowing that they are just making themselves look stupid to others. There us an old saying “it is better to be suspected of being a fool than to open your mouth and prove it”, that is what they are doing, and when they realize they can’t drag you in, they will find someone else to harass. Stay strong!
really makes them look bad it a shame how some people must bring others down in order to elevate themselves? It’s obvious to others, though, that they are being that way because of low self-esteem. Maybe you should try to absent yourself from bring around them. You are already doing right be not letting them entice you into
I am not having a very good day. There is this group who have been calling me a whor* and a bit** and all that, and I can handle when they do that to me, but they have been hunting down the people I care and ganging up on them calling them awful things and saying so many bad things about them that aren’t true, and that’s where I can’t handle it anymore. Those people have caused the people I care about to cry for nights, so I got my guy friend and they just teased me saying “Oh the little who** got her boy friend to stick up for her” so finally I decided to stick up for everyone and I took it into my hands and got it to stop with the people I care about, but today I ran into one of the people in that group. They still hate me very much, and I know I shouldn’t care, but I am in fear of them going after those I care about again.
Cold & Warm – those people don’t hate you, they don’t know you well enough to dislike you and they are pretty stupid if they think they do. Were you ever close friends with any of them? I bet you weren’t. Is this happening in school or in another spot where you have to be? I started to say maybe you could find a teacher to help you but then I realized that would never work. I think you should do all you can to avoid showing any reaction to their talk, if you must respond tell them you no longer have any time for their childishness, and just walk away. Then when you see them just smile and be on your way. Believe me, this will irk them more than anything you could say. This will also make them look foolish to any observers. When they realize they are not going to goad you into a fight, they will stop. Really they will. When they start up again just picture Christ standing in front of you with his arms open wide, welcoming and protecting you. Take strength from that. We are all behind you.
Lonely Soul, it sounds like you have gained a better grip on the situation and that is fantastic! Keep going on the route your going on and your future will be amazing just like you. It is so wonderful that people can have others to talk to on here. You are on a very good track 😉
I will always take the time to reply and try to help if I have the chance! You are loved and I am glad that it sounds like you have gotten a better stronger grip on the situation
To my dearest ColdnWarm to a new family that I found here. Thank you for being who you are. For sharing your daily struggles and journey with each other. Thank you for this site we are able to communicate openly and no one should feel ashamed of sharing and asking for someone to pray for us. We stand together and we pray together for each other. Ain’t that what God wants for us to seek Jesus and love him and accept him as our Savior and that is the only way to get closer. With God we stand firm. I have this on my bathroom mirror and everything time I read it loud “With God I stand firm” Yes I face trials every single day u won’t believe how the devil uses people to attack me and those that I love.
Regarding my emotional dog issue I took it further to ADA and let me tell u guys something I’m not scared of facing the devil cause I have the most powerful of all in front, behind, on my left and right at all time. I Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God 3 in one. I know who goes before me and who stand behind… My favorite song. Nothing form against me shaw stand …
Thank you for taking the time to care to read and comment back. We need each other xoxoxo May God continue blessing us n protecting us n those whom we love dearly and more so those in need of Him.
U guys ROCK!!! ?❤️??
To Ally , Warm&Cold, all the lonelies – isn’t it wonderful to have a site like this? facades are broken and we come together as we really are and guess what? People like us. People who don’t even know us care about us. Proof that we are worthy, we deserve to be happy, we are not alone to deal with the trials of life, God is always with us. We must never forget how truly blessed we are!
Lonely soul, please look up and see the good you have. It is so easy to just see the bad but be blinded to the good. I am praying for you, and hope very much that things get easier. You are a wonderful person, and you have helped me so much, and I wish that I could repay you, but in no way can anything I do repay your kind deeds, but all I ca tell you is to pray for guidance and lay your anger on Him. Good luck!
Ally I am praying for you. Keep holding in there. God has a plan for you and He will lead you on it. It sounds very much like you want to change, so keep praying and keep reading His word and he will change you. Sometimes we have go into the darkness to see the light that is in this world. I hope very much that you can see the strength you have with the Father by your side and that things start looking up