Looking for a Bible verse for depression?
I think I’ll be able to help with some Bible verses. Let’s talk about depression. Why have a Christian women’s blog, if I’m not going to be honest in what I write? I know some Christians don’t like to write about such things. They’d rather write about more victorious things. However, the Christian walk has struggles as well as victories. That’s the reality of it. The apostle Paul wrote about a thorn in his side that god wouldn’t remove. Yet, Paul was the epitome of victory in Jesus. So, if you struggle with something, do not feel bad or like you are not a strong Christian. Your strength is in Christ.
Depression is real for many people. Sometimes, scripture and prayer help. Other times, God will use professionals to help. Each of these methods of healing is acceptable and hold no reason to feel ashamed.
As I write this, I’ve been enduring some rough days myself. Don’t worry, nothing cataclysmic, just ordinary life struggles that everyone has from time to time. Life’s burdens can simply get heavy, can’t they? Can you relate? I’ll share my favorite Bible verse for depression in a bit.
Still, I wanted to write about my “down” season. Not only is writing my mental escape but, because it’s also a potential opportunity to remind someone that we ALL experience hard times ever now and again. It’s normal. It’s … life!
I think we can glean comfort when we know other Christian women feel the way we feel and struggle in similar ways in which we struggle. Do you agree? That’s the whole reason I write on this blog. 🙂
Hey, years ago, I decided my Christian lifestyle blog was going to be the real deal. No fake, sugar-coated foolishness. Nope. I need this to be raw. Real. Up-front, in yo’ face life talk. Anything else helps no one…least of all me.
Yep, I must keep it real on
this Christian lifestyle blog.
So…with that…I’ll say, again, the recent days have been a struggle. Lots of it is related to my work, but, a struggle nonetheless. At first, I whined and fought against it all. Entertained a few pity parties too.
Then, I had an epiphany.
You know, these types of struggles are actually good for me, I think. Really. They are good for you too. It’s during these times, that we grow so much closer to the Lord.
It’s when the Word becomes psychedelically alive and surges from the pages of our Bibles and lands in the recesses of our hearts – right where we need them.
During these seasons, I can hear God’s voice in every song, every bird singing and ringing deep down in my spirit.
It’s a beautiful and wonderful thing. I won’t lie and say it feels good at the moment. It doesn’t. Yet, it results in a blessing – a genuine blessing.
Nope. Go to God’s Word…
For instance, just this morning, God lead me to Psalm 32. In that one chapter, He gave me everything I needed for the day ahead. In one single chapter!!! I tell ya, Jesus is so real and powerful!!!
That chapter gave me the spiritual hug I needed and the strength I longed to get.
But, that’s not all I received from Psalm 32. It also gave me a bit of a spanking along with all those other good things.
Let me explain how this scripture helped with my depressed season and helped me re-calibrate a bit.
Wait. I should be clear about depression.
I do not in any way want to take away from people who suffer from real (or clinical) depression.
Mine was just emotional exhaustion related to hormones, work stress, and not taking very good care of myself.
I want to be clear because real depression exists and I never want to be flippant about it.
Christian Woman, depression is nothing to be ashamed of and it’s nothing that only scripture can remedy. For genuine, dogged depression, you need help and it’s ok to need help.
On the other hand, if you suffer from lingering depression, please get real help from a professional (not just a person in ministry), but someone who has been educated to understand the human brain.
My Bible verse for depression.
The first thing the Holy Spirit showed me in Psalm 32 was the 3rd verse.
“For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever head of summer”
That was exactly how I felt.
I felt heavy, alone, and quite drained. Can you relate to that feeling too?
It’s like the pressures of life gushed like a fast-moving waterfall and I was under it. It felt like God was distant (I knew He wasn’t, it just felt that way).
After reading this scripture, I was like “Yeah, why is your hand all heavy upon me, Lord????”
Then, the next verse answered that question completely.
Verse 5 says:
“I acknowledge my sin to you and my iniquity I did not hide; I said “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; and you forgave the guilt of my sin”.
Huh?
I was like “what sin?”
“Where?”
“Who me?”
“Holy Spirit, you have the wrong number. Please dial again”
Not long after, the Holy Spirit found a gentle way to help me see..well… me.
He led me to write down my confessions as they came to me. As I began writing, I sat there stunned for a moment.
Yep, I had some sin going on!
The Holy Spirit…in the stillness and quietness of the early dawn, revealed seven (SEVEN!) areas I needed to confess to the Lord.
I stared at the sheet quietly. I felt the tears well in my eyes.
“How did I let these things live in my heart and not be aware of them?”
At this point, the sweet Holy Spirit led me to confess each one. One by one, I confessed and asked for forgiveness.
Sometimes, our spiritual heaviness can be related to living in rebellion or outside of God’s will.
My confessions of sin…
You’re dying to know what they (my sins) were, right? Well, I’ll tell ya a few. It was ugly things related to doubt, pride, and selfishness.
Even in my prayer life, I had been so selfish. Always asking instead of listening.
Pride was the other one and it’s linked to my incessant “asking” during prayer. Prayer should be communion and not just my begging all the time. It should really be about me just “being with God” more than me reading a “laundry list” of requests.
Nothing I need (or intercede for) is as important as just sitting quietly before the Lord. Listening. Waiting.
I also thought of times I’d wanted to be impressive at work…working to be the BEST. Pride and selfishness were my ‘charges’ and I was guilty.
Worrying about layoffs…that’s doubt. Also sinful.
The Holy Spirit convicted me and it hurt. I was ashamed.
This exercise was a little hard.
It hurt.
I was sad.
I was sorry.
About that time, I dropped my tear-stained eyes back on my Bible and re-visited Psalm 32, and saw the last part of verse 5:
Yes, Jesus bore our sins, but we must still confess struggles and ask for forgiveness so the Father can clean us up.
You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Girl, it’s my job to repent/change; His job is to forgive. He’s always on His job. Praise God for that!
I just need to be diligent in mine…by staying vigilant in self-examination and confession.
I don’t want sin to affect my intimacy with the Father and producing consequences that require discipline. No thanks.
This Bible verse is FIRE!
Verse 7 lit a bright candle of my spirit.
“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble: you surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah”.
Selah: think on that.
I’m so glad it doesn’t say to think about the bad sins you’ve done.
No, this Psalm is the perfect scripture for depression because it is telling me to think about Him as my hiding place and the songs of deliverance all about and around me.
Beautiful.
Finally, all the stress continued to melt away as I read verse 8:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Why worry or be stressed out?
He will tell you what to do. Beware. Worry was one of the sins I needed to confess. Don’t do it (doubt) too.
When I tell you I was feeling better, I really mean it.
I’d lifted my hidden burden and sins with confession. I received the promise of forgiveness. Burden lifted.
One more thing…
Verse 9 really struck me. It admonished me not to wait until I’m “freaked out” before I draw nigh to the Lord.
Nope, fall on your face before Him when life is good.
Keep your committed prayer life when all is well.
Practice studying His Word consistently and regularly. Don’t wait.
Don’t be like the dumb horse or mule who only comes close when there is something good in it for them.
No, ma’am, this is a relationship…a love relationship.
Not a transnational relationship – meaning “I give you something and you give me something”.
The end is the crescendo to end all crescendos. At least it was for me.
“But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.” What a great promise.
Confess. Accept forgiveness. Hide in the Lord. Be surrounded by songs of deliverance. Stay close to the Father and trust Him so you can be surrounded by lovingkindness.
Selah. (I added that pause myself). 🙂
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
You know, there are tons of reasons we feel depressed. This is just my experience. I had been proud and that pride hindered how I felt and separated me from true fellowship.
Anyway, I hope this makes sense to you. Could you relate to my journey? Which part?
Amen! I love what you said about “regrouping”. I often move so fast, I so forget that part. I’ll bet many women do! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!???
Morning Sis thank you for sharing with your sisters.
Yes depression is real and at times can become very draining if we take our focus off the Master.
I find myself depressed at times for no apparent reason. The issues of life can be waxing. I to find solace in God’s Holy Word through reading and meditating on it.
God is so good by bringing scriptures and sending a person across your path just in time.
Sometimes as believers we just need to regroup and refocus. That’s when we can truly say and believe that His mercy’s are new every morning.
Praise be to God!!!
Have a day filled with His Presence ????