Inspiring Bible Verses For When I Am Depressed

Inspiring Bible Verses For When I Am Depressed

The immensity and darkness of depression surprised me. It did not arrive full-blown. I handled other episodes. But this time was different. What began as a dark cloud gradually became the darkest midnight, leaving me weeping on the doctor’s floor. 

Depression lies. It will twist and corrupt your feelings until you lose your bearings in truth. 

As a person of faith these are some Bible verses that help my spirit stay anchored to truth during episodic depressions.

Perhaps they will be helpful for you.

“ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10New Living Translation (NLT)

God is with us. Regardless of how we are feeling in the moment. Often our faith begins on feelings. God comforts our feelings. We see the world with new and fresh eyes. We are filled with enthusiasm.

But God wants us to know Him by faith and not simply by our feelings. We go through what St John of the Cross calls the “dark night of the soul”. It is a wilderness of the soul. A place where God doesn’t “feel” close to us.

Depression tells us that God has gone away. This is a terrible lie. God is with us regardless of how we feel. We know He is with us by faith. 

In the darkness of depression, with our feelings twisted, we hang on to the truth that God is with us. That God loves us. 

Knowing God is with me helps during those times when He seems far away from my soul.

“But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;

    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” Psalm 3:3 (NLT)

God shields our soul from the lies of depression. Cognitive therapy is basically spotting the lies depression is telling us and replacing them with truth. Regardless of the origin of depression we begin to think repetitive lies. 

By gradually repeating the truth we counter those lies and often find relief from some of our depression symptoms. 

God is love. God is truth. He becomes our shield as we confront the power of falsehood with truth.  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Rom 12:2

 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Cor. 12:3-4

As you journey through your depression and come out on the other side, take time to realize the ways God has delivered comfort to you. Then share comfort with others who are struggling with depression.

I recently received an email from a new friend asking some specific questions about my experience being bipolar. I shared my story and a few things that I learned along the way. She reported back that what I shared helped her feel better as well as understand more about her own bipolar.

The things we are most ashamed of may be our greatest ministry. I would prefer other people not know about my depression. But God has showed me that telling my story may bring comfort to others.  “Anxiety weighs us down, but an encouraging word cheers a person up.” Prov. 12:25

 “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength.” Phil 4:11-13 NLT

Relapse is an ugly word. Depression may reoccur. But these verses remind us that God saw us through our previous episode, and He will get us through this time. 

We remember what God used to bring us comfort and strength before and we determine to use these strengths again.  This time we know what our triggers depression. We know the hard won strengths we developed before. We know that God will bring us through this time, too.

May these verses give you hope as they have me.

Blessings.

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