Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) “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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The Good News: Feelings of depression can be a heavy burden, and many people make the mistake of thinking it's a burden they must carry alone. This verse serves as a reminder that Jesus is there to lift your burdens and provide relief.
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Proverbs 12:25 mentions depression directly, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad" (NKJV). That's a good place to begin.
No matter the mental or emotional anguish we experience, God is not looking for sin. He's looking to help us know He's there with us … with love and grace! This concept is beautifully expressed in Psalm 37:23-26: "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
Jesus wants to give you rest. To get the rest from the oppressive burden of depression, Jesus tells us to take our burdens to Him. Jesus speaks of His yoke. A yoke is a device that was used in farming, where two oxen would be yoked together to pull a plow.
Saviano says Christians typically view mental illness as a spiritual problem, assuming iniquity in the person's life led to the difficulties. “They don't recognize it can be a real biological illness that causes brain chemicals to be off balance,” Saviano says.
Reasons for loss of faith
You might lose faith after: traumatic experiences that make you doubt whether your god is truly benevolent. mental health concerns, such as depression or anxiety.
One of the ways that God shows us that he cares for our mental health is by providing us with the things we need - a great therapist, access to medication, time with Him, a good support system, or all of the above. Loving God with our minds can mean utilizing some of these things he provides.
In the New Testament, one of the best examples of depression can be found in the Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 1:3-8, Paul writes about being in complete despair and says, “burdened beyond our strength ….”
Similarly, instead of feeling victorious, Elijah felt hopeless, alone and afraid. He had low self-esteem and wanted to die. He wanted to sleep and had to be encouraged to get up and nourish himself. Elijah, a prophet, Biblical hero, and person of faith, was seriously depressed.
Depression is associated with sin because people experiencing depression are seen to lack some of the spiritual fruits that are regarded as evidence of genuine Christian faith: When dealing with people in the church... some see mental illness as a weakness —a sign you don't have enough faith.
Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from the disorder. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite.
The best book of the Bible to read when feeling anxious or depressed is the Book of Psalms. Psalms is the longest book of the Bible and was written by many authors: David, Solomon, Asaph, and the sons of Korah to name a few.
One of the most famous is God's promise to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11, when God speaks into a season of hopelessness and reminds them: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Neuroscience and psychology offer many theories; but ultimately, depression is not simply a medical or mental problem; it is often a “being human” problem. While various medical and emotional problems can and do contribute to depression, for many, the illness has significant spiritual components.
Prayer and spirituality can help ease depression and act as a cushion when life throws curve balls your way. Saying a small prayer to get through a difficult time is not unusual. A plea for help from a higher power is one way people seek and find the benefits of spirituality.
It is possible for believers with clinical depression to deeply believe in God and have true faith. But depression can eclipse this the same way another person's severe chronic back pain may make it difficult at times to actively feel God's presence—pain has a way of taking over.
Yes! The answer is, “Yes!” For ongoing severe mental and emotional challenges, along with therapy and a whole-health approach, antidepressants (and similar psychotropic medications) can be a great resource within our faith experience (not a lack of faith).
Introduction. The idea that depression is the result of abnormalities in brain chemicals, particularly serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT), has been influential for decades, and provides an important justification for the use of antidepressants.
Anxiety is not inherently sinful. In the same way that there's a doubt that leads to faith and a doubt that leads to faithlessness, there's anxiety that leads to faith and anxiety that leads to faithlessness.
It was certainly present in ancient times and the Bible makes specific reference to several cases. King Saul, the first king of Israel, was repeatedly afflicted by what we would probably term clinical depression today.
The bible does not state what causes anxiety, because God considers anxiety to be a crisis of faith. The belief here is that anxiety shows that the person has not yet been able to put full trust in God, because fear itself is something that is meant to be relinquished as every person is meant to be part of God's plan.
It has been scientifically proven that faith in God does quicken recovery from illnesses. There are several places in the Bible, where faith alone is accounted for the healing of the people. But there is no place in the Bible that forbids the use of drugs, especially for someone who is ill.