Published by Depression has troubled people everywhere, in every age, and it will trouble us more in this 21st century. It is very important to understand this illness but professionals don’t always understand its complexity. Depression is not always the result of some sin or somebody’s mental weakness, it is triggered by chemical imbalances in the brain and medications is needed. The roots of depression could be social and psychological including genetic factors, characteristics of a person, stressful life events and early life experiences.
Spirituality is among the list of how people can treat depression. For believers, it is not a new thing. They trust God. They believe the existence of God. They know Him. They talk to Him. And the Almighty God is ready to answer prayer. Can God heal depression? Believers can easily answer that God can heal depression. But how? We need to look at the Bible.
Perhaps some believers say that people who know God will be safe from depression, but to the contrary the Bible describes the struggles of prophets who suffered with depression including Job, Moses, King David, King Solomon, Elijah and Jonah. All were faithful prophets of God. They got depressed because they were human and were susceptible to stress. Let’s talk about their cases and see how God heal them from depression.
Job
Job suffered depression after losing his possession; first his wealth, then all his 10 children. The professionals say the loss of something significant is a major reason for depression. Not only depression Job was devastated by a sorrowful physical affliction: he had loathsome sores in his entire body from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. To make it worse his wife asked him to curse God and die. His three closed friends were suspicious that Job hid great sin. God healed Job by giving him right understanding about Him through nature, His creation. Job answered God that previously he only heard about God, but after the accident he saw God with his own eyes. God healed Job’s sickness including his depression, blessed Job twice as much as he had before and then Job also had another 7 sons and 3 daughters. So, see the nature (enjoy sightseeing), admire and admit God’s authority in your life, your depression will be healed.
Moses
Moses, the man with meek heart, got depressed while facing the Israelite for years. They always murmured against Moses when they found something unpleasant. As a melancholic and perfectionist, Moses tended to be depressed since the beginning of his life. God changed Moses’ weakness to be his strength. He was a loner, pessimistic, egoistic, discontent and humbled himself excessively. Moses was transformed after walking with God. He was a succesful great leader of Israel as he submissive, faithfully obeyed God. Trust and obey God’s order is a medicine for depression in Moses’ case.
King David
The depressions of King David stem from any of several probable causes. King David was not pleased seeing injustice around him and he had sinned before God by committing adultery with Uriah’s wife. When sin and the resulting guilt is the root of depression, the Bible shows how recovery begins: with repentance and forgiveness. From David’s experience we know the steps. After committing sin, David felt miserable because of dishonesty thus his days were filled with frustration. David finally stopped trying to hide his sin. David confessed his sin before God and God forgave his sin. David felt great happiness because God forgave him and cleared the sin record.
As for injustice David finally knew and understood that God is fair and God would be the light for his darkness. David knew God would help. Confess your sin, repent, receive God’s forgiveness and be happy.
King Solomon
Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. That was Solomon’s statement about everything done under heaven. The wisest man and also the richest man ever alive, Solomon was depressed after applying his mind to seek the really important thing in this earth. His wisdom and richness could not satisfy him. He even said that the dead man was more fortunate than the living who is still alive. All his frustration is written in Ecclesiastes Book. Finally in chapter 12, Solomon understood deeply the thing that really matter in this life that is God Himself. “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth… ” he started chapter 12. And he closed his book by these sentence: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Elijah
Elijah got depressed when he was rebuked by Queen Jezebel while he was anticipating a moment of triumph. His hopes were crushed, and his heart was painfully sick. When Elijah became fearful, tired and depressed, he fled from his God-given responsibilities. He was so depressed and he asked God’s permission to let him die. Elijah’s problem is his physical tiredness. God let him sleep and He sent His angel to ask Elijah eat and drink. Elijah regained his strength and he went, continuing do God-given responsibilities for him. Have enough rest and enough meal. It is good to heal depression.
Jonah
Prophet Jonah grew angry when God canceled His punishment upon sinful city, Nineveh. Jonah’s anger was a cause as well as a symptom of his depression. We must pay attention in this case as residual anger adversely affect the chemical balance of the brain. Like Elijah, Jonah wanted to die. The Bible teaches us to put away anger before the sun goes down. God had given Jonah many lessons if he wanted to hear and obey God, he would escape from depression. God taught Jonah about mercy, justice, forgiveness and God’s authority.
From the stories of the above mentioned men, whom recovered and went on with their lives, we learn that God along with the Bible is the most powerful resource for combating depression. The Bible provides many enlightenment and encouragement sentences and actions for depressing situations. The God’s ways were effective combating depression of Job, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah and Jonah. His ways are effective also for us and depressed people in 21st century. Jesus Christ says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” And he has more offers for you to heal your depression. Walk with Him in your life.
Thank you
Depression seems to be prevalent these days. Thanks for this helpful article. God can lift our spirits up when we trust in God’s goodness and everlasting faithfulness.
We notice that the author of this article did a great job, it is not easy to read and understand all these books of the Bible, and very well applied to the moments of crisis and depression which we live today, and as it had no lack Job some, God tested him, because it was not a punishment, like many who suffer from this crisis and have no guilt.
*Eunice : I couldn’t have agreed more. I also still believe, in God we should find a peace refuge for our troubled mind. The faith in our heart basically has a very important role in healing our depression. The stronger our faith is more likely the less depresseion we will feel. To find the answer of our trouble mind somehow still very relevant by reading and understand the holy book that eventually we will find out our depression is nothing compared to what happened to our holy prophets. Good article. Warmest.
Having faith is what kept me going!
This is a great article. I hadn’t ever heard of Moses as a melancholy, but I see your point. Well-written with an in-depth approach!
Nice and encouraging article.
I’ve just read through your article and yet still I’m left with a question. I am a believer of 20yrs, and am very analytical in my studies and literal in interpretation and application of the word. Are we to expect God to mystically or miraculously remove our human emotion in this area? Or, does God’s healing come through a maturing of perspectcive post an enlightening experience that changes the individuals mood? You stated “God’s Ways” is the answer to depression, however, I didn’t read what “ways” those were. Also, you did state how even God’s prophets and chosen leaders suffered from depression so, obviously you can be faithful to God and still be pitted in this situation. I believe the God that created the human mind has practical solutions that are not always unexplainably spiritual! Can you add more clarity for me?
Hi Maine Design,
You have a good questions. And I will give you more explanation, from God’s words (Bible). I can’t do it now as I face some datelines. I’ll back later. Thank you.
Eunice
Dear Maine Design,
Sorry for my late reply. I had tried to post this message last Saturday but it didn’t work out (bad string) and suddenly my internet connection is out.
Indeed I didn’t explicitly mention God’s ways in my above writing. I will mention God’s ways to heal the above prophets’ cases here:
1. God spoke to those prophets
God did not only keep silence. He spoke through His prophets. He spoke to His prophets. In Moses’ case, we know that God firstly called Moses by appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. Then He led Moses (treated his depression as well) by speaking and ordering him step by step. In Exodus book we can read hundred times the sentence “God said to Moses” . And every time He said to Moses, the healing process occurring. ‘
In Job’s case, he got understanding of God through his creations. God also spoke to Job.
God still speak to us nowadays. He speaks to us loudly through nature. He speaks to us through the Bible. He speaks to us by putting understanding in our heart. He always speaks to us. The problem is whether man want to give his ear to God or not.
2. God send other people to remind our sin
In David’s case, God sent prophet Nathan to remind David to his sin, so he can repent and back to God’s ways.
Perhaps in this modern era, we won’t see God appears before us in a miraculously way, but God send other people to us. Not always to remind our sin, but sometimes he send other people to encourage, to advice, to cheer up, to help, to enlighten our burden. God still do something till now.
3. God forgive our sin
Every sin is done against God (Psalm 51:4), so only God can heal the depression caused by sin. What is better than a sinner know that his sin has been forgiven? No other way, only God can erase our guilty feeling.
4. God send his angel
In Elijah’s case, God sent an angel, touched Elijah and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Elijah looked a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. (1 King 19:5-6). Perhaps only a few people get angel’s service nowadays, but God do send His angels to serve us, including healing our depression.
5. God invites us to give us full satisfaction
In Solomon’s case …. he said all things are vanity until he remembered God.
Only God can give us full satisfaction, no other thing. We need Him. His ways? He has invited us. Jesus said “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. He invites all depressed people too.
6. God send Holy Spirit
This thing I didn’t mention in above article. But I believe that you as a believer know this thing very well. Holy Spirit is God Himself and he lead us to be a new man. So we can put away our old and bad habit like anger in Jonah’s case. If we bear fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), mostly we will release from depressed feeling.
Your question:
Are we to expect God to mystically or miraculously remove our human emotion in this area? Or, does God’s healing come through a maturing of perspective post an enlightening experience that changes the individuals mood?
My answer is we can expect both. God can work in many ways, sometimes it is understandable. I see you have been walking with God by 20 years. More or less I am also a believer of 20 years. When I seek God, He always give me a new understanding, new everyday and I experience what Jesus had said ” a spring water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13). I face many problems in my life and I see many ways God has done to help me. I believe that you have seen His ways in you life. Thank you for letting me give more clarity to my writing. Should you have more questions, I will be more than happy to reply.
Thanks and God bless you,
Eunice
Great perspective. Everyone needs to know God never said it would be easy for us, but He did promise he would go with us. I love His company. He is God of the good times and the bad times or He is not God at all. The joy of our God is not based on the happenings in our life. Those larger than life characters of the bible are people just like you and me. Let us all remember, even in the worst of circumstances we can have confidence and He will be our strength in just the perfect measure.
Hi Eunice, I totally agree with you. I can’t speak for others but I know my spirituality has helps me tremendously to combat depression. Though I do have dark moods now and then I always remind myself that I have a choice whether to allow it spoil my life or put my trust in God and do my part as best as I can.
Another very depressed prophet was Jeremiah and there was Paul and of course Jesus himself
Cheers!
Faith
hello Eunice i too have been going through depression and lately have been having anxiety problems like the fear of dying. for a time i felt that i was going to die in my sleep even though i am healthy but now the though of dying has gotten worse sometimes i cant sleep until i reassure myself over and over again that everything is going to be fine and saying TO MYSELF YOUR NOT GOING TO DIE, now of course i am saved and baptised but im just not ready to die yet at 14 years old. at one point i even thought that god was trying to kill me in my sleep but now i know that god doesn’t kill people or make them die. even when i think this is true i cant help thinking about possibly dying for some reason in my sleep without being aware and agian i am really healthy and i am even praying to god every day seeking relief from this anxiety or the dear of dying too early and i want to know what you think. is this a spiritual problem or just a form of anxiety that will likely pass i dont know but i am tired now of dealing with these burdens and ive been taught in the church and in the bible to cast all my worries on him and let him lighten the burden and trust he will make it better but still i cant stop worrying and i would like to know your opinion and sugestions on this cause i dont know what to do. lastly i would like to say i havent had a big appetite lately and my stomach is hurting probably because of my anxiety and worying maybe because i heard that depression can cause stomach aches even when no apparent pain or problem is present. anyway as soon as you get this message i would like you to reply back to me your suggestion on what i should do. should i stop worying or just trust god and stop worying about dying in my sleep. oh and i dont think my problems are complety stemmed from anxiety but from a problem in religion and trust in god anayway write me back and god blees you.
Dear Kielon,
I am here trying to answer your question. About 6 years I have been trying to understand depression. It is still a big mystery for me. I only feel that God may understand the depressed people more than themselves. He is the almighty but he is also God who has deep sympathy and power to help us.
Here I quote lyric of an Indonesian (my mother tongue) song. I translate it in English:
There are many things
that I cannot understand
why these things must happen
in this life
There is one thing
that I keep in my heart
nothing may happen
without God’s care
Reff. God understands, God cares
Everything that we experience
He never lets me struggle alone
Because He cares
I, too, ever had similar problem with you about death. I had fear toward death and always ask what happens after death. Here is the link of my article about death: http://www.relijournal.com/Religion/What-Happens-After-Death.517369
I can say that Jesus is the medicine of my fear of death as he said:
John 14:1-2 Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
God has prepared us rooms in a beautiful place. It will be fun there. Nothing to be afraid of.
Also Paul said that death has lost its stink, because of Jesus. You may read Romans 5.
I quote verse 17: If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Through many explanations in the Bible (his letters) Paul concluded: For me life is for Christ and death is my gain.
I think it is better if you have an understanding that God will always plan the best for you whether it is life or die. Don’t you have any fear toward death anymore. Beside, at this moment God gives you precious life, He will not take it back too soon because He wants you be fruitful in this world. You have done the right thing so far because you pray to God. God says that there is nothing we should worry about. Cast out our troubles to Him, because He is the one who orders the universe and He knows every single hair in your head. he will make sure that everything will be run properly including your life.
Stop worrying, it will not give us any good thing.
I hope it helps. If you still have trouble, don’t hesitate to talk with me again.
GBU,
Eunice