Question: “What does the Bible say about depression? How can a Christian overcome depression?”
Depression
is a widespread condition, affecting millions of people, Christian and
non-Christian alike. Those suffering from depression can experience intense
feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and a variety of other
symptoms. They may begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in
things and people that they once enjoyed. Depression is often triggered by life
circumstances, such as a loss of job, death of a loved one, or divorce, or
psychological problems such as abuse or low self-esteem.
The
Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans
15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not
easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied
through God’s gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, support groups,
home groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, and
counseling. We must make the conscious effort to not be absorbed in ourselves,
but rather to turn our efforts outward. Feelings of depression can often be
solved when the sufferer takes the focus off himself and puts it on Christ and
others.
Clinical
depression is a physical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. It is
not caused by unfortunate life circumstances, nor can the symptoms be
alleviated by one’s own will. Contrary to what some in the Christian community
believe, clinical depression is not always caused by sin. Depression can
sometimes be a disorder that needs to be treated with medication and/or counseling.
Of course, God is able to cure any disease or disorder. However, in some cases,
seeing a doctor for depression is no different than seeing a doctor for an
injury.
There
are some things that those who suffer from depression can do to alleviate their
anxiety. They should make sure that they are staying in the Word, even when
they don’t feel like it. Emotions can lead us astray, but God’s Word stands
firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong faith in God, and hold even
tighter to Him when we undergo trials and temptations. The Bible tells us that
God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to
handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although being depressed is not a sin, one is
still responsible for how he responds to his affliction, including getting the
professional help he needs. “With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer
our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name”
(Hebrews 13:15).
Source : http://www.gotquestions.org
