How Christians Should Deal With Depression Shembull

Depression Can Be Overcome by God’s Word

One of the dangerous aspects of depression is that it causes us to focus inward, detracting from our focus on God's sovereignty and our identity in Christ. When we are discouraged, we center on ourselves, our unfortunate circumstances, and our negative feelings. This only makes our emotional struggles worse. Scripture tells us that, as believers, we run this race by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. This means that we need to look away from ourselves and focus on God, and on the truths found in His Word, even when our circumstances do not align with these truths.

Scripture is full of examples of how we are to focus on God’s Word when we are discouraged. The Book of Psalms honestly describes the depression that God’s children can experience. It also shows us how to overcome such emotional struggles—through preaching the truths found in God’s Word to ourselves. Many psalms record King David or other psalmists talking with their own souls. They said, “My soul, why are you discouraged? Why are you downcast? Put your hope in God.” They would also tell their souls to remember the times when the Lord saved them in the past, to reminisce about His goodness that they have experienced, and to wait on the Lord in their current circumstances. The psalmists ended these conversations with thanksgiving, saying “I will yet praise God, because He is my Savior.” As Christians, we can follow their example and preach the Word of God to ourselves.

The New Testament also tells us to take our anxiety and cast it on the Lord because He cares for us. This Scripture literally instructs us to hurl our anxious thoughts at Jesus: they are too dangerous for us to carry alone inside our souls. Another Scripture says not to be anxious about anything, but to bring our concerns to God in prayer, and with thanksgiving exchange our worries for His peace. Then, we are able to think true, pure, and praiseworthy thoughts we find in His Word.

The Bible is full of examples that show believers how to handle their emotions and thoughts of discouragement. First, we need to confess our anxious thoughts to God. Then, we need to receive the truths found in His Word about our situation. As a result, our hearts will be filled with peace that is beyond human understanding.