Teens' Top Questions About the Bible AnsweredНамуна

If I’m Depressed, Does that Mean that I Don’t Have Enough Faith?

Many of the major figures in the Bible experienced sadness or depression. Elijah, Job, Jonah, David, and many others were at one time or another overwhelmed with the problems that they faced, and they even wondered if God was still present. The Psalms include many examples of believers experiencing great sadness. For example Psalm 42:3 says, “My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

In life there are many factors that can make us feel overwhelmingly sad or depressed. That is not a sign of spiritual weakness or lack of faith. Often it is a combination of difficult circumstances along with chemical reactions in the brain. Clearly when we feel depressed, we should seek help through prayer, but also by seeking advice from counselors and pastors, and by seeking medical help. Today there are many ways to treat depression, which is a medical condition rather than a lack of faith.