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2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV)2 Preach the word! Be ready in
season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they
will heap up for themselves teachers;4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NLT2)2 Preach the word of God. Be
prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and
encourage your people with good teaching.3 For a time is coming when people will no
longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own
desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching
ears want to hear.4 They will
reject the truth and chase after myths.
I’m going to talk
about something that the church doesn’t like to talk about so we don’t talk
about it enough. It is something that we do need to talk about because it
affects Christians and if it affects us then it is addressed in the Bible
somewhere.
It is something
that I know a lot about because I lived with someone who had a problem with
this and I’ve seen so many of my brothers and sisters who suffer with the same
thing. If we talk about it then with the
help of the Holy Spirit we can maybe do something about it. So tonight I’m going to talk about depression
and what the Bible says about it. Metal
health professionals will tell you that a very large of number of people who
take their own lives do it because they are depressed.
The church tends to have trouble talking about depression because it’s
messy and uncomfortable. But this is something that’s not going away. More and
more people who show up on Sunday Mornings are struggling with this very real
issue. There is data that confirms that in the past several decades the use of
antidepressants has increased 400 percent. We are one of the richest and most
depressed countries in the world.
However, when
people sit in church pews, the atmosphere isn't usually conducive to people
admitting they have a problem and asking for help. Instead, everyone tries to appear as perfect as possible. Coming to church has
nothing to do with who you actually are but rather with how you appear.
Believe it or not, Christians struggle with depression.
The sad thing is that depression is almost never the major theme of a sermon.
What we often here is that if a person is dealing with depression, it's
because of some unconfessed sin that needs to be dealt with.
Most of us will agree that Christians can and do become depressed. However many Christians believe, some
unconsciously perhaps, that Christians do not and should not become depressed.
After all depression only happens when you lose all hope, and don’t Christians
have the best Hope there is? After all
doesn’t God absolutely, 100% have the power to heal depression?
Most Christians
will tell you that you have two options, to give in to depression or believe
God’s promise:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT2)12 If you think you are standing strong, be
careful not to fall.13 The temptations
in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful.
He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are
tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
We Christians often
over-spiritualize depression and neglect the very real physical needs of a
person caught in depression’s grip. On
the other hand, non-Christians tend to focus too much on the physical aspects
of depression and neglect spiritual health.
Depression can be
caused by guilt. Sometimes the weight of our downfalls and sins can cause us to
grieve and mourn to the point of depression.
Depression can also
be caused by the difficult circumstances of our lives. Life can get so hard
that it makes us depressed.
Depression can also
be the result of a physical illness. Sometimes the circumstances of our bodies
can cause us to become depressed. I’m talking about synapses misfiring and
chemicals becoming imbalanced. I’m talking about diseases within our bodies.
This can be the most difficult cause of depression to wrestle with because you
can’t quite put your finger on the reason you are suffering. You’re simply
suffering.
No matter what
depression may look like, the attributes of God are almost always under attack.
Doubt always follows closely on the heels of depression. If you’re a Christian
and you’re depressed you’re in good company.
Moses
Numbers 11:14-15 (NLT2)14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The
load is far too heavy!15 If this is how
you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me
this misery!”
Elijah
1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT2)3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He
went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness,
traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he
might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no
better than my ancestors who have already died.”
Jonah
He asked to be
thrown out of the boat, knowing that he wouldn’t survive;
Jonah 1:12 (NLT2) “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it
will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”
Paul
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT2)8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and
sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were
crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would
never live through it.9 In fact, we
expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned
to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
What Does
The Bible Say?
In biblical
times, life was full of tribulations and unexpected catastrophe giving a good
reason for people to experience depression and sadness. The Bible frequently
discusses methods to deal with and overcome feeling depressed in the face of
hardship and suffering.
Bible Verses
about Depression
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Psalm 30:11
ESV You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my
sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
Deuteronomy
31:8 ESV It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not
leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Psalm 3:3
ESV But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my
head.
Isaiah 40:31
ESV But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall
walk and not faint.
John 10:10
ESV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may
have life and have it abundantly.
Philippians
4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
John 16:33
ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Scripture
Quotes on Depression
Isaiah 41:10
ESV Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will
strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right
hand.
Matthew
11:28 ESV Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jeremiah
29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for
welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs
3:5-6 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your
paths.
Psalm 143:7-8
ESV Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your
steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to
you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 30:5
ESV For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Depression
Bible Verses
1 Peter 5:7
ESV Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Psalm
143:7-8 ESV Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not
your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in
the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I
should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Philippians
4:6-7 ESV Do not be anxious about anything, 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
your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 23:4
ESV Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Romans 8:28
ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for
good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Depression
in the Bible
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Proverbs
12:25 ESV Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him
glad.
Romans 12:2
ESV Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is
good and acceptable and perfect.
Psalm 9:9
ESV The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of
trouble.
2 Timothy
1:7 ESV For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control.
Revelation
21:4 ESV He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the
former things have passed away.”
Proverbs 12:25
ESV Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him
glad.
Romans 12:2
ESV Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is
good and acceptable and perfect.
Psalm 9:9
ESV The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of
trouble.
2 Timothy
1:7 ESV For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control.
Revelation
21:4 ESV He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the
former things have passed away.”
Bible Verses
For When You're Depressed
Psalm
34:17-18 ESV When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and
delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Matthew 6:33
ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you.
Romans 15:13
ESV May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so
that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
John 16:33
ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Joshua 1:9
ESV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be
frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go.”
I know there are some people who have trouble with the idea that
someone who is truly a follower of Jesus could struggle with depression. If
that’s the case for you, I would simply encourage you to read your Bible—and
not just the uplifting stories but also the parts where it gets so real and raw
that we squirm a bit.
Bible Study Audio
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