Bible verses about depression

Faithful people who despaired

Scripture is honest about how low God's people can feel.

1. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

   1 Kings 19:4

   Right after a great victory, Elijah sat under a juniper tree and asked God to take his life.

2. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

   Numbers 11:14-15

   Moses, worn down by leading Israel alone, told God the weight was too heavy and asked to die.

3. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

   Job 3:3

   After losing his children, wealth and health, Job wished the day of his birth would perish.

4. Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

   Jeremiah 20:14

   The prophet Jeremiah, mocked and beaten for his message, cursed the day he was born.

5. Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

   Jeremiah 15:18

   Jeremiah asks why his pain is perpetual and his wound incurable, an honest complaint God answers in the next verses.

6. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

   Psalm 13:1-2

   David asks how long four times, and admits to sorrow in his heart daily.

7. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

   Psalm 6:6

   David describes nights of weeping so heavy that he waters his couch with his tears.

8. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

   Matthew 26:38

   In Gethsemane Jesus said his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, and asked his friends to stay with him.

Honest prayers from the dark

These psalms give words to people who have none.

1. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

   Psalm 42:5

   The psalmist questions his own soul and answers it: hope thou in God.

2. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

   Psalm 143:7

   My spirit faileth: a plain, urgent prayer for God to answer quickly.

3. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

   Psalm 61:2

   When my heart is overwhelmed, the psalm asks God to lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

4. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

   Psalm 69:1-2

   Pictures despair as sinking in deep mire where there is no standing.

5. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

   Psalm 38:6

   Bowed down greatly and mourning all the day long, yet still speaking to God.

How God cared for Elijah

God's first answer to Elijah was sleep, food and water, not a lecture.

1. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

   1 Kings 19:5-6

   Elijah slept, and an angel woke him to bread baked on coals and a jar of water.

2. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

   1 Kings 19:7-8

   The angel came a second time because the journey is too great for thee, and the food carried Elijah forty days.

3. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

   1 Kings 19:11-12

   God was not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire, but spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.

God is near the brokenhearted

1. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

   Psalm 34:18

   God is not far from a broken heart; he is nigh unto it.

2. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

   Psalm 147:3

   God heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds, like a careful physician.

3. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

   Isaiah 42:3

   The servant of the LORD will not break a bruised reed or quench smoking flax, a picture of gentleness with the fragile.

4. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

   2 Corinthians 7:6

   God comforts those that are cast down, and he comforted Paul through the arrival of a friend, Titus.

5. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

   Matthew 11:28

   Jesus invites all who labour and are heavy laden to come to him for rest.

6. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

   Psalm 3:3

   God is called the lifter up of mine head, for someone who cannot lift it himself.

7. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

   Isaiah 61:3

   Promises the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, beauty for ashes.

Hope, and help from others

1. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

   Psalm 40:2

   David says God brought him up out of an horrible pit and set his feet upon a rock.

2. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

   Lamentations 3:21-23

   In the middle of grief the writer recalls God's mercies, new every morning, and so has hope.

3. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

   Psalm 30:5

   Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning: the night is real, and it is not the end.

4. Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

   Proverbs 12:25

   Heaviness bends the heart down, and a good word can make it glad; kind words matter.

5. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

   Galatians 6:2

   Believers are told to bear one another's burdens, so no one has to carry theirs alone.

6. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

   Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

   Two are better than one, because when one falls the other can lift him up.

7. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

   Psalm 55:22

   Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.