Depression is one of the most widespread psychiatric problems and has existed for millennia. The Bible can provide valuable insight into its causes and treatments.
Depression can be brought on by genetics, major life events, illness and stress; medications or side effects from medical conditions may also contribute.
Depression is not a sin
Depression is a serious mental illness that requires treatment, just like ulcers or heart attacks. While some people suffer more than others from it, God understands and wants the best for all his creations – so if you find yourself depressed it’s wise to seek professional counseling as well as pray for help from Him.
You can turn to Scripture when feeling depressed for comfort and reminders of His promises. A great starting place is Ecclesiastes where Solomon explores how craving temporary pleasures such as pleasure, knowledge, wisdom, possessions, or success is only going to leave you feeling empty in the end – instead focus on looking towards eternity instead. Although biblical writers did not directly address depression per se, evidence of it can still be seen. Some may want to draw links between their depression and sin; wise helpers should steer away from such links altogether as Satan is real and plays an integral role in human suffering – although that alone should not necessarily cause people’s depressive episodes either.
Depression is not a punishment
Many well-meaning Christians mistakenly assume that being depressed is due to sin; however, this is far from being the case! Depression is a legitimate medical condition which must be managed appropriately with medications and psychotherapy.
There are multiple people throughout the Bible who appear to be experiencing what we would now term depression. Psalms, for instance, contain many laments of pain and loss; perhaps one could argue that King David himself suffered from some form of mental distress.
Chemical imbalance in the brain does not equal sinful conduct; but it can still be serious. Seeking help for depression from friends and family as well as doctors is vital, while reading scripture to gain wisdom and direction can also be very useful. Although people may tell you to “pray harder”, or believe God is punishing you; but Scripture says Jesus loves us and wants to heal our hearts.
Depression is not a sign of weakness
Christians suffering from depression may come under considerable strain from well-meaning friends. Some may accuse their illness as being due to sin or faith deficiencies; this is an unfair assumption; just like we wouldn’t suggest to someone with blindness that their condition is due to personal or parental sin, similarly we shouldn’t assume depression stems from not enough faith in our lives.
Scripture contains many examples of godly individuals experiencing depression. David wrote many psalms during times of low self-worth, while even Moses struggled with despair at times. Though sin may not be solely responsible for depression, sin certainly plays a part. Therefore it’s essential that we recognize this reality and treat those with mental illnesses with the compassion and love that Jesus demonstrated.
Depression is not a sign of sin
Depression is often mistaken as an indication of sin. While depression may stem from spiritual causes (e.g. unbiblical beliefs or bitterness), most cases do not. Therefore, the Bible encourages Christians to cling to Christ and seek help for emotional problems such as counseling sessions, prayer groups or even medication from licensed medical providers.
Depression may not be seen as a sin, but Christians are still responsible for how they respond to it. Instead of hiding away or suppressing feelings about it from others, it would be helpful if Christians would open up about their struggles with church leadership and seek support from people who remind them of God’s unconditional love for them.
No shame is attached to seeking medical help for depression; just as one would visit their physician for an injury or illness, many may require medication in order to manage depression effectively.