Seattle Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Abandonment and Neglect
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Coaching
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Personal Development
      • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Professional Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sex And Porn Addiction
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
      • Marriage Intensive
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group – Chris Chandler
      • Anxiety and Depression Counseling
        Group for Teens and Adolescents
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Marriage Counseling
    • Sexual Addiction
  • LocationsChoose from our variety of office locations
    • AnacortesAnacortes
    • Bellevue
    •  1Bothell
    • Edmonds
    •  1Everett
    •  1Federal Way
    • kentKent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • Lacey Christian CounselingLacey
    •  1Mill Creek
    • The Rhythm Reset: How to Navigate Boundaries and Stress 1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor Office OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    •  1Puyallup
    •  1Redmond
    •  1Seattle Ballard
    •  1Seattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    •  1Spokane
    • Spokane ValleySpokane Valley
    •  1Tacoma
    • Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind the best counselor for your needs
  • CareersBecome an affiliated Christian counselor
  • (206) 388-3929Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

4 Bible Verses that Offer Help for Depression

Seattle Christian Counseling
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/auto-draft-113.jpg 1920 1280
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/seattle-greenlake-6-scaled.jpg
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cropped-cropped-seattle-logo.png
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B
SEATTLE, WA 98115
United States
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B
SEATTLE, WA 98115
United States
Photo of Lindsay Emerson

Lindsay Emerson

Jun
2022
07

4 Bible Verses that Offer Help for Depression

Lindsay Emerson

DepressionIndividual CounselingMen's IssuesWomen's Issues

Auto Draft 98

According to recent statistics from Mental Health America, close to 20% of American adults experience a mental illness in one year, the equivalent of nearly 50 million people. A growing percentage of young people live with major depression – 15% of youth experience a depressive episode in a year.

Of particular concern is the fact that over half of adults, and 60% of youth, do not receive any mental health treatment help for depression. There is little wonder that suicidal ideation continues to increase, along with rates of substance abuse.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression is a complex illness and can affect people in a variety of ways. In order to be clinically diagnosed, symptoms need to significantly be affecting one’s life and everyday functioning. These symptoms can include a few, many or all of the occurrences below:

Like us if you are enjoying this content.
  • Having a down or depressed mood most days
  • Not experiencing pleasure in everyday activities, along with a lack of interest in previous pursuits
  • A decreased appetite together with weight loss, or an unexplained increased appetite
  • Difficulty falling asleep or over-sleeping occurring as a symptom on the opposite end of the scale
  • An inability to sit still, caused by psychomotor agitation; alternatively, slowed speech and movements nearly every day
  • Feeling tired and without energy most days
  • Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
  • A lack of concentration and ability to focus and think clearly, together with indecisiveness
  • Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideas with or without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Clinical depression requires intervention from a psychiatrist and other healthcare professionals, together with cognitive behavioral therapy from a registered counselor.

Auto Draft 99The Spiritual Components of Depression

While in no way minimizing the severity of the illness, it is important to acknowledge that depression is not simply a medical problem. It has its roots in our patterns of thought and there is certainly a spiritual component to it.

It is also by no means a new condition, and was described by Greek physicians as “melancholia” as far back as 460 B.C. In the Bible, characters like David, Job, Jonah and Elijah all experienced inner turmoil, anguish, and feelings of being crushed and hopeless.

In Jonah 4:3 NIV, Jonah was so distraught that he asked God: “Take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” In lamenting his extreme suffering, Job said, “I have no peace, no quietness, I have no rest but only turmoil” (Job 3:26 NIV).

How then, can knowing that characters in the Bible suffered in a similar way, be a help for depression? It can be reassuring to see that depression is really a “being human” condition, and that God is not surprised when we feel this way. He shows compassion and in no way judges us for feeling the way we do; and it is absolutely no indication of the strength of our faith.

In his Word, God also gives us a way through depression, and by meditating and reflecting on scripture, ideally with the guidance of a Christian counselor, we can come to understand more about our inner desires and how our thinking affects so much of our emotional and mental reality.

Here are four verses that can be meditated upon to help for depression:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Auto Draft 100Our lives are full of disappointment – not getting the job we want; not managing to achieve the happy marriage we envisioned; not being able to regularly make ends meet. It is not a sin to feel disappointed, but if we do not take our feelings to God, our negative mindset can start a downward trajectory towards depression.

If we want help for depression, we need to take those thoughts captive right from the get-go, and the verse above is a great truth to focus our minds on. Do we really believe that God has a purpose for our disappointments, and that he never makes mistakes with regards to what he allows to happen in our lives? If we meditate on this promise, we will be encouraged to move towards greater trust in God’s plan, regardless of how dire circumstances might be.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:12-13

The apostle Paul spoke about contentment as something that every believer can learn. This is a key insight, as very often disappointment which is not accepted can lead to discontentment. Discontentment is a sin and leads to bitterness towards God and others. Bitterness is an even quicker downward trajectory towards depression.

It can be very difficult to work through discontentment, especially if life’s circumstances are incredibly tough for an individual. God’s promises hold true though, and if Paul was able to overcome crushing disappointment, we are able to as well, through God who gives us strength.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

Auto Draft 101When you are depressed, you are in a deep state of despair, which, in Greek is translated as “no way out, no way through.” The verse above can be a help for depression. When paired with the support of a biblical counselor, this verse gains even more power. The counselor will be able to gently guide a person to the point where they actively see that God has provided a way to escape through the greatest trials through the hope of the gospel.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.– John 3:16

This verse summarizes the hope we have in Christ and reminds us of how much God loves us. While it is difficult to read a verse and feel buoyed when one is in a pit of despair, the reality is that as Christians we can be full of joy, and while we may not find it a help for depression immediately, it is really at the heart of being able to forge a way upwards from a low place.

The journey out of depression takes time and applied effort, and is not easily done alone. Take heart in the fact that it can be conquered, and that scripture contains everything we need to fight the internal war against depression capturing our emotional and mental state. Proverbs 12:25 ESV says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

More Help for Depression

Be mindful of the fact that our feelings can fool us, and the devil is always quick to get a foothold. When we are consumed by our worries and anxieties, it will not be long before depression sets in. The good news is that God’s Word contains many good words which are able to tackle the lies we are believing.

The Bible reminds us that God is good, he is for us, and he has made many good promises which he cannot do anything but keep, as he cannot go against his own pure character. By spending time in the Bible, and having it taught to us, we can find help for depression, and a heart that is full of joy again.

Yet if you need more help for your depression, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified Christian counselor. Your counselor will offer biblical support to guide you to a more hopeful place.

Photos:
“Green Leaves”, Courtesy of Sergi Dolcet Escrig, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Pink Flowers”, Courtesy of Tristan Gevaux, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Sunlight on Leaves”, Courtesy of Brandon Green, Unsplash.com, CC0 License; “Cherry Blossoms”, Courtesy of Anthony Delanoix, Unsplash.com, CC0 License

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Lindsay Emerson
Schedule with Lindsay
  • Appointment Info

  • Your Info

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Lindsay Emerson

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
(425) 419-1842 lindsaye@seattlechristiancounseling.com

God cares about you and is concerned with every detail of your life. Knowing that God created you as a unique individual with passion and purpose motivates me to come alongside what God is already doing in your life, to help facilitate the healing and growth process. I highly value the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of each client. I genuinely love and care for others. Your life story and experiences are important. By working to process past hurt, trauma, and negative feedback loops, real progress can take place. I look forward to helping you progress toward healing in order to lead your best life. Read more articles by Lindsay »

Other articles that might interest you...

Auto Draft 92
Photo of Missy Neill

Missy Neill

Finding Help for Depression

Depression is one of the main mental health problems in our culture today. So many of us are isolated in...

continue reading »
Auto Draft 67
Seattle Christian Counseling

Overcoming Depression: 8 Bible Verses ...

We all fall into a state of depression at some point in our lives. It can be of a short-term...

continue reading »
Auto Draft 82
Photo of Bailey Walters

Bailey Walters

Helpful Bible Verses for Depression

If you feel depressed, you are not alone. About one out of every twelve people in America have symptoms of...

continue reading »

About Lindsay

Photo of Lindsay Emerson

Lindsay Emerson, MA, LMFTA

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

God cares about you and is concerned with every detail of your life. Knowing that God created you as a unique individual with passion and purpose motivates me to come alongside what God is already doing in your life, to help facilitate the healing and growth process. I highly value the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of each client. I genuinely love and care for others. Your life story and experiences are important. By working to process past hurt, trauma, and negative feedback loops, real progress can take place. I look forward to helping you progress toward healing in order to lead your best life. View Lindsay's Profile

Recent articles by Lindsay

  • Oct 8 · How To Move Forward and Overcome the Grieving Process
  • Sep 6 · 7 Ways to Manage Stress with Healthy Coping Mechanisms
  • Jun 7 · 4 Bible Verses that Offer Help for Depression
See all articles by Lindsay »

Related Services

  • Depression
  • Individual Counseling
  • Men's Issues
  • Women's Issues

Lindsay's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Bothell office

    Bothell

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (425) 939-7959
    10116 Main St,, Suite 204 Bothell, WA 98011

    View Office Details
  • Photo of the Mill Creek office

    Mill Creek

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (425) 329-4464
    16000 Bothell Everett Hwy,, Suite 285 Mill Creek, WA 98012

    View Office Details
Seattle Christian Counseling Logo
Seattle Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
Welcome to Seattle Christian Counseling. We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors with more than 20 office locations throughout Washington state for your convenience, including the Seattle neighborhoods of Greenlake, Ballard, and Downtown Lower Queen Anne. We look forward to meeting you soon.
© 2023 Seattle Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B, Seattle, WA 98115. Tel (206) 388-3929.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
COVID-19 Service Update: We are still open for business. In office and online counseling is available if needed.