What does the Bible say about depression? 6 Bible verses to offer hope
Although the word “depression” doesn’t appear in the Bible, some verses do address feelings associated with the mental condition, including despair, hopelessness and sorrow.
For example, in the Old Testament, Job lost all of his wealth, his children died in a storm and he was stricken with health problems. He felt so hopeless that he said in Job 10:1, “My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”
Similarly, Jesus Christ talked about the “sorrow to the point of death” that he felt while in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:38.
Despite his hardships, Job chose to look to God, and in Job 42:5 he said, “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you,” explaining that he drew closer to God through his hardships.
The theme that God is with us during hard times is present throughout the Bible and can comfort people who are feeling hopeless and afraid or who are experiencing depression.
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What are Bible verses for depression and hopelessness?
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Psalm 42:11
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
This scripture passage calls God the “God of all comfort.” It says he is someone “who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
1 Peter 5:7
Peter tells readers to cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
What are comforting Bible verses?
Psalm 30:5
A comforting promise is given by this verse. It says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
A popular scripture, Matthew 11:28-30 promises that God will help lighten all heavy loads — whether mental, emotional or physical.
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