Overcome Anxiety With 19 Bible Verses About Depression

Here is a collection of some Bible verses about depression. Depression is a common mental health issue, but God’s Word has much to say, and help, with this problem, including mental illness issues.

Bible Verses About Depression — From the Book of Psalms

The Book of Psalms explores many aspects of varied human emotions, including that of depression. Here are some examples.

These verses, authored by King David, are a testimony of him waiting on God; he had to wait patiently on God, despite his mental anguish. But God delivered him and gave him direction. This testimony from David is encouraging because God can do the same for us today. The result of him waiting and trusting in God and experiencing God’s intervention and deliverance is that afterward he had a song of praise of God. His praise to God pointed others to trust in God.

Psalm 6:1-2 “O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” (KJV)

This verse seems to indicate the sorrow over sins committed.

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (KJV)

The entire chapter of Psalm 23 is a comforting passage of Scripture that addresses the fear of dying even while it shares the joy of living with God’s guidance.

Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” (KJV)

The Lord God is close to those who try to please Him. The key word in this verse is “righteous.” Striving to please God results in His favor and His deliverance.

Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 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. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

Bible Verses About Depression — Psalm 42

My friend, Dr. Charles Brown, a Florida-based pastor, shared some thoughts about depression as it relates to Psalm 42. This psalm contains some of the best Bible verses concerning depression. The following is based on his observations.

Psalm 42 is an unusual psalm. David is called “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). From that description, one would think that David would be happy all the time, obey God every day, and was a joy to be near. And maybe that description was true — most of the time. But when he wrote Psalm 42, he was depressed. We don’t know the reason for this mental pain and feelings of depression, but they were more than he could bear.

Mental stress, depression, and fearful doubts are very real. They can afflict anyone, even a Godly king like David, and ordinary people like us.

Psalm 42:1-2 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (KJV)

In these verses, David wished that he was in heaven. Death is a change in earthly circumstances, but taking you own life is not honoring to God. As this psalm continues, the Lord has help for His depressed people.

Psalm 42:3 “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (KJV)

People must have been mocking and questioning David’s profession of his relationship with God, and that it was only wishful thinking on his part.

Psalm 42:4-5 “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 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.” (KJV)

David, in his time of depression, “went to church.” This is a good thing. But in David’s case, and sometimes in our life, our grief is not assuaged by singing and worshiping God. But right after he went to church, his faith was bolstered, quite possibly by the hearing of God’s Word, according to Romans 10:17. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (KJV).

David’s faith was strengthened enough to know that the only choice he had in his depression was to hope in God. By faith, David knew that God would get him through this time of deep mental anguish and sorrow of heart. He knew that, eventually, because of God’s help from His face, from God’s countenance, God would “smile” upon David, and with God’s smile upon David that would lift his crushed spirit. David then gave himself an encouraging self-talk. In talking to himself, David mentioned his soul; David’s soul was grieved at this time.

Psalm 42:6-7 “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” (KJV)

Perhaps in David’s time of depression and mental anguish, he took a trip to nearby place of beauty, hoping that by viewing the lovely creation of God it would cheer him up. But as he viewed the sea, the sight of waves crashing onto shore only reminded him of this personal circumstances that threatened to overwhelm him.

Psalm 42:8 “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” (KJV)

David’s faith in God, even as he felt the sadness come over him like the ocean waves, was bolstered. David had no one and no place to turn, except to God. He declared that God was the “God of my life.”

Psalm 42:9 “I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (KJV)

David started to analyze his time of mourning. He was feeling overwhelmed because of the oppression of his enemies, though he did not say which enemy was oppressing him. But like David, when we focus on our enemies instead of on the power and love of Christ Jesus, then we will find ourselves in times of deep depression.

Psalm 42:10-11 “As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 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.” (KJV)

David described his feelings of depression as “a sword in his bones.” Yet by the end of this psalm, his faith in God, his Rock, was strengthen enough so that he knew that God would see him through his time of trouble. In this last verse of Psalm 42, David realizes that God is the health of his countenance, the expression on his face. Eventually, because of God, David will again have a genuine smile, a cheerful face, and a glad heart. David seems to realize that he will get the victory when God’s truth, including the assurance that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6, KJV), will be his focus.

Bible Verses About Depression — God’s Promises

During difficult times, it is imperative for good mental health to claim, and to hold unto, the promises of God. When all else fails, God and His Word offer unchanging promises. Here are some promises of God from His Word:

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.” (KJV)

God’s love for His people is a strong powerful fact. There is nothing that can separate those who love God from His love. Knowing that God loves you is a precious promise. Who better to love you than God Himself?

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (KJV)

In depression, many times, it feels like there is no hope. But God is a God of hope, and He offers this gift to His people.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 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.” (KJV)

God does not waste difficult times. But in our times of trial and tribulation, He gives comfort. Then, after our trials are past, we can use the comfort that He gave us to be a comfort to others as they go through similar trials.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

We don’t fully understand the mind of God. Therefore, there are many things beyond our own understanding. When we can rationally understand issues, we can cope with them better. But despite our own lack of understanding, God gives us His peace.

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (KJV)

God wants us to have peace in our minds. God invites us to have the powerful emotion of peace rule in our hearts. The peace of God is something to thank God about, and also being thankful helps to fight depression.

1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (KJV)

Trials and times of depression are humbling times. But when we submit to God during these times, and wait on Him, He has promised to exalt us at the proper time.

Bible Verses About Depression — Practical Advice

Dealing with depression, either in ourselves or in others close to us, is difficult. Here are some verses offering practical advice to both internalize and share with others.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (KJV)

Despite the fact of our sinful heart wanted to be depressed, rather, we must focus our heart into fully trusting God, especially in times that we don’t understand.

Proverbs 12:25 “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” (KJV)

Depression can be also referred to as “heaviness in the heart.” Depression is a great mental weight. Knowing that when someone is depressed, God tells us to give them a good word, an encouraging word, to help lift their spirit. The best “good word” is referring them to the promises of God, and in so doing, directing their mind and their heart upward.

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