5 Biblical Remedies for Depression
There was a time in college when I really struggled with depression.
During those months I felt a deep emotional pain no matter what I did. For example: it hurt to be around people because they were so sickeningly happy, but it also hurt to be alone because that just magnified my isolation. It honestly seemed like no matter what I did, I would always be in complete agony.
I believe that depression is a spiritual condition that Jesus has complete authority over. After all, God is the one who allows unpleasant experiences into my life, and he’s the one who holds the keys to setting me free from them.
Here are 5 principles God teaches that might be useful for unlocking the shackles of depression:
1. Embrace Community
Bible verses
It’s not good for man to be alone: In Genesis 2:18 God says that it’s “not good” for man to be alone, which is the whole reason why God made Eve: so that Adam could have a friend, a wife, and a family.
Supporting each other: Ecclesiastes 4:9 teaches that two people are more productive than one because they can support each other by helping each other up when they fall.
How community combats depression
Provides support: One of the biggest reasons why I became depressed in college was because I suddenly became really isolated. In high school I had an amazing community of Christian friends who challenged me, encouraged me, and supported me in my relationship with God, but when I went to college all of my friends went to different schools (which erased my support network and left me incredibly isolated). Like the verse in Ecclesiastes says, getting back up off the ground is so much easier when I have someone to help me. If I’m surrounded with friends and family, then I’ll also automatically be surrounded by all their love, advice, and emotional support.
Provides company: Some of the happiest times in my life have been when I was most immersed within a loving community: I had people in my life who saw the real me, knew the real me, and loved the real me—and I did the same with them. When I’m going through a tough time, it’s comforting to have someone there to remind me that I’m not alone. That person might not even need to give me advice or do anything—it’s just comforting to have some company.
Provides perspective: Sometimes I gain a lot of perspective just by opening up and sharing my experience with someone else. There have been times when I’ve felt really overwhelmed by my circumstances, but when I verbalized my thoughts and feelings into actual words that someone else could understand, it made me realize that my situation wasn’t as insurmountable as I had made it out to be.
Action steps
Connect with someone: Call a friend, family member, or pastor and be vulnerable with them. I won’t be able to experience the benefits of community until I open up and tell someone about how I’m feeling and what I’m experiencing.
Find a support group: When something really bad happens to me, its easy to think that no one else understands what I’m going through, but that’s not true—there are billions of people in this world, and no matter what I’m going through, there are probably other people who are going through very similar experiences. It could be helpful for me to find (or start) a support group where I can relate to others who are also going through my type of pain.
2. Value the Suffering
Bible verses
Produces wisdom: In Ecclesiastes 7:4 Solomon says that fools spend their time chasing after pleasure while wise people are willing to spend time mourning. It seems counterintuitive, but I think that sorrow really does have a profoundness to it. Sadness is powerful—it can refine my soul in ways that laughter just isn’t capable of. When I walk through sorrow, it often changes my perspective and has a profound effect on me as a person.
Forces me to depend on God: James 1:2–4 tells me to consider it a “pure joy” whenever I face any kind of trial. James’s reason for teaching this is because trials force me to depend on God (which is the absolute best position my soul can be in). James also says that these trials force me to learn perseverance and take me one step closer towards completing my time here on earth.
Develops my character: In Romans 5:3 Paul says that he actually brags about the things that afflict him because he knows that they force him to develop both his perseverance and his character. He points out that when his perseverance and character are developed, those qualities are what force him to view God as his greatest source of hope.
How valuing suffering combats depression
Gives me purpose: When I view suffering as an opportunity to grow closer to God, grow in wisdom, and develop character, that gives me a new appreciation for my suffering. When I see my suffering as a valuable experience, that gives me a sense of purpose and a reason to continue trudging on through my pain. When I understand the value behind my suffering, that flips depression upside-down, turning it from something destructive into something productive.
3. Cultivate Thankfulness
Bible verses
Be thankful in all circumstances: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells me to be thankful in “all circumstances” because that’s what God wants me to do.
Thank God for everything: Ephesians 5:20 says to thank God for “everything” (even thank him for my depression).
Thank God instead of being anxious: Philippians 4:6 says that I should thank God and let him know what my needs are instead of being anxious.
How thankfulness combats depression
Redirects my focus to the positive: The whole reason why I became depressed in the first place was because I wanted a romantic relationship, but faced rejection after rejection in my dating life. The pain from those rejections became the only thing that I could focus on which prevented me from experiencing any happiness at all. How could I ever be happy when all my attention was focused on things that were negative? Depression is brought about by negative situations, so if I want to rediscover happiness then I’ll intentionally need to shift my focus onto things that are positive instead. In my experience, having a spirit of thankfulness produces happiness because it forces me to direct my attention toward things that are positive and good which counteracts depression’s negativity.
Action steps
Thankful list: Make the longest list that I can of things that I’m thankful for. As I write each item down, I can consciously recognize that each item is a gift and recognize how much worse my life would be without each of those items.
4. Look Beyond the Suffering
Bible verses
It’s temporary: Revelation 21:4 says that one day when my time here on earth is done, Jesus will wipe away every tear from my eyes, and it says that death shall be no more. That means that all of my mourning, crying, and pain are actually temporary, because one day they will be completely gone.
How looking beyond the suffering combats depression
Produces hope: When I was depressed it felt like I had descended into such a deep pit that I’d never be able to climb my way back out of it. Nothing I did seemed to help—not even praying. I felt completely hopeless…. But then one day I just woke up and my depression was gone! (I honestly view it as a miracle.) Coming out of depression might not always occur instantaneously like that, but no matter how dark this life gets, there will always be the light of heaven at the end of it. Even if my depression doesn’t go away during this lifetime, it will one day be banished when I finally reach the afterlife. After experiencing depression for myself, I would define it as “a complete lack of hope,” but if I can look at all my pain and suffering and realize that it’s just temporary, maybe that can restore some of my hope, thus unravelling some of my depression.
Action steps
Trust God: God’s ways are higher than my ways. He has a plan for my life and is so powerful that he takes my most difficult situations and uses them for something good.
Give it time: Just waiting for my depression to be over feels like not doing anything, but that’s actually not the case. Every day that passes brings me one step closer the day when God will assuredly rescue me from my depression and bring my sadness and pain to an end.
5. Practice Generosity
Bible verses
It’s more blessed to give than to receive: Acts 20:35 quotes Jesus as saying that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
The more I give the more I’ll receive: Luke 6:38 says “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
How generosity combats depression
Boosts self esteem: My natural tendency is to be selfish, so it feels really good to overcome that tendency and be selflessly donate my time, money, or energy to someone else. A few weeks ago I wrote an encouraging note to a homeless man and gave it to him along with a $20 bill. He lit right up and started telling me his whole life story. I mostly just listened, but when I left, I felt really content, happy, humble, and thankful all at the same time. I felt accomplished and productive. It felt like I had done something good and made a difference in that man’s life. I think that these good feelings are part of what Jesus means when he says that it’s “more blessed to give than to receive.” If I’m depressed, then forcing myself to be generous could be a good way to combat my depression with contentment.
Produces life: Depression is a force that DESTROYS LIFE, but generosity is a force that PRODUCES LIFE. If I want to counteract a force that destroys life, then I need to combat it with a force that gives life.
Here’s a related article on Four Benefits of Generosity
Action steps
Give my time: Be generous with my time by finding somewhere to volunteer. I could volunteer somewhere like my church or at a local soup kitchen.
Give my money: Be generous with my money by taking a friend or family member out to lunch and paying for their meal. I could also give money to a homeless person or sign up to sponsor a child through compassion.com or adventures.org.
Give my words: Be generous with my words by writing someone an encouraging letter that will make them feel valued and appreciated.