Scripture About Overcoming Depression

Psalm 34:17-18: "The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

This is excellent news because we’ve all been in trouble before.

When my brother passed away, I didn’t want to go to anyone, not even God at the time, but that’s where I messed up. I should’ve gone to Him first because he’s a healer. I was angry, hurt, and torn. He helped me when I didn’t know that I wanted to be helped. My brother and I were separated a lot through our lives growing up.

When I was turning 30, I had just begun creating a loving and enjoyable relationship with my brother, and then the tragedy of my brother shooting himself in the head was the start of a roller coaster ride with my life and my faith in God. I regret this, but I’m being honest and open. I yelled at God and blamed Him for everything that went wrong in my life.

During this time, I was not careful about my safety or even my own life until I had a revelation. I was trying to die, and I was trying to get out of the pain. Knowing who God is and what He can do for His children makes me see things differently. He had a plan for my life, and His ways are always better.

Isaiah 41:10: "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

A couple of years ago, I started a new journey in life. I was at a job I didn’t care about or want. The funny thing is that I’m still at it because I can’t seem to leave it. This was a job that I wasn’t good at, nor that I liked. It was not the type of job that I wanted, even though it was pretty laid back.

I was discouraged because I was the new guy making new guy mistakes. I was not used to (or liked) the hours of operation. The schedule changed daily, so I had to regulate my life around the hours. I felt like I couldn’t do this job because I was being defeated.

Maybe you could relate, but it was getting me beat. I wasn’t as prideful anymore because of how God reacts to pride, but it was really getting to me, making me think if I even had worth. I really felt defeated, and looking back now, I realized how insignificant the experience was. God was and is my victory, and he helped me during my mini-depressive episode. He is faithful, even when we’re not.

Matthew 11:28-30: "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'"

I know we don’t have the same experiences, situations, and lives, but we could understand the character of humanity. We all need rest at times. Which is the reason that God created the Sabbath. But we can’t continue to press on with a heaviness of depression.

Proverbs 13:12 states, “Hope deffered causes the heart to be sick.” Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe in not being able to give someone what I don’t have. But if we are depressed, we can’t function the same. We are different people, and we have different obligations in this world.

Jesus helps us as our savior and, most importantly, our intercessor before the Father. He has been through the tempting that we all go through. Yet if we give him our burdens, He’s faithful to make them accessible. We need to surrender it all to Him.