“O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God.' But you, oh Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.”
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
If you're asking this question in response to your own or your loved one's depression, we're so sorry for the pain you're experiencing. The church often treats depression poorly, which doesn't help the person who is suffering—regardless of the cause of their depression. We hope that we can give your heart some answers that will empower you to reach whatever next step toward management you need.
What is depression?
While it is common to say, "I was depressed today," that isn't the correct usage of the word "depressed." Depression is a clinical condition that differs from just having a bad day or even temporary sadness at big life changes. If you've seen Pixar's Inside Out, you've seen one of the best visualizations for how depression differs from temporary sadness.
Depression is defined as "a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies."
The American Psychiatric Association makes note that "symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression." So it's a mental illness that really disrupts a person's ability to live a fulfilled and contented life.
There are many branches of depression: major depressive disorder, perinatal and postpartum depression (depression during or after pregnancy), seasonal affective disorder, and more.
Depression in the Bible
“Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it.”
The Bible openly records many "heroes of faith" suffering from a modern-day definition of depression. As we explore their stories, we learn that the cause of their depression differs dramatically from person to person.
King David is possibly the best known for his Psalms of grief and agony, written while he fled from his mutinous son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15; Psalm 42-43). Hannah, mother of Samuel, "wept and would not eat" (1 Samuel 1:7) because she couldn't conceive children in a culture where a woman's purpose and joy came from marriage and motherhood.
The entire book of Job chronicles God's bet with Satan that no matter what Satan did to God's servant, Job, the man would not curse God. While Job never curses God—even after his wife tells him to—he becomes incredibly sick, loses all of his property, loses his family, loses his friends, and more. Thus, Job fell into a deep depression so bad that he wished he hadn't been born and even begged God to kill him (Job 3).
Most of these Old Testament figures experienced recovery from their depressive states and even compensation for their suffering in some cases—like Job.
On the other hand, in the New Testament, we see the apostle Paul stating that "a thorn in the flesh was given to me" (2 Corinthians 12:7). We don't know what exactly this thorn might be, as Paul never verifies the thorn's nature, but we can assume that, despite Paul's repeated requests to be freed, he probably carried this thorn for the rest of his life. Sometimes the pain we experience is a lifelong struggle.
What causes depression?
“Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'”
The causes for depression can be very diverse, as everyone's story is different. We're all capable of being hurt by different things in different ways. While one situation may not affect one person negatively, that same thing could easily damage another's mental health. Following are a few of the common causes of depression, but this list is by no means exhaustive. If you feel you or a loved one is suffering from depression, please seek advice and diagnosis from a trained professional counselor or health care provider.
False Guilt vs. Unconfessed Sin
There are times we may spiral into depression over something we perceive as sin but that isn't actually sin. It may simply be false guilt, which is a result of a misinformed conscience. That is, when real conviction from the Holy Spirit, which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:19), gets confused with "condemnation," which stems from Satan's attempts to shame us (Romans 8:1). If left unattended to, this could develop into religious scrupulosity. While it's true that depression can stem from real unconfessed sin, it's far from the only cause.
Traumatic Events (or a string of them)
Trauma is defined as "a disordered psychic [mental] or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury." Broken down even further, a traumatic event is something that places severe emotional, mental, or physical stress on a person.
If we don't have time to recover from such events, we don't have access to resources or a support system to help us recover, or if we're experiencing repeated traumas in close succession, our brain will establish a new baseline for "normal"—which is a hopeless "survival mode."
Living in "Survival Mode" for a Long Time
Unfortunately, when our existence is a matter of surviving from day to day, moment to moment, it's nearly impossible to establish a "normal"—much less joyful—state of being. Depressive symptoms begin to settle in over time, and our brains start to physically produce less dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Soon, all the natural means we have to feel happy are gone. At that point, even things that normally bring us joy would have little effect.
Is depression a sin?
“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”
No. There's nothing sinful about being sad, depressed, or worn down by life (Romans 8:20-22; Genesis 3:14-19). Existence as a human can be such a challenge sometimes, and it is OK to be upset and frustrated about it for a time. Being born with a chemical imbalance in your brain or developing one later in life due to injury or trauma or any given factors is NOT sinful. There's nothing sinful about some of your body parts—like your brain—not functioning as they were designed to.
What should I do if I'm depressed?
“Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.”
While we can't control outside factors that often contribute to depression, our response to those factors is still our responsibility. When we realize we have the flu, we drink lots of liquids, monitor body temperature, take medicine, and rest. It's the same with mental, emotional, and spiritual health. With depression, as soon as we recognize it for what it is, we need to care for ourselves by seeking help and support.
Depression is unlikely to "get better" on its own. It's not like a paper cut that we can just wait out until it heals itself. If left untreated, depression does get worse. Seek counseling. Ask your doctor if medication may help you. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5), direction, and reminders of your status as His beloved child.
God isn't mad at you for being depressed.
God isn't screaming at you because your faith feels weak or you can't be joyful all the time. He isn't disappointed in you. He isn't judging your circumstances or telling you that you don't have it "bad enough" to be depressed. Those are Satan's LIES.
People suffering from depression are valid and worthy of love and help no matter what the reason behind their pain. We're all beautiful masterpieces of God created in His perfect image (Psalm 139:14; Genesis 1:27) living in a pain-ridden world. Things may come at us from unexpected directions and hurt, but our pain or struggle does not define who we are.
Sometimes depression is a temporary season of life. Sometimes depression is a lifelong struggle—like Paul's thorn in his flesh. Either way, being discouraged over depression is not sinful. Even Christ wept from anguish before His crucifixion (Luke 22:39-46), and He grieved over Lazarus' death (John 11:35).
Sorrow is not sinful. Sometimes we need time to mourn the brokenness of our hearts, our lives, and the world. But the important thing is to not get trapped in a cycle of grief. The mourning period is not an end. It is a season to live through and live past.