Depression has troubled people everywhere, in every age, and it will trouble us more in this 21st century. It is very important to understand this illness but professionals don’t always understand its complexity. Depression is not always the result of some sin or somebody’s mental weakness, it is triggered by chemical imbalances in the brain and medications is needed. The roots of depression could be social and psychological including genetic factors, characteristics of a person, stressful life events and early life experiences.
Spirituality is among the list of how people can treat depression. For believers, it is not a new thing. They trust God. They believe the existence of God. They know Him. They talk to Him. And the Almighty God is ready to answer prayer. Can God heal depression? Believers can easily answer that God can heal depression. But how? We need to look at the Bible.
Perhaps some believers say that people who know God will be safe from depression, but to the contrary the Bible describes the struggles of prophets who suffered with depression including Job, Moses, King David, King Solomon, Elijah and Jonah. All were faithful prophets of God. They got depressed because they were human and were susceptible to stress. Let’s talk about their cases and see how God heal them from depression.
Job
Job suffered depression after losing his possession; first his wealth, then all his 10 children. The professionals say the loss of something significant is a major reason for depression. Not only depression Job was devastated by a sorrowful physical affliction: he had loathsome sores in his entire body from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. To make it worse his wife asked him to curse God and die. His three closed friends were suspicious that Job hid great sin. God healed Job by giving him right understanding about Him through nature, His creation. Job answered God that previously he only heard about God, but after the accident he saw God with his own eyes. God healed Job’s sickness including his depression, blessed Job twice as much as he had before and then Job also had another 7 sons and 3 daughters. So, see the nature (enjoy sightseeing), admire and admit God’s authority in your life, your depression will be healed.
Moses
Moses, the man with meek heart, got depressed while facing the Israelite for years. They always murmured against Moses when they found something unpleasant. As a melancholic and perfectionist, Moses tended to be depressed since the beginning of his life. God changed Moses’ weakness to be his strength. He was a loner, pessimistic, egoistic, discontent and humbled himself excessively. Moses was transformed after walking with God. He was a succesful great leader of Israel as he submissive, faithfully obeyed God. Trust and obey God’s order is a medicine for depression in Moses’ case.
King David
The depressions of King David stem from any of several probable causes. King David was not pleased seeing injustice around him and he had sinned before God by committing adultery with Uriah’s wife. When sin and the resulting guilt is the root of depression, the Bible shows how recovery begins: with repentance and forgiveness. From David’s experience we know the steps. After committing sin, David felt miserable because of dishonesty thus his days were filled with frustration. David finally stopped trying to hide his sin. David confessed his sin before God and God forgave his sin. David felt great happiness because God forgave him and cleared the sin record.
As for injustice David finally knew and understood that God is fair and God would be the light for his darkness. David knew God would help. Confess your sin, repent, receive God’s forgiveness and be happy.
King Solomon
Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. That was Solomon’s statement about everything done under heaven. The wisest man and also the richest man ever alive, Solomon was depressed after applying his mind to seek the really important thing in this earth. His wisdom and richness could not satisfy him. He even said that the dead man was more fortunate than the living who is still alive. All his frustration is written in Ecclesiastes Book. Finally in chapter 12, Solomon understood deeply the thing that really matter in this life that is God Himself. “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth… ” he started chapter 12. And he closed his book by these sentence: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Elijah
Elijah got depressed when he was rebuked by Queen Jezebel while he was anticipating a moment of triumph. His hopes were crushed, and his heart was painfully sick. When Elijah became fearful, tired and depressed, he fled from his God-given responsibilities. He was so depressed and he asked God’s permission to let him die. Elijah’s problem is his physical tiredness. God let him sleep and He sent His angel to ask Elijah eat and drink. Elijah regained his strength and he went, continuing do God-given responsibilities for him. Have enough rest and enough meal. It is good to heal depression.
Jonah
Prophet Jonah grew angry when God canceled His punishment upon sinful city, Nineveh. Jonah’s anger was a cause as well as a symptom of his depression. We must pay attention in this case as residual anger adversely affect the chemical balance of the brain. Like Elijah, Jonah wanted to die. The Bible teaches us to put away anger before the sun goes down. God had given Jonah many lessons if he wanted to hear and obey God, he would escape from depression. God taught Jonah about mercy, justice, forgiveness and God’s authority.
From the stories of the above mentioned men, whom recovered and went on with their lives, we learn that God along with the Bible is the most powerful resource for combating depression. The Bible provides many enlightenment and encouragement sentences and actions for depressing situations. The God’s ways were effective combating depression of Job, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah and Jonah. His ways are effective also for us and depressed people in 21st century. Jesus Christ says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” And he has more offers for you to heal your depression. Walk with Him in your life.
