About 20% of teens (12-17) allegedly reported experiencing severe depression in 2024. About 21% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 were diagnosed with depression. In the U.S., in total, 29% of people are diagnosed with depression. I, the writer of this post, am one of those people diagnosed with depression as a result of PTSD. Depression is a topic that most people can relate to at one point in their lives, but it’s one that I have noticed is not mentioned as much when it comes to the youth in the Christian community. It is a topic that is sometimes swept under the rug by elders who don’t understand, and I have noticed that many in my generation have come to resent the church because of false judgment from others within it.
If you are a youth reading this, I urge you not to judge the whole church and the gospel’s message based on the wrongs of other humans. People will hurt you; they may even be the source of some of your depression, but Jesus is not like that. His ways are not like ours, and He wants to set you free from the chains of your mental health issues! Allow Him to do that today by learning from this post and being encouraged by His word!
Again, as I have said before, I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL! I recommend that you consult a professional about your mental health problems before you take all my advice because that is all it is: advice based on my own experiences. I pray this post can help in any way, but please do find a professional counselor who can give you the proper help.
Depression in the Bible
Multiple figures express deep sorrow in the Bible. From King David and Hannah to Elijah and Naomi, the people of the Bible displayed their pain in the writings and stories that we tell today. We like to imagine that now that we have the salvation of the Messiah and we can rejoice, depression is no longer acceptable or possible. We all would like to believe that it is a thing of the past, and we can swipe it aside with the words, “By His stripes, we are healed.” Those of us who live in reality know that this world is currently still bound by sin and the trials and tribulations as a consequence, so depression and sorrow, even in the church, are inevitable.
King David is still called “A man after God’s own heart,” and despite all His shortcomings, he claims that title. But King David knew sorrow more than many of us. He lost his best friend as he became king of Israel; committed adultery, murder, blasphemy, lied, and stole all in one act; and lived to witness three of his children die. He experienced war, betrayal, deceit, and loss in many ways. He wrote Psalm 6:6-7 “I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.” This is only one of many statements of lament from the legendary king.
He is also the writer of the famous line from Psalm 30:5, “For His anger is but for a moment, his favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” He knew that the pain and sorrow he was enduring was only temporary and that soon, he would be able to find joy again.
The prophet Elijah is also noteworthy as a character known to have depression. In 1 Kings 19, he even asks for the Lord to end his life! The Lord had another plan, though! “‘Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.” -1 Kings 19:5-6. God knew that with some rest and a full stomach, He could provide healing for His beloved, suicidal prophet! He prepared a way for a revelation so His glory could be seen out of the mourning!
“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord .” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” -1 Kings 19:11-13
God chose not to let Himself manifest in the storms or the turmoil; instead, He was in the small voice after the storm. This is God’s message to quiet our minds and hearts, to not listen to the deceptive inner monologue. Sometimes, we have to eat a meal, rest for a night, and face the problem the next day with a sound mind to hear the Lord’s counsel. Had the Lord spoken in Elijah’s depression (his storm), would Elijah have heard it, or would the winds of his own heart have muffled it?
In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah, Elkanah’s wife, could not conceive children even though her heart longs for them. Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, harassed Hannah for being unable to bear children, which depressed her. Hannah went to the temple and prayed to the Lord to have a son, whom she promised to give to God as an offering. “Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.”-1 Samuel 1:12-13.
How to Find Peace
We know that there will be trials and tribulations in this life, but how do we cope with depression? Especially if it is a diagnosis, it may seem impossible to overcome the pain and struggle of just existing in day-to-day life! There is only one answer I can give you: Fellowship with God Almighty.
How do we fellowship with a God we can’t see? How would He heal us any differently than the other things we tried?
Here are several ways you can have a closer relationship with the Lord:
- Get into His word
- His word is the bread of life, filled with wisdom, prophecies, stories, history, and worship!
- It was given to man by God so we could become closer to Him!
- It breathes words of encouragement into our hearts!
- Multiple studies show that reading your Bible multiple times a week can decrease feelings of depression significantly!
- Prayer and devotion
- Sitting in prayer and intervention with the Lord can help replenish your spirit, building your relationship with Him.
- When your cup feels empty from the depression, He can fill it in moments of prayer!
- Devotion to the Lord builds up your strength in the spirit so you can persevere another day.
- By speaking with Him, you can also decrease the feeling of loneliness!
- Worship and music
- Actively choosing to worship through the struggle and choosing to die to self is another way the Lord will fill your cup. He calls us to step out of the norm, take up our cross, and die to ourselves for His glory and love. By obeying and loving Him, He will love you and fill your spirit!
- By listening to music, you can boost your mood and create dopamine in your system, and therefore, you might feel happier!
- Worshipping the Lord even in the depths of depression can also help to open new neural pathways so you feel more encouraged to worship Him, pray, and spend time in His word when you have a rough time.
- Watch biblically-based content
- Not only can entertainment edify you, but it can also teach, encourage, and inspire you!
- You can watch anything from a simple, entertaining Christian movie like God’s Not Dead, The Shack, or The Chosen Show to sermons and podcasts about our faith! (I recommend the Carew Ellington Podcast or anything on Living Waters TV)
- Fellowship with other believers
- Being in fellowship can also be an encouragement. It may not be easy to withdraw from yourself when it feels so natural to not interact with others in times of depression, but it can be healthy to push past that and allow others to edify you.
Jesus tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. But He also tells us that He bears that yoke right beside us and will not leave us. Consider this as Your cross to bear, and seek ways to cope. He can help you find peace in yourself and strengthen you through the worst times.
Other Ways to Manage
In 1 Kings 19, God essentially told Elijah to only wallow for so long, then to move on. God set Elijah’s eyes on a higher power than himself, which drew him out of the depression. When we have a purpose outside of ourselves, we’ll likely have a drive for action. God intends to transform us into what we were made to be, which includes reordering our priorities. He wants to sanctify and set us apart, so that means being healed! We are not entitled to eternal suffering if the blood of Jesus covers us!
Jesus wants our hearts; if we keep seeking His face, even in the struggle, He will see our strength and faith! He knows better than anyone else what we battle and He offers us the hope to get through anything. He is our foundation, so even in emotional turmoil, you know you will not truly fall. He will uphold you.
To trust in God’s promises is to step out in faith as if He is going to catch you, even if you don’t see His hands right there. Step out and try to move past the depression that is roiling just beneath your flesh. Step out onto your porch and breathe the fresh air. Just do whatever you can bring yourself to do, relying on His strength.
In conclusion, depression is a common battle with most people in society. Our God understands the struggle and offers ways to find peace despite our suffering! By clinging to Him and seeking His face, even when the inner turmoil is unbearable, at the end of the day, you’ll have more peace because He is in the fire right beside you. Never forget that.
Thanks for reading this blog post! I pray that it blesses you and that the information can benefit you! If you have any questions, prayer requests, or study recommendations, please tell me in the comment section below!