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7 Bible Verses For When You Need Hope For Depression

Mary Harp

These Bible verses for depression have changed my life. In this post, I want to help show you how to believe what God says and hide His Word in your heart so you can win against depression. With time, these Bible verses for depression will renew your mind. But before I delve into all this, let me give you a little background.

I was that person – the one who condescendingly said about people dealing with depression, “They just need to get over it.” It is so very true that pride goes before a fall. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that soon thereafter, I would battle this exact difficulty for several years. While I knew the Bible verses for depression mentioned below, I had not taken them into my heart – but I’m learning to do just that.

I’ve been hesitant to write this post. Why? Because of my selfish side – the side that wants you to think I am perfect and have it all together. But that’s the side that helped get me into this mess in the first place. Why did I decide to write it? Because I feel God wants me to – I have something I can offer those struggling with the same problem.

To those readers dealing with depression and/or anxiety, I want to give you hope! There is so much hope, more than you think possible. This post is not meant to be a sob story about what I went through. In fact, I don’t want that to be the focus at all! I want the focus to be on the light, the light that is most assuredly at the end of the dark tunnel.

The turning point in my life came when I finally decided not to listen to anything except what God tells me in His Word. Not that my journey is completely finished – I’m still working through things – but at the end of the day I know the truth will set me free. That’s why these Bible verses for depression are so crucial!

If you ever face mental difficulties, PLEASE decide now to let God dictate your thoughts and beliefs. Your thoughts and feelings may be chaotic. Satan will put lies in your mind to trick you. The world will tell you so many things about the “right way” to deal with mental difficulties. If you try to listen to all of this, you will be overwhelmed!

Depression is a humbling problem to admit – there is so much stigma surrounding it. But that’s why we need to talk about the mind, especially in the Church, because we (God’s people) have the answer!

And what is the answer? Believe what GOD says. That’s it! For many years, I thought I did. But I still had parts of me that listened to what the world was saying to me. Society makes us feel as if we need an “expert” to explain to us how to get through life. And don’t get me wrong – I believe in and am very thankful for the help that is available to those struggling. But our number one authority for how to live and what to think comes from God alone. Here’s my favorite book which helped me learn how to listen only to God.

You cannot follow both God and the world. When someone is “diagnosed,” the world tells them they are “mentally ill.” But God’s Word says that as a Christian, you possess a sound mind – the mind of Christ, to be exact. So which is true? Whichever you believe.

Below are my top 7 game-changing Bible verses for depression. These truly helped me renew my mind and change when I started to believe them!

1. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (>Philippians 4:19, ESV).

God says He will meet all (not just some) of our needs. That includes our mental needs as well. The things you are worrying about in the future? They are taken care of. That’s a promise!

2. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him" (Lamentations 3:22-24).

Please go back and read the beginning of the chapter. The writer is in despair and feels like there is no hope, until he remembers the above verse. You may feel awful, but your feelings are not the truth. God IS faithful and he IS enough to get us through the hardest of times.

Sometimes we wonder how we will have the strength to get through another day. Neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf explains that

"…every morning when you wake up, new baby nerve cells have been born while you were sleeping that are there at your disposal to be used in tearing down toxic thoughts and rebuilding healthy thoughts."

His mercies are literally new every morning –  we have new brain cells to use for that day! Our brain is continually being renewed.

3. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

This is a verse that most people can quote by heart, but do you truly know it? You are equal to any task or obstacle placed in your path – not through your own strength, but through the strength of Christ.

4. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

Sometimes we seriously feel like we have no strength left, and that is okay. When our body is exhausted and our mind is frazzled, we do not give up – because God’s strength never runs out, and His provisions are unending.

5. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

When you’re depressed, it is tempting to believe that “it’s just too hard.” No, it’s not. God has promised He will not give you more than you are able to handle, and it’s impossible for Him to lie. If you are brought to it, God will bring you through it.

6. His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us…(>2 Peter 1:3 NKJV) 

Feel like you lack something? This verse says He has already given it to you. Everything. To live your life and to live it in a godly fashion. How? Through the knowledge of Him (Jesus). In the Bible, you will find everything you need to face any challenge.

7. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (>2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

Being fearful does not come naturally – it is learned. This verse says that the spirit God has given us is powerful, full of love for others and yourself, with a sound (stable) mind. He made you perfectly – He did not create a weakling.

The challenge: don’t just read these verses. Meditate on them continually (think about them over and over, all day long). Pick one per day – or find another one that resonates with you. It will take time, but you will start to believe them and feel them in the core of your being.

Which Bible verses have helped you renew your mind?

This article originally appeared at Nature + Nurture. Used with permission.

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Mary Harp blogs at Nature + Nurture when she's not chasing her 2 active boys. She is passionate about nurturing the WHOLE person - body, mind, and spirit. Follow her on Facebook and Pinterest.