Four Root Causes of Depression
- Biological
- Relational
- Circumstantial
- Spiritual
Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Main Points
He understands and is present
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Lamentations 3:1–2, 5-8, 17–20
1 I am the man who has seen affliction
under the rod of his wrath;
2 he has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light;
5 he has besieged and enveloped me
with bitterness and tribulation;
6 he has made me dwell in darkness
like the dead of long ago.
7 He has walled me about so that I cannot escape;
he has made my chains heavy;
8 though I call and cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer;
17 my soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten what happiness is;
18 so I say, “My endurance has perished;
so has my hope from the Lord.”
19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
He will deliver
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
2 Corinthians 4:7–10
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
He brings hope
Isaiah 41:10
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Lamentations 3:21–23, 24–26
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
Two truths to remember when battling depression
- Your emotions are valid. But they’re not permanent.
- Your situation feels hopeless. But with God, there’s always hope.
Discussion Questions
Read Lamentations 3:21–23. What are some things that help you remember God’s love and goodness in the midst of difficult seasons?
How do you typically handle negative or depressing thoughts and feelings? What would it look like to validate your emotions and label your feelings while also remembering they aren’t permanent?
Talk about a time when God brought you hope and help in a difficult moment. What did you learn about him through that experience?
Start the Wisdom for Mental Health Bible Plan using Plans With Friends.