Depression can be one of the most debilitating and dangerous life issues we can experience. It can be caused by a variety of events such as grief, broken relationships, and even Spiritual conflict. Many experience depression for the same reasons, but in ways that are unique to each of us. Likewise, we may look for ways to overcome our depression, but we often end up only trying to manage our feelings and emotions. The Bible has a lot to say about depression and offers practical wisdom on how to address it. For this reason, it is important to know the Spiritual perspectives of depression.
Depression in the Biblical account of Saul
In the book of 1 Samuel 9-10, we find the account of how a man named Saul was chosen by God to become the first King of Israel. In his early years, Saul was known as a choice young man that was very tall and had a reputation for being the best young man around. He demonstrated consistent humility and self-control. In fact, God was so pleased with Saul that He had plans for him.
Saul’s father had some livestock and told Saul to go find them. Saul left to find the livestock and quickly sought out the Prophet Samuel for help. Samuel had been instructed by God that Saul would come to him and to anoint him as the first King of Israel. When Saul arrived, Samuel told him that the livestock had been found and invited Saul to stay and eat.
During this time, Samuel showed Saul the Word of God and anointed Saul with oil as he described what God wanted him to do. After Saul was anointed, God gave him the ability to prophesy. Saul left and went as Samuel had instructed to retrieve the livestock. He encountered some prophets and together they prophesied as they were empowered by God.
Afterward, he went to retrieve the livestock and encountered his uncle, whom questioned Saul about where he had been. Saul told him about his search for the livestock and his encounter with Samuel, but he did not mention anything about being anointed King or being able to prophesy. Afterward, Samuel announced Saul as the King and there was a celebration.
As the Hebrew Tribes gathered for the celebration, Saul was nowhere to be found. God revealed that Saul was hiding amongst their possessions, so they went to retrieve him. When they returned with him, they set him before the people and Samuel declared to all that Saul was chosen by God to be their King.
The amazing thing about this story is that Saul had everything going for him and went on to accomplish great things for God. However, in time, Saul began to do things his own way and ignored what God told him. He became self-willed, disobedient, superstitious, and consumed with jealousy. In time, we find that Saul became moody, gloomy, depressed, and even suicidal.
Through this, Saul made extremely poor life choices that greatly displeased God. We find that in time, God rejected him from continuing as the King of Israel and chose to anoint another King of Israel, David. From the time that David killed the giant Goliath, Saul was jealous of him and even tried to kill him later. Yet David maintained his respect for God and King Saul.
It was no small wonder that after God anointed David, Saul encountered a troubling spirit. Depressed, Saul called his aids to find someone to play some music so that he would feel better. His aids told of a great musician on a harp that was handsome and a Godly person. The person, David, came to Saul’s aid, became his armorbearer and play for Saul when he was tormented by the troubling spirit. The spirit Saul suffered from was depression. The songs David played for him? We know them as the Psalms, the lyrics to the songs. The result? The troubling Spirit departed from Saul (1 Samuel 16).
What can we learn from Saul’s experience?
Overcoming depression is not simple: Given what we can learn about Saul, this is not to say that trying to overcome depression is as simple as hearing some songs that contain the Word of God. However, it is one of many key elements to helping us to overcome any life issue, including depression. In the case of Saul, he continued down the path of trying to do things his own way, which eventually resulted in his own suicide. However, along the way Saul exhibited strange behaviors and made decisions that caused an extreme amount of problems not only to himself, but for others.
Even believers can suffer from depression: There is a belief out there that Christians should never be plagued with depression. The key word is “should.” We can see from the writings of Paul that he often struggled with being what some would call depressed:
Romans 7:18-25. (18) “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Notice in verses 23 and 24 where Paul describes the mental war going on in his mind. He adds, “O wretched man that I am!” The word wretched that he uses has the root, “wretch”, which means not only a vile and despicable person, but also someone that is mentally miserable, distressed, and depressed (1). This is a perfect description of the mental and physical anguish and difficulty that someone experiences when they suffer from depression.
What should we do when we suffer from depression? No matter what the situation, God did not intend for us to suffer alone in times of depression. This is especially true if we are so overwhelmed with depression that we cannot function, or we have thoughts of doing harm to ourselves. We may even do strange things. This is because we are not able to deal with the situation in ways that make sense. Eventually, if we do not address it we will say and do things that are extreme.
When we read the account of King Saul, you begin to think that he has become unhinged. This is seen especially when he goes as far as trying to kill David and even his own son, Jonathan (1 Samuel 18-20). However, notice what Paul said is the solution to managing the mental and physical anguish in verse 25: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
So then, the key to overcoming depression begins with having our minds set on the Word of God! (1 Samuel 16:14-23). When we do this, then God protects our thinking by giving us the mind of Christ (Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Peter 1:13-14; 1 Peter 4:1-13). It must be stressed that this is just a small fraction about what the Bible says that we can do to deal with any life issue, especially those that are unbearable and depressing.
It is also important that we have a support system. This is a system of support that is closely engaged until such time that we are able to resume a safe and healthy life again. Those that are part of a support system must consistently be there to make sure the we are able to maintain the activities of daily living. This includes such things as eating, bathing, personal care, and maintaining our living arrangements. Without such a support system, the potential to spiral into self-destructive depression, like Saul, becomes extremely probable and dangerous.
Most importantly, those involved as a support system must be competent and grounded in addressing the Spiritual aspects of depression. They must actively encourage those suffering to draw closer to God for the strength and direction needed to overcome it. Without such direction and support, they lack the ability to rely upon God and all the Spiritual aspects of getting through their depression. Furthermore, this will lead to worse physical, intellectual, and emotional fallout and dramatically increase the risk of harm to those suffering from depression.
Read also these Bible verses about overcoming depression: Psalms 51:8-12; Psalms 100:1-5; John 13:15-17; Romans 1:28; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 2 Corinthians 7:4-7; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:12-14; James 1:12-16; 1 Peter 4:12-19; 1 John 2:12-17; 1 John 4:4)
Resources: All Scriptures are from The Holy Bible, King James Version. (1) Google. (2018). “Wretched”. Retrieved from Google, https://www.google.com/search?q=etymology+wretched.
