What does the Bible say about depression? From Elijah to Jesus
The Bible never uses the word depression, but describes deep sorrow in Elijah, the Psalms, Job and Jesus himself — and never calls it a lack of faith. Before God spoke to Elijah, he cared for his body with bread, water and sleep. Depression is a treatable illness, and seeing a doctor or therapist is not a failure of faith either.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
After a great victory, Elijah runs, lies down under a juniper tree and asks to die. God does not scold him: he sends an angel who touches him and says “Arise and eat”, twice, and lets him sleep — care for the body comes before any conversation.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
The psalmist talks to his own downcast soul and holds on to hope — “hope thou in God” — without yet feeling any change. The same question comes back in 42:11 and 43:5: in real life, sorrow does not leave in a single verse.
But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
The darkest psalm in the Bible has no happy ending: its last word is “darkness”. Even so it is a prayer — the psalmist keeps crying out to God in the morning — and it is in the Bible: there is room before God for those who cannot yet see a way out.
For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
Job describes what many people recognize in seasons of depression: sighing before eating, groaning, no rest. His friends tried to explain his suffering as punishment, and in the end God said it was they, not Job, who had not spoken rightly (Job 42:7).
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Jesus felt a sorrow “even unto death” and did not hide it: he told his friends and asked them to stay with him. Deep sorrow is not sin, and asking for company is not weakness.
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
The apostle Paul says he was pressed “above strength”, so that he “despaired even of life”. He does not hide how low he sank; he says it was there that he learned to trust the God who raises the dead.
Deep sorrow does not mean God has abandoned you: he is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). But depression is a treatable illness. See a doctor or therapist, talk to a leader in your church and to someone you trust, and do not carry it alone. Faith and treatment do not compete — God cared for Elijah with bread, water and sleep before he spoke to him. If you are thinking about dying, in the US call or text 988; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
Frequently asked questions
Is depression a lack of faith?
No. Elijah, Job, the psalmists and the apostle Paul went through deep sorrow without ceasing to be people of faith, and Jesus himself said his soul was sorrowful even unto death (Matthew 26:38). Mental illness is illness: depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have treatment and deserve medical care like any other.
Can a Christian take medication for depression or see a therapist?
Yes. Seeing a doctor, psychiatrist or therapist and following the treatment they recommend is not a lack of faith: Jesus said the sick need a physician (Matthew 9:12), and Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels, was “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Prayer and treatment go together.
What if the sadness turns into wanting to die?
Elijah once asked God to take his life, and God answered with bread, water, rest and company, not condemnation. If you are thinking about dying, it is a sign to get help now: in the US, call or text 988; elsewhere, call your local emergency number. And tell someone you trust.
