Biblical Answer

Understanding Depression

Depression is a form of suffering that cannot be reduced to one universal cause. This means that family and friends cannot rush in to alleviate it with a simple solution. Depression often has spiritual symptoms such as guilt, fear, self-loathing, and other distinctly spiritual symptoms that cannot be treated by physical means alone. In order to combat depression, we must address its spiritual roots.

Practical Steps to Combat Depression

To combat depression, we must take practical steps to fight the spiritual battles that accompany it. This includes persevering in prayer, speaking psalms, and forcing ourselves to read Scripture and words of encouragement. We must also be on guard against self-pity, grumbling, and complaining, and instead choose to love God and love our neighbors. Furthermore, we must be willing to take our souls to task, asking for help and confronting our fears, anger, and selfish desires that may be contributing to our depression.

Spiritual Solutions to Depression

Ultimately, the best way to deal with depression is to find spiritual solutions. This means turning to God in our hearts, speaking psalms, and persevering in prayer. It means asking for help and confronting the spiritual roots of our depression. It means choosing to love God and love our neighbors, rather than giving in to self-pity and complaining. By taking these spiritual steps, we can find hope and alleviate the symptoms of depression. As the Bible says, "Hope thou in God" (Psalm 38:15). By doing so, we can find peace and joy, even in the midst of depression.