Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
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Bible Verses About Depression
Depression is not absent from Scripture — the Psalms are full of it, and even great figures like Elijah collapsed under its weight (1 Kings 19). The Bible offers no quick fixes, but it does offer a God who is near to the brokenhearted and who tends to the exhausted with care.
Psalm 42:11
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Read verseMatthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Read versePsalm 40:1–2
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
Read verseLamentations 3:22–23
“It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Read verse2 Corinthians 4:8–9
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
Read versePsalm 147:3
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Read verseIsaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Read versePsalm 30:5
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Read verseRomans 8:26
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
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Common Questions
What does the Bible say about depression?
The Bible shows many figures experiencing deep depression — Elijah (1 Kings 19), David (Psalms 42, 88), Jeremiah (Lamentations). Psalm 34:18 directly addresses it: 'The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.' God's response to Elijah in the depths was not a lecture but food, rest, and presence.
Is depression a sin according to the Bible?
No. Depression is never described as a sin in Scripture. Many of the most faithful people in the Bible experienced profound despair — Job, David, Jeremiah, Paul. The Psalms were written partly as prayers from the depths of depression. Seeking help — including professional help — is consistent with biblical wisdom.
What is a good Bible verse for someone who is depressed?
Psalm 42:11 names the experience and points toward hope: 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him.' It models honest conversation with one's own soul and redirects toward God without dismissing the pain.
How did God help Elijah when he was depressed?
In 1 Kings 19:5, after Elijah collapsed under a juniper tree and asked to die, 'an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.' God's first response to Elijah's depression was not theology but physical care — food, water, and rest. Only later came the commission.