Saturday 18 February 2012

Bible verses that help with depression



Faithful blogging prompt #15 asks "When you are feeling overwhelmed or depressed what bible verses do you refer to?"

I've been thinking about this over the last few weeks, after all it's not as simple as it sounds because there are so many verses to choose from. I think though, after reflection and prayer, that this is the passage which had provided the most comfort to me in my darker day

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I know lots of people hate the idea that God can use our suffering to help others; but for me it has been a very healing experience. To know that I could come through an experience and apply the highs, lows and everything else to supporting others has been empowering and useful as I recovered from depression.

If you look closer at this passage you will also see that it does not refer to God using your suffering itself; on the contrary it talks about God comforting us so that we know how to comfort others. God never patronises or promises change or ignores or shirks what's real; God is available and supportive and great at listening - the very things we can then use with others.

What do you think about these verses?
Do you have verses that have helped you?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your post, Emma!:D I have been encouraged to go and look up some bible verses in my time of doubt and attack of negativity.

I just saw this touching bible verse, taken from Psalm 40:1-3;

"I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God."

Thank you once again & God Bless!

Dan.

LLM Calling said...

Fantastic passage Dan, thanks for sharing. God Bless

Tishia said...

I agree - it is hard to choose just one Bible verse that comforts you because there are so many. Thank you for participating in this blogging prompt.

Tishia
Faithful Bloggers Network Staff
http://www.faithfulbloggers.com

Debra Seiling said...

I have so many favorites, but instead of relying on one of those, I decided to thumb through the New Testament to see what stood out to me. I picked John 8, verse 12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Debbie
http://bible-passages.blogspot.com

GirlinAtree said...

Hi ,
I'm writing to thank you for starting this blog. I think it is so weird that we have reach out for help this way. I wonder what God thinks of this but if it gets Satan out of the way that's what's important.
I'm a SINGLE mom that is NOT happy with God. I cry in just stating this but He has left me all alone and all I do is wait and wait some more for my life to change. No food now, food stamps taken away, I get to see my son for awhile and then he has to go back to a man that has no time for God and is telling my son he doesn't have to either. my daughter is close but yet far away mentally too.
I feel ok but I don't have money for my medicine, so now is this some kind of miraculous healing? I hate the idea of going to my pastor for help and they make you feel so small or may refer me to tell someone else at church my story ALL OVER AGAIN.
I just wanted a family like everybody does why is God using me has his scape goat? I'm crying and I can't see Nobody's cares about anyone anymore please pray or something! see I'm in this cloud and He won't let me out I have to trust Him?

GirlinAtree said...

Hi Again Emma,
Do you really think any one can be resued from depression. With out any body to be home? Thanks GIAT

Joshua McGill said...

Depression is what we have in common as human. But with the help of our family and love ones, we can fight it and with God, we can assure we will be fine. Here is my verse.

Psalms 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.