A Sword For The Battle: Depression

Depression.

That sinking, I can’t seem to shake this feeling. You feel defeat before you close your eyes at night and it’s your companion the moment they focus in on your surroundings the next morning. No matter how many well-meaning friends give you the “snap out of it” or “pray it away” talk, it’s still looming over you. You know God’s joy returns in the morning after a night of weeping, but you wake up and still feel like crying your eyes out. This feeling, this dreaded, overwhelming, suffocating feeling will not go away no matter how much you read the Bible, how many worship songs you sing, how many preachers you listen to and how many books you read. You just feel stuck and quite frankly, you feel hopeless.

Many of us have been in your shoes. Many of you don’t recognize those shoes at all. Regardless, there is a battle raging. The battle is in our minds, and we must use the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit, and engage in the battle.

Here are some verses to use when you are in a pit of despair and can’t seem to climb out. Allow God’s power to soothe your weary soul and help you find freedom.

I will fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. I will think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

The Lord hears me when I call to Him for help. He rescues me from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate me from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate me from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate me from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:11

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3