Have you ever felt sad but don't understand why? Worse, have you ever experienced feeling a lingering and overwhelming feeling of sadness without understanding why?
If you have, then you could be depressed.
Depression is a condition characterized by periods of gloom and sadness. People who are depressed often feel sad, and may continue to feel sad even when good things happen.
Depression also causes people to lose their interest in something they normally enjoy doing. For example, a normally outgoing and fun-loving person, when depressed, might want to stay inside the house and watch movies and binge-eat.
No matter the manifestation, depression is a serious and debilitating problem that has to be addressed.
But how do you address depression when you don't know the reason for it?
When you don't know why you're depressed
Our hearts are very deceitful. God knows this so well He Himself said in Jeremiah 17:9,
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?"
This is the very reason why it seems hard for us to understand what's going on with us when we're depressed. We try to think of the reasons, but we find it difficult to understand.
Thankfully, God knows what's inside our hearts. He knows us far better than we know ourselves:
"And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)
God sees through us. He knows what's going on with us, and He can help us. After all, it's always His will to make us well.
Faith for healing against depression
To help you find faith against depression, here are a few Bible verses to hold on to. The Lord is good, and will help you overcome any struggle as you trust in Him.
God made you and has seen all your days - Psalm 139:13-16
"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."
We can count on God to know our real issues and lead us to righteousness - Psalm 139:23-24
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Christ wants us to be healed - Luke 5:12-13
"And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him."
Jesus paid the price for our complete healing - Isaiah 53:5
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
Dwelling in God's presence will heal you of your depression - Psalm 16:9-11
"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
