5 Bible Figures Who Struggled with Depression

Depression is a condition that afflicts millions of people and is one of the human race’s most common and distressing afflictions. Christians are not immune. Proverbs 12:25 mentions depression directly, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression but a good word makes it glad.” Those suffering from depression can experience intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue and a variety of other symptoms. Depression is often triggered by life circumstances and can really pull you into the pit. There are numerous biblical references to depression. Scripture describes the struggles of people who suffered with depression even though they were faithful servants of God. These men did not suffer primarily because they were sinners. They suffered because they were human and were susceptible to severe pressures. It is likely that the first humans to expression depression were Adam and Eve, after they sinned against God. Fortunately, many Christians suffering from depression can find hope in biblical foundations. Here are five biblical figures who struggled with depression.

King David

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Even kings get depressed. King David was “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). Israel’s most illustrious kind – a giant killer from his youth – and yet also here was a man given to depression in the midst of his suffering. The depressions of David, as related in some of the Psalms, stem from any of several probable causes. If you have ever been depressed, you know the symptoms: faintness of heart, endless days, sleepless nights, tears, obsessive fear and numbness to name a few. As you read the Psalms, you realize that King David experienced many of the same symptoms of depression. But even in the midst of his depression, David is still able to sing praises to God.

Moses

Moses was worn out. He was weary. He had a lot on him. Think about it. The Creator of the Universe had come to him in the desert in a burning bush that was not consumed and had told Moses to go get the children of Israel and bring them out of Egypt. Moses tried to tell God that he was not the man for the job. He just knew that God was mistaken. Then God went ahead and insisted. Moses obeyed God and returned to Egypt, he had won the support of his people and confronted Pharaoh on their behalf in the Lord’s name and He had done everything right, to the very best of his ability. Then, it all went horribly wrong. At that point, Moses cried out in hopelessness and despair, filled with feelings of futility. He felt that God had let them down. But the truth is, Moses’ whole ministry would never have come into being if he had not cried out to God from within his earlier depression.

Job

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Job became depressed after suffering many personal losses – first his material possessions, then all his children. Then he was devastated by a grievous physical affliction. He broke out in painful boils. The Bible tells us “Job open his mouth and cursed the day of his birth…Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?...Why is light given to him who suffers, and life to the bitter of soul, who long for death, but there is note…[they] exalt when they find the grace…I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest but turmoil comes” (Job 2:1,11,20-22,26). Job is in a battle in which he does not understand why God is permitting his suffering. In fact, he accuses God to be the cause of it. Yet, Job’s endurance glorified God for it answered Satan’s challenge and showed the unseen spirits, as well as men, then and throughout the ages, that God’s people serve Him, not a mere return for spiritual benefits but because of who He is.