Depression: Biblical definition and response

Depression is a temporary emotional state characterized by exaggerated feeling of sadness and hopelessness that are not consistent with reality. Depression occurs when the discouraged feelings have stronghold in ones life where one doesn’t know what’s wrong and can’t seem to shake it off. In Biblical term, it is a downward cycle, which enslaves one in hopelessness and guilt, and when not reversed with upward cycle of righteousness, brings on a “slowing down or cessation of activity”[1], called depression.  It is a debilitating mood, feeling or attitude of hopelessness, which becomes a person’s reason for not handling the most important issues of life. We see it best in 1 Kings 19 in the life of Elijah where he goes through the downward spiral of feeling sadness and hopelessness that leads him into distress as he runs away from all his responsibilities, which we would call it as depression. We see the Psalmist in Psalm 42 and 43 go through such exaggerated feeling as he faces the oppression of the enemies. In both cases, they find their hope in God, not in their feelings or their situation.

The American Psychiatric Association has labeled depression as an illness based on DSM-IV criteria. In the medical world, it is considered a chemical imbalance. While there are organic issues that could drive depression such as low blood sugar, thyroid etc., depression in itself should not be called an illness. Chemical imbalance is a theory not a medical fact. Depression is a spiritual issue, and whilst medicine can cure medical illness and temporarily alter emotional state, it cannot cure the soul. Thus, it is important to understand depression (spiritual not the ones that is driven by medical illness as mentioned above) biblically to find the strategies to respond to it biblically. First, below are the biblical factors that drive Depression:

1. Feeling oriented living: Paul writes about disciplining his body under control in 1 Cor 9:27, which suggests that we should also have our feeling and emotions under control. Just like our physical body, our spiritual body and emotions and feeling are also the creation of God and are to be used properly for His glory even in dire situation. People who live by their feelings will not fulfill their responsibilities when they feel bad or unless they feel better. Instead of doing right or something about the problem when they do feel bad, they end up doing nothing, complicating the problem. As a result, the feelings are exaggerated and downward spiral of thoughts end up into depressive mindset. Similarly, a feeling oriented living bases their spirituality on unbiblical checkpoints such as their feelings, circumstances, which can lead one into a mindset of hopelessness. Our focus should not be to feel better, our main motivation as image bearers of God should be to honor God, regardless of our feelings and circumstance. We align our feelings accordingly, our source being the scripture.
2. Sinful habits: Sinful habits that go unbroken will bind us even tighter. Prov 5:21,22 plainly warns against the slavery of sinful habits. When those sinful habits are not broken, we see a downward spiral of wrong responses, which complicate the problem and leads into depression. We see that in Gen 4 where Cain sins and fails to repent by responding wrongly to God’s rejection of his mere offering. While warning Cain that his failure to repent would cause him to fall into deeper sin, God also provides hope in verses 6,7 as he graciously explains, “If you do right, you will feel right.” All Cain had to do was to repent and a subsequent change of behavior from sinful habits.
3. Emotion oriented: Depression in itself is not an emotional problem. Feeling sad and discouraged in itself is not bad and is God given emotions. It’s how we respond to these emotions that can be a problem. Again, we don’t live by our emotions, we live by faith, trusting and putting our hope in God and orienting everything including our emotions for His glory.

Below are Biblical strategies to respond to depression:

Our emotions are driven out of our heart attitudes, thus the bible consistently teaches us to change our attitudes/thinking, which will further change the behavior. Paul in Phil 4:8-10 starts by challenging us to think right (fill your mind with scripture) and practice what we have learned (obedience to God’s word) and it will result to feeling right as we feel the peace of God.

1. Change thinking:Below are few biblical ways to change our thinking:
   1. Rely Upon God for Hope:When it comes to depression, we need to start looking to God who provides hope. It is God who provides a way of an escape from temptation (1 Cor 10:31), provides strength to endure suffering (Phil 4:13) and is working all things together for good to make us more like Christ (Rom 8:28,29). Moreover, reminding ourselves of the gospel everyday helps us realize that we need God every second of our life and builds our dependency upon Him.
   2. Rely Upon God’s word:God not only provides hope but also provides answers in scripture. We need to rely on the scripture for our answer and to align our emotions as it is the word of God that is given to make us complete as Paul writes in 2 Tim 3:6-17 and contains all things that pertain to life, as Peter writes in 2 Pet 1:3. Thus in scripture, we find answers about our feelings, problems and about depression.
   3. Define Problem/Sinful Habits:We should define the problems, sinful habits, which drive our depression, so that we can establish and apply biblical principles to the specific problems.
   4. Focus on Praise and Thanksgiving: One of the main reasons why people are so feeling oriented and emotion oriented is because they forget God’s provision in their life and are not thankful to Him. Paul recognizes this unrighteous problem in Rom 1:21. Thus, reminding ourselves of the things that we can be thankful to God takes the focus off the feelings for ourselves and directs it towards the praise to God. Our feelings align with His glory. The goal is not to remove the depressed feelings, but to please God, be more like Christ.
2. Change actions:
   1. One of the ways people tend to lead their downward spiral of feeling towards depression is by isolating themselves. We see that in Elijah as he disconnected himself from the rest of the world and responsibilities in 1 Kings 19, and in doing so, he further complicated his problem. God used people, ravens to help Elijah. God is still using Pastors, counselors, and life-group leaders to encourage someone struggling with depression. Seek help, community, accountability.
   2. Get busy no matter how you feel. Don’t let your feeling define your actions. Let your focus on pleasing God fulfill your actions and responsibilities. Don’t fall into self pity session, fed by brooding, commiserating (mutual gripe sessions), failure to plan on eliminating onerous tasks from menstrual periods, getting behind, resentment, avoiding people, cutting corners, lying, excessive eating, refusal to eat, sleep loss, putting off decisions, and anything else that may lead to unpleasant feelings of guilt that conscience triggers etc, get to work instead.
   3. Take right biblical steps of actions. Either it be repentance for sins, or building dependence upon God and His word, as Paul writes in Phil 4:9, put the things that you have learned in the scripture into practice.

[1]Jay Adams, “The Christian Counselor Manual”, Zondervan: 1973, 375

*General source from Biblical Counseling Training Conference on Basics of Biblical Counseling held at Sunrise Baptist Church, Ozark, Missouri, taught by Dr. Kevin Carson and Dr. Bill Piatt.