Anxiety and depression. What does the Bible say about it?

Anxiety and depression in believers

Anxiety and depression in believers is something that is rarely talked about, because to a certain extent it is frowned upon as a sign of spiritual weakness and lack of faith for many. Since, since these disorders are associated with anguish and fear, it is wrongly assumed that a person who believes in God and has a robust faith should not be anguished, much less fearful.

The truth is that the Bible has many examples of great people and heroes of the faith who struggled with these conditions, such as Moses, Elijah, Gideon, King David, the Apostles of Jesus Christ and many more. Which teaches us that being spiritually strong or having robust faith does not make us immune to the trials and tribulations that anxiety and depression bring to our lives.

As humans, we are clearly going to suffer from restlessness or worry about the future or events beyond our control, and we will also have periods of sadness or hopelessness that will affect our ability to function normally. The good news is that the Bible also teaches us that while it is true that we can suffer from these conditions, they can also be conquered.

We will share a brief review of the life of King David, who despite being revered as one of the greats of the Bible, is a clear example of a human being with a weak, long-suffering and troubled character, with many personal and family problems, the who suffered a lot with anxiety and depression in his life. We will see his emotional conflicts, fears and anxieties written by his own hand and we will also see how his relationship with God and his faith gave him victory over his problems in the end.

The hard life of King David.

King David was one of the most celebrated figures in Israel's history, revered for his courage, wisdom, and leadership. He was born in Bethlehem around 1000 BC and was anointed King of Israel by the prophet Samuel. David was a mighty warrior and led the Israelites to many victories against their enemies, including the Philistines. He is also known for his musical talents and is credited with composing many Psalms (poetic and prophetic songs) in the Bible.

Despite his accomplishments, David also had several failures and moments of despair. He was a human being with many moral and personal faults. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers, and arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. His son, Absalom, also rebelled against him and tried to overthrow him as king.

These events, among many others, caused David great anguish and led him to seek forgiveness and refuge in God. It is important to remember that in the end, David, despite his ups and downs as a human being, is remembered as the great king of Israel of old and as a champion of faith, who in his darkest moments did not give in to his sufferings. , but put his trust in God.

Moments of King David's anguish

King David was not immune to anxiety and depression. Throughout the Psalms he wrote, we see David expressing his fears, doubts, and worries.

Hubo muchos momentos en la vida del rey David, donde a pesar de su fe en Dios, tuvo sentimientos de duda y desesperación e incluso se llegó a sentir abandonado. En el Salmo 22, David escribe clamando a Dios: «Dios mío, Dios mío, ¿por qué me has desamparado? ¿Por qué estás tan lejos de mi salvación, y de las palabras de mi clamor?». Y continúa diciendo: «Como agua he sido derramado; dislocados están todos mis huesos. Mi corazón se ha vuelto como cera, y se derrite en mis entrañas.» (Salmo 22:14). Palabras que revelan la profundidad de la angustia y la intensidad del sufrimiento que pasaba en esos momentos.

La vida del Rey David no estuvo falta de pecados, tragedias y errores personales que le trajeron mucho sufrimiento, al punto que la culpa y la vergüenza le generaban mucha ansiedad y depresión. En el Salmo 38, escribe: «no hay nada sano en mi cuerpo; por causa de mi pecado, mis huesos no hallan descanso. Mis maldades me abruman, son una carga demasiado pesada.» (Salmo 38:3-4). Y continúa diciendo: «Estoy débil y completamente aplastado; sufro de angustia de corazón» (Salmo 38:8).

David's Restoration

David's writings, being a reflection of the state of mind and spirituality he was going through at that time, show us what changed his life completely after seeing himself dejected and ashamed of his sins and feeling abandoned by God himself. David comes to his senses and recognizes that the root of his problem was not recognizing his sins and human weakness.

In Psalm 32:3-4 David writes: “While I kept silent, my bones grew old in my groaning all day. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; My greenery became in dryness of summer. My sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said: I will confess my sins to the Lord; And you forgave the wickedness of my sin.”

Then in Psalm 51 he writes: “Have mercy on me, God, according to your mercy; according to the multitude of your mercies, erase my rebellions. Wash me more and more of my wickedness and cleanse me of my sin!, because I recognize my rebellions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, against you only have I sinned; I have done evil in front of your eyes,"

Finally, in Psalm 51:10, David asks God this: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!”

This resounding turn in his life and approach to God caused this despondent man who felt his whole world was collapsing to rise out of his anxiety and depression and become the champion of faith that everyone remembers to this day.

King David's Victory Moments

Despite his internal conflicts, the Bible tells us that David overcame his anxiety and anguish by seeking refuge and forgiveness in God, who gave him comfort and strength.

We know this because in the Ssoul 34:4David says: "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Luego, en el Salmo 27, David escribe: «El Señor es mi luz y mi salvación; ¿de quién temeré? El Señor es la fortaleza de mi vida; ¿de quién he de atemorizarme?». Aquí, vemos a David proclamando su fe en el poder y la protección de Dios; protección de la que antes dudaba por su sentimiento de culpa y pecado. Luego dice: «Aunque un ejército acampe contra mí, o temerá mi corazón; Aunque contra mí se levante guerra, Yo estaré confiado. (Salmo 27: 4).

We see a completely different David and renewed in his faith, positive and confident that nothing can be against him if God is by his side.

The continuing struggle of King David

David's restored faith in God did not mean that his struggles with anxiety and depression disappeared overnight. Many other events touched David negatively throughout his life. David lost a newborn son, one of his sons raped his own sister, also David's daughter, and his eldest son tried to overthrow him, years later. We cannot even imagine the level of anguish, despair and anxiety that these events could generate in the life of any person.

Sin embargo, su fe le proporcionó la fuerza y la esperanza que necesitaba para perseverar. En el Salmo 42, David escribe: «¿Por qué, alma mía, estás abatida? ¿Por qué tan perturbado dentro de mí? Pon tu esperanza en Dios, porque aún lo alabaré, mi Salvador y mi Dios» (Salmo 42: 5).

David reconoce sus sentimientos de desesperación y se anima a sí mismo a acudir a Dios en busca de ayuda. Luego dice: «De día el Señor dirige su amor, por la noche su canto está conmigo, una oración al Dios de mi vida» (Salmo 42: 8). Las palabras de David revelan su creencia de que el amor y la presencia de Dios están con él siempre, incluso en medio de sus luchas.

Lessons from the life of King David

David's hard journey through anxiety and depression teaches us that even the strongest and most faithful people can struggle with unspeakable emotional problems. It also shows us the power of faith in God to provide comfort and strength in the midst of suffering. And the importance of turning to God in prayer and seeking his comfort and forgiveness.

David's story also reminds us that our struggles with anxiety and depression are not the end of our story. Although he faced many challenges and tragedies throughout his life, David never lost faith in God's plan for his life. He continued to trust in God's provision and protection, even when his circumstances seemed dire. In the end, his faithfulness and obedience to God led to his greatest achievement: the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the lineage of Jesus Christ.

This is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can turn to God for comfort and strength and to learn from David's example and seek to trust in God's faithfulness and provision, even in the midst of our struggles with anxiety and depression.