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.

There were many moments in the life of King David, where despite his faith in God, he had feelings of doubt and despair and even felt abandoned. In Psalm 22, David writes crying out to God: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from my salvation, and from the words of my cry? And he goes on to say: “I have been poured out like water; dislocated are all my bones. My heart has become like wax, and it melts in my bowels." (Psalm 22:14). Words that reveal the depth of the anguish and the intensity of the suffering that was happening in those moments.

King David's life was not without sins, tragedies and personal mistakes that brought him much suffering, to the point that guilt and shame generated a lot of anxiety and depression. In Psalm 38, he writes: “There is nothing healthy in my body; because of my sin, my bones find no rest. My wickedness overwhelms me, they are too heavy a burden." (Psalm 38:3-4). And he goes on to say: “I am weak and completely crushed; I suffer with anguish of heart” (Psalm 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."

Then, in Psalm 27, David writes: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?". Here, we see David proclaiming his faith in God's power and protection; protection that he previously doubted because of his feeling of guilt and sin. Then he says: “Though an army encamp against me, or my heart shall fear; Even if war rises against me, I will be confident. (Psalm 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.

However, her faith gave her the strength and hope she needed to persevere. In Psalm 42, David writes: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed inside of me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42: 5).

David acknowledges his feelings of despair and encourages himself to turn to God for help. Then he says, “By day the Lord directs his love, by night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8). David's words reveal his belief that God's love and presence are with him always, even in the midst of his struggles.

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.