40 Bible Verses For Overcoming Depression

Depression is an all too common struggle for people today. In fact, depression affects over 18 million people in the U.S. each year. Depression is also the number one cause of disability in the world. According to a Gallup poll done in 2010, research has shown that those who consider themselves “very religious” report depression less often, about 15% of them are still dealing with it. Those poll findings show that being a devout religious follower doesn’t always make you immune to mental health issues. As Christians, we have the understanding that Jesus is our savior, and is with us in every struggle we face. Yet another poll done by the mental health charity, Kintsugi Hope, states that 91% of Christians report mental health still being stigmatized in the church.

My hope and prayer is that we as The Church would see that God’s word, God’s love, and God’s grace offers immense hope for those battling depression, not shame.

As you will see in this post, the Bible gives much hope for those dealing with depression. Here I’m going to give you 40 powerful Bible verses that give you hope in your battle with depression. I pray that these verses become some of your favorite Bible verses to keep on hand when times are tough.

All of the following scriptures are from the New King James Version.

Bible Verses For Depression From The Old Testament

Genesis 35:3

Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.

Deuteronomy 31:8

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

2 Samuel 22:29 

“For You are my lamp, O Lord;

The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Bible Verses For Depression From Psalms

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

A refuge in times of trouble.

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”

Psalms 55:22

Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalms 91:1-2

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalms 27:14

Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalms 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalms 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 34:17-18

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalm 30:5 

For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for life;

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:11 

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

Psalm 3:1-6

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!

Many are they who rise up against me.

Many are they who say of me,

“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

But You, O Lord, are a shield [a]for me,

My glory and the lifter of my head.

I cried to the Lord with my voice,

And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. 

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people

Who have set themselves against me all around.

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

Having sorrow in my heart daily?

How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;

Enlighten my eyes,

Lest I sleep the sleep of death;

Lest my enemy say,

“I have prevailed against him”;

Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in Your mercy;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,

Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 37:23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

Bible Verses For Depression In The New Testament

2 Corinthians 4:18

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

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1 Peter 5:6-11

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

John 15:7

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John 16:33 

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Revelation 21:4 

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

John 10:10 

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Romans 12:2 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Matthew 6:27-29

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

How To Use These Bible Verses

When using scripture as inspiration for your battle against depression, there’s many ways to make it an effective practice. Here’s a few quick tips:

• Read the verses in the full context. Read the entire chapter, and really take in the story being told. You may gain more out of it when you hear the entire scripture in context.
• Write them down, or print them out. Having a hard copy of these verses wherever you need them could be very beneficial. You could write them on an index card or a post-it note and put it wherever you want. Keeping these bible quotes nearby can be a great reminder of the goodness of God wherever you are.
• Write your own affirmation inspired by the scripture. Think of an “I” statement that would go well with the scripture you’re using, and recite it to yourself.
• Pray the scriptures. The Word of God is alive and active, and is an effective tool in prayer. Incorporate these scriptures in your prayer. Making prayer part of your daily life alone is a powerful tool, but pairing scripture with it is all the better.
• Don’t keep them to yourself, share them with a friend! Do you have any dear friends struggling with depression? Then share these scriptures or your other favorites with them. We all need encouragement to overcome any mental health struggle. Even something as simple as sending your favorite Bible verse in a text to a friend could be such a profound act of compassion. Not only do others need encouragement, but when we encourage others it lifts us up as well.

The Bible tells us to hide the Word of God in our hearts. So consider your own way to hide these words in your heart. When you find yourself in a depressed state, how do you think you can use the Word to lead you through?

Mental Health Resources

• Betterhelp – Is an online therapy service that makes therapy accessible and affordable for all people. They have a huge database of therapist with many specialties, and offer many ways to participate in therapy.
• Faithful Counseling – Is very similar to Betterhelp, but is a database of online Christian therapists. If you would prefer to receive therapy from a faith-based perspective, then this could be just for you.
• Brightside – offers online medication and therapy treatments for depression and anxiety. You can get an appointment with an online provider in as little as 48 hours, and each treatment plan is catered to your personal needs.

Resources From The Overcoming Mom

• My Battle With Postpartum Depression.
• Should Christians Go To Therapy?
• How To Help A Loved One With Mental Illness.