Patterns of Depression

Psalm 37:24

“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Reflections

King David faced trials of many kinds. While he experienced great victories, he also endured deep depression. In Psalm 6, he gives us a raw glimpse into his struggle:

“I am weary with my groaning; all night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes.” (Psalm 6:6-7)

Does this sound familiar?

Even when we don’t have physical enemies, the emotional battles—and the enemy of our souls—can be relentless. These struggles can lead us to doubt God’s goodness and pull us into a pit that feels impossible to escape. Fear, doubt, confusion, weariness, sorrow, and anger can build walls around our hearts and minds. The battle is real, and sometimes it feels like the enemy is winning. So, how do we fight back when depression weighs us down?

Practical Steps

• Get out of bed and get dressed.
• Take a 10-minute walk outside and breathe fresh air.
• Turn off negative influences—scroll less, compare less.
• Listen to worship music.
• Schedule one small task and complete it.
• Write encouraging Scriptures and place them where you’ll see them (Philippians 4:13, 1 John 4:4,18, Psalm 23:4, Job 42:2, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9, John 16:33, Romans 12:21, Isaiah 40:31).
• Be around people.

Depression pushes you to isolate, stay in bed, and neglect responsibilities. It replays your struggles and tells you there is no hope. But depression is a liar. Setting new, determined patterns and guarding your thoughts is essential in this fight.

David poured out his heart honestly before the Lord, but then he reminded himself of the truth:

“The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.” (Psalm 6:9)

He chose to trust in God’s mercy and willed his heart to rejoice in salvation:

“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 13:5-6)

Even in sorrow and pain, David clung to the truth that God had blessed him. That’s a hard perspective to hold in the middle of depression, but it’s an invaluable one.

Will you choose to rehearse these Scriptures and hold to the truth, no matter how you feel?

Prayer

Lord, I have felt utterly cast down in recent days. Please allow me to know truth, and not be overtaken by patterns of depression.