Handling Depression

In the Beginning

Approximately seven per cent of Americans, nearly fourteen million, experience depressive disorders. Since the bride of Christ is to go through the same experiences as the rest of the race (1 Corinthians 10:13), it is no surprise that true Christians often experience the same disorder. This issue of The Herald is dedicated to taking a Scriptural look at this serious ailment to see how some of the great heroes of the Bible fought this disabling problem.

The first article, Coping with Depression, provides an overview of the subject and shows the difference between clinical and spiritual depression.

Then we look at the lives of biblical individuals who struggled with this problem. Job’s Depression and Final Victory explores Job’s conflict with depression and how he handled it.

David at Gath analyzes the beloved king’s behavior and how he later repented of his actions when he wrote a psalm about his emotions.

Out of the Depths is a verse-by-verse study of David’s hymn of thanksgiving found in Psalm 130. He thanks the Lord for the many times God delivered him from all dangers, both real and fancied.

King Saul’s Woes shows us a king who was not successful fighting his mood swings. Even the therapeutic sound of David’s harp could not control him in his fits of rage.

Peter’s Discouragement looks at how Peter fought his battle with discouragement after he realized he had disavowed knowing his Lord and Master.

The Tears of a Prophet describes how the sorrow Jeremiah felt over the future of his beloved Jerusalem caused him to write an entire epic poem of his lamentations.

The concluding article, As a Man Thinketh, finishes our analysis of this subject and prescribes proper self-love, as distinguished from self-esteem, as an antidote.

If you are one of the many who has been discouraged or depressed, we hope you find this issue of The Herald of special benefit.