7 Bible Figures Who Struggled with Depression

We rub shoulders every day with people who are desperate, hurting, and lonely.

We may not even be aware of the dark road they travel.

Sometimes we notice, but often we don’t.

Maybe we’re too busy, preoccupied, or overwhelmed ourselves.

To be honest, many days, we might be those people, the desperate, the hurting, the lonely.

Just needing someone to notice. To slow down.

To take time. To care. Though the Bible doesn’t use the word “depression” except in a few translations and verses, it’s often referenced by other similar words, such as “downcast,” “brokenhearted,” “troubled,” “miserable,” “despairing,” and “mourning,” among others.

Throughout the Word, there are a number of stories about godly, influential men and women of faith, who struggled and battled through dark times of hopelessness and depression.

Many of us may find ourselves struggling there today.

Depression in the Bible:

7 Stories to Learn From

But we don’t have to stay stuck there.

There’s hope.

Here are seven stories about depression from the Bible to remind us that we’re not alone in our battles:

1. David was troubled and battled deep despair.

In many of the Psalms, he writes of his anguish, loneliness, fear of the enemy, his heart-cry over sin, and the guilt he struggled with because of it.

We also see his huge grief in the loss of his sons in 2 Sam 12:15-23 and 2 Sam 12:18 - 31 .

2 Samuel 12:15–23 KJV 1900

15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

2 Samuel 12:18–31 KJV 1900

18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him. 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord. 26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name. 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

In other places, David’s honesty with his own weaknesses gives hope to us who struggle today:

“My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”  Ps 38:4

Psalm 38:4 KJV 1900

4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: As an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps 42:11

Psalm 42:11 KJV 1900

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

2. Elijah was discouraged, weary, and afraid.

After great spiritual victories over the prophets of Baal, this mighty man of God feared and ran for his life, far away from the threats of Jezebel.

And there in the desert, he sat down and prayed, defeated and worn: “I have had enough Lord, he said. Take my life, I am not better than my ancestors.”  1 Kings 19 :4

1 Kings 19:4 KJV 1900

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

3. Jonah was angry and wanted to run away.

After God called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach to the people, he fled as far away as could.

And after a storm at sea, being swallowed by a giant fish, and then being saved and given a second chance, he obeyed.

He preached God’s message to the people of Nineveh.

God’s mercy reached out to all people who turned to Him.

But instead of rejoicing, Jonah got mad:

“Now O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:3

Jonah 4:3 KJV 1900

3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

And even after God reached out to Jonah again with great compassion, he responded, “…I am angry enough to die.” Jonah 4:9

Jonah 4:9 KJV 1900

9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

4. Job suffered through great loss, devastation, and physical illness.

This righteous man of God lost literally everything. So great was his suffering and tragedy that even his own wife said, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9

Job 2:9 KJV 1900

9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Though Job maintained his faithfulness to God throughout his life, he still struggled deeply through the trenches of pain:

“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” Job 3:11

Job 3:11 KJV 1900

11 Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

“I have no peace, no quietness, I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Job 3:26

Job 3:26 KJV 1900

26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; Yet trouble came.

“I loathe my very life, therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 10:1

Job 10:1 KJV 1900

1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

“Terrors overwhelm me…my life ebbs away, days of suffering grip me. Night pierces my bones, my gnawing pains never rest.” Job 30:15-17

Job 30:15–17 KJV 1900

15 Terrors are turned upon me: They pursue my soul as the wind: And my welfare passeth away as a cloud. 16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; The days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: And my sinews take no rest.

5. Moses was grieved over the sin of his people.

In his feelings of anger and betrayal from his own people, Moses, as a leader, was about ready to quit.

He came down from his mountaintop experience with God, commandments in hand, only to find the Israelites in complete chaos and sin.

His heart-cry to God on their behalf was desperate:

“But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”Exodus 32:32

Exodus 32:32 KJV 1900

32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

6. Jeremiah wrestled with great loneliness, feelings of defeat, and insecurity.

Also known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah suffered from constant rejection by the people he loved and reached out to.

God had called him to preach, yet forbidden him to marry and have children.

He lived alone, he ministered alone, he was poor, ridiculed, and rejected by his people.

In the midst of it, he displayed great spiritual faith and strength, and yet we also see his honesty as he wrestled with despair and a great sense of failure:

“Cursed be the day I was born…why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” Jeremiah 20:14 , Jeremiah 20:18

Jeremiah 20:14 KJV 1900

14 Cursed be the day wherein I was born: Let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

Jeremiah 20:18 KJV 1900

18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb To see labour and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?

7. Even Jesus Himself was deeply anguished over what lay before Him.

He knew what was to come.

He knew that God had called him to a journey of great suffering, he knew what must happen in order for us to live truly free.

Our Savior and Lord was willing to pay the price on our behalf, but it wasn’t an easy road.

Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Isa 53:3

Isaiah 53:3 KJV 1900

3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

We can be assured, that in whatever we face, Jesus understands our weakness and suffering, our greatest times of temptation and despair, because he too traveled that road, yet without sin.

In the garden, through the night, Jesus prayed, all alone, calling out to His Father, asking Him for another way:

“And He said to them, 'My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.' And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, 'Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.'" Mark 14:34-36

Mark 14:34–36 KJV 1900

34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Mark 14:34–36 KJV 1900

34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

The Bible says that so great was his anguish, that he sweat “drops of blood.” Luke 22:44

Luke 22:44 KJV 1900

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

What’s true about all of these stories and many others is this: God was with them. Close. Near.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Ps 34:18

Psalm 34:18 KJV 1900

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

He was there in the good days and in the dark days too. He didn’t condemn them for their questions and pain.

He didn’t tell them to just tough it out. He reached down to their deepest pit of suffering, and lifted them out.

He cared.

He showed compassion.

He offered mercy.

He brought hope.

He instilled purpose.

He gave victory.

And He still works in the same way today.

Our world desperately need joy-givers, hope-bringers, those in our lives who will help us remember what real grace is and where lasting help is found.

The greatest truth is this, we have a Savior who understands our pain, who knows about every weakness and hurt, and reaches out with compassion and hope.

He is Healer.

Redeemer.

Restorer.

And friend.

He will never waste the seasons of suffering we face, but will use it, in some way, to bring good, to instill purpose, to help others, and to make us stronger.

Depression is a common, yet very treatable condition that affects many people in our world.

Yet statistics tell us that only about one-third of those who are depressed actually receive treatment.

This is unfortunate since 80-90% of those who do seek treatment often report feeling better within just a few weeks.

It’s also known that depression is the linked cause for over two-thirds of suicides reported each year.

Help is available.

Don’t feel the need to try to hide your pain, or struggle through on your own.

Talk to a friend or counselor.

Seek out professional treatment and care.

If you find yourself in dark places today, know that you’re not alone.

Not ever.

God knows your way, is with you always, and has good still in store.