Books For Christians Struggling With Depression
I dont write this post lightly. Over the past several years the Lord has shown me, time and time again, what a need there is for encouragement among believers for those that struggle not only with depression, but any mental illness.
Read 5 Things NOT To Tell Your Friend With Depression
As Ive read books over the years, some have helped, some have not. Some have encouraged, some have not. Some point me to Jesus, others do not. So, I wanted to keep a list here of those that I feel truly are Biblical and point us to Jesus in our struggle. So, these books, of course, are only shared from my own experience. These are the books that have encouraged me the most.
Christians Get Depressed Too
This is a great book to help Christians understand that indeed believers can be hit with the spirit of depression just as nonbelievers. David encourages Christians to study depression and teaches some things that pastors, caregivers and others can do to help those that are suffering. ISBN-13: 9781601781000
What Causes Depression In The Bible
It is defined by the Bible as justification with faith from Gods perspective. The Romans 5:1, 9) are a perfect example. In the case of those who are not familiar with Jesus as Savior, guilt stemming from unresolved sin is among the reasons for depression. Pray and love to God, trust His Son to be your Savior, and take responsibility for your salvation as a result.
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Promises From God For Lifes Hard Moments
This is a beautiful little devotional book. Holley has filled its pages with 52 promises from God and encouraging insights on tough life seasons like anxiety, depression, brokenness, distractions, and more. I have learned that leaning on the promises of God is essential to fighting the spiritual component of Anxiety and Depression, and this book is designed to help you do just that.
As a companion piece, she wrote a little book of 100 shareable prayers and promises with easy-tear pages so that you can easily encourage someone else who needs it.
Scripture Quotes For Depression
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you be not dismayed, for I am your God I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Psalm 143:7-8 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
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Christian Books About Fighting Depression
Depression strikes all different people, in different stages and circumstances.
Whatever your situation may be, whether you yourself are struggling with depression or know someone who is, this list of books is a great place to start. Each one will help you develop a greater understanding of what you are dealing with, Gods role to play, and how you can find healing.
Spurgeons Sorrows: Realistic Hope For Those Who Suffer From Depression By Zach Eswine
In this book, author Zach Eswine delves deep into the life and messages of Charles Spurgeon and brings forth the wisdom that Spurgeon left behind for dealing with depression.
This book is a comfort to all who read it through writing that shows you your pain, and understands how you feel.
To purchase this book click here.
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What Does The Bible Say About Being Mentally Strong
In the words of Nehemiah 8:25 Give thanks to the Lord and be glad he is blessed. Dont fear, for I am with you dont be dismayed, for I am with you. With your right hand, I can lift you up, but you cant take me down. Exodus 15:2 Thats because the Lord is my strength, my song, and He has shown my way.
Christian Books To Help You Fight Anxiety And Depression
Are you looking for books to add to your Christian reading list? Todays post will help you add books about Anxiety and Depression to the stack!
As women, we were made to give life, but its hard to give life with our words, actions, and attitudes when were battling anxiety and/or depression.
Therefore, today were sharing 10 books related to the topic of anxiety and depression that we mined out of the sea of Christian reading material to help guide you in your reading on this topic.
There is a wealth of books out there on anxiety and depression, but we thought it would be helpful to pull together a list of book suggestions for this category from a Christian perspective.
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Scripture About Depression Nkj
There are quite a few scriptures that talk about depression and its various causes. Proverbs 12:25 gives us one of the main reasons people become depressed: Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. When we worry too much about the future or dwell on the problems of the past, it leads to an anxious spirit that then manifests itself in depression. James 4:6-8 tells us another reason for depression, which is humility. It says that when we submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God, the devil will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. But when we cleanse hands and purify hearts, He will not come near us. So depression can be a result of our own pride and self-reliance.
Hope In The Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not By Craig Groeschel
Everyone experiences suffering at one time or another, and Pastor Craig Groeschel has brought us a book on how to maintain faith in those difficult seasons. Suffering is a part of life, and learning how to deal with it is a vital skill.
Through personal experience and the story of Habakkuk, Groeschel has created a quick but thorough book to help you on your journey through that suffering as you learn to trust the goodness of God in every situation.
To purchase this book click here.
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Nothing Can Separate You From God
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord .
When youre haunted by the specter of depression, you feel very cut off from the love of God. Everything seems dark and bleak, as if there will never be another good thing in your life. You feel as though God has left you to wallow in the mire.
Nothing could be further from the truth. You are not outside of Gods sovereign will and gracious love. Because you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from Gods love. The only way God will stop loving you is if he stops loving Jesus.
Though you may feel alone and unloved, there is absolutely NOTHING, including depression, that can stop God from loving you.
Your body may be a broken down temple, but that doesnt diminish Gods love for you one bit.
Find Solace And Healing In These Helpful Books By Mental Health Experts
Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Depression affects both the mind and the body and is much more than just feeling sad for a while. Depression squashes motivation for even the simplest of tasks and creates feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Depression is like a barometer: it tells us that something is wrong, but it doesnt tell us what is wrong. Complicating the condition is the fact that it is experienced differently by each person, so an individualized treatment plan is essential for recovery.
Self-help books can be a useful tool in the overall picture of successful treatment. They can be used alone but shouldn’t substitute for treatment options like talk therapy and medication. Self-help books can even help to speed up the positive effects of talk therapy as self-study efforts provide added topics for processing in the therapy room.
Here is a list of the best books for depression, according to experts.
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Depression In The Bible: How Scripture Heals Us
Topics:PrayerBible Verses
Depression is an issue that tragically plagues millions, with the associated struggles often holding people back from fully living their lives. Scripture, fortunately, offers people plenty of advice on how to overcome related difficulties, though some important distinctions should be made about the types of depression that can impact peoples lives.
GotQuestions.org defines depression as a widespread condition that impacts people in both the Christian and non-Christian worlds. It can often come with intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue and a variety of other symptoms.
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Situational depression can often be overcome with time and help, as it is usually sparked by life events. Clinical depression, though, is quite different. GotQuestions.org has more:
Clinical depression is a physical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. It may not be caused by unfortunate life circumstances, nor can the symptoms be alleviated by one’s own will. Contrary to what some in the Christian community believe, clinical depression is not always caused by sin. Depression can sometimes be caused by a physical disorder that needs to be treated with medication and/or counseling. Of course, God is able to cure any disease or disorder. However, in some cases, seeing a doctor for depression is no different than seeing a doctor for an injury.
Here Are Some Of My Favorite Scriptures To Read During Dark Timessix Bible Verses To Read When Youre Sad Or Depressed
We could have listed six hundred, because the Bible is packed with encouragement, but well limit ourselves to six. Most are short and simple. Some speak of Gods love and faithfulness and concern for us as individuals others offer an eternal perspective on temporary troubles. I pray they minister to you as they have ministered to me.
Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
His favor lasts a lifetimejoy comes in the morning.
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted you consider their grief and take it in hand.The victims commit themselves to you you are the helper of the fatherless.
God sees us. He considerstakes time to ponder, to study, to care aboutour grief. He carries us, and our sadness, in his capable hands.
Dont be afraid of those who want to kill your body they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrowsone copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So dont be afraid you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
God knows ushe knows us better than we know ourselves. . We are valuable to him.
How to Find Godand JoyWhen Life Is Hard
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The Lord Renews Your Strength
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Depression can be exhausting. It can feel like youre dragging heavy chains around with you everywhere you go, sapping your strength and making it hard to do anything. Its not uncommon to struggle to even get out of bed when youre feeling depressed.
This Bible verse for depression is a huge source of hope because it reminds us that when our reserves of strength are depleted by depression, God will renew your strength. It can be a great relief to realize that you dont have to depend on your own strength. When you trust God for your strength you can find hope that you dont have to find your own way out of the depths of depression.
Jesus Will Take Your Burdens From You
Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:28-30
To get the rest from the oppressive burden of depression, Jesus tells us to take our burdens to Him. Jesus speaks of His yoke. A yoke is a device that was used in farming, where two oxen would be yoked together to pull a plow.
The Lord Hears Your Cry
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles .
When you are sunk into the valley of depression, it feels like you are totally and completely alone. Like no one cares, like no one is listening. You feel isolated, cut off, and like God has abandoned you.
But has not, and could never abandon you. When you cry to him for help, he hears and delivers. Maybe the deliverance wont come tomorrow, but make no mistake, it will come. God does not leave his people to wallow and blunder their way through depression and hopelessness.
He hears every cry you utter, sees every tear that rolls down your cheek. You are not alone. You have a good Father who is with you and for you.
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What Are Some Of The Strengths Of Killing Kryptonite A Bible Study For Depression
- John Bevere always cuts to the chase in his sermons, lectures and books. I believe he truly wants Christians to kick out the junk and live victorious lives in Christ. It takes some toughness to do so!
- He dealt with and conquered these issues in his own life before he attempted to share them with us. Lets just say he thoroughly and intimately knows his material! He teaches these truths in a very up close and personal way.
- The fact that Killing Kryptonite is now a USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller tells us that it is needed by many people. All of us want victory over our own Kryptonite.
Books About Depression And Anxiety For Your Christian Reading List
For easy browsing of this collection, checkout the anxiety and depression category on our Amazon storefront here!
I Changed My Mind by Jimmy Evans
Becoming a Christian doesnt fix all your problems.
Youre saved, but you arent freeyet. Your daily life is still plagued by the fear of failure and weighed down by worry. Bad attitudes keep you stuck. If you want to move forward, then you must be willing to change your mind.God shows us in His Word a better way to think. Are you willing to trust Him with your thoughts?
Next to salvation, changing your thinking may have the single greatest impact on your life.Change your mind.
The Book of Psalms Bible Reading Plan
How can we, as Christian women, keep our focus and sustain our passion when reading the Bible? Offering a clear and concise plan to help women go deeper in their study of Scripture, this book will equip you to engage Gods Word in a way that trains your mind and transforms your heart.
Spiritual Depression by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
When I Dont Desire God: How to fight for Joy by John Piper
We all want to experience liberating, love-producing, risk-taking satisfaction in God. But the reality is that we often struggle to find, and hold onto, true and lasting joyeven when we have embraced the good news of Gods grace. So we face a crucial question: What should I do when I dont desire God?
Running Scared, by Edward Welch
Christ doesnt say you can be or may be or will be free. He says you are free. Dare you believe it?
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Stage : Despair Can Lead To Destruction
When despair has taken hold, destructive choices often result. You want to feel alive and in control again. You want comfort and escape. These four common escapes become a temptation to those in despair:
Escape in Relationships Sometimes we run to relationships and sometimes we run from them in the midst of depression. In deep despair and depression, we easily distort what is really happening in the relationships around us. Unhealthy relationships and broken relationships often occur in the context of depression, which tempts us to ignore warning signs that we may otherwise see. Adultery is often preceded first by depression, and those seeking it are often seeking it to feel alive. Divorce is often preceded by depression as well.
Escape into Substances There is a high correlation between depression and destructive substance abuse. We want comfort and can find temporary relief in a bottle, pill container, or sugar rush. These provide only a brief respite from the pain. We know that substances dont work long term, but the allure of substances is the short-term relief they offer.
Escape into Isolation One of the common responses to the pain of despair is the desire to be alone. Those who are severely depressed often convince themselves that this is the only way forward. They desire help, but seem to be too frustrated and tired to seek it. One of the best things their friends can do is to come near and faithfully show concern and care.