Off the top of my head, biblical people who showed signs of depression:
1. Adam &Eve - desperately looking to their offspring to get them back to Eden - yet God blessed them.
2. Cain - killed his brother over jealousy - God protected him with a mark.
3. Noah - got so drunk his sons had to cover him - yet considered righteous by God.
4. Abram - so disappointed he was without child took matters into his own hands and lost his firstborn son. He almost gave his estate to his servant.
5. Isaac - mourned his mother's death and only a wife could comfort him.
6. Jacob - wanted his daddy's love and blessing so much he became deceptive and lost all of his immediate family over it. He became Isreal the father of tribes of Isreal.
7. Joseph - I'm sure went through several depression periods, but the biggest one we see is when he left the room hysterical full of grief when he then revealed his true identity to his brothers. He also took comfort by taking a wife.
8. Moses - killed an Egyptian out of dispair. Was depressed about his speech impediment and refused to do what God asked of him (the Living God appeared to him I need a bush illuminated by fire that didn't burn the LIVE bush!). He also, became overwhelmed with the multitude on several occasions. Hit the water supply out of dispair of the clamoring multitude and then was denied entrance into the promiseland but could only see it from afar (that would make anyone depressed).
9. Joshua - having the faith to tackle the giants but being punished with the ones with little faith (those 40 years were emtional filled, I'm sure).
10. Naomi - lost her whole family. Yet a few generations later, King David was her heir.
11. King David - just read the psalms... depression haunted him! Yet, "He was a man after God's own heart." Hmmmmm
12. Jeremiah - the lamenting prophet.
13. Hosea - His wife was a prostitute, yet he bought her back! Uh yah... no words for that one.
14. Job - Just read the book! His helpmate told him to curse God and die! I think she was depressed too! Uh, yeah... beyond depressed.
15. Actually all of the prophets were depressed... just READ them.
16. Mathew & Zacheaus were despised by their own countrymen because of their profession. It had to be depressing even though it made them rich. Wealth doesn't bring contentment.
17. Peter - denied Christ after he swore he would die for Him.
18. John - stood and watched Jesus die with Mary's heart being pierced. Dispair...
19. Judas - 30 shekels clanging to the ground as he realized he sold his soul and he hung himself. Highly doubtful he converted or was a believer. - only God knows.
20. Martha - sad and depressed that her sister got to just sit there while she did all the work.
21. James, Jude and Jesus' other siblings... Can you imagine having a sinless brother?!?
22. John the Baptist - living all alone in the desert spells depression. But we really see it when he asks for a sign while he was waiting in prison. In depression he desperately FORGOT the Father said in his hearing, "This is My Son in Whom I am well plessed."
23. All of Jesus' disciples...
24. Paul - I don't think he ever got over the persecution of Jesus followers. Read Romans 7
25. Timothy was the pastor at Ephesus where John the beloved was an elder... I mean, that intimidation alone can make your stomach hurt. But there were also, "wild beast in Ephesus!" I could only image what that meant... power hungry leadership trying to run the church? Pagan influences attacking the church? Not sure, but Paul fought them and warned Timothy about them.
26. Philemon - had to accept his run away slave as a brother. And the letter was read in front of the church so he let him free I'm sure.
27. The Thesselonias - thought, "Why work?" Jesus is coming back. Yet, he wasn't there yet... Paul had to get them refocused to do Gospel work.
28. The Hebrews addressed in the book of Hebrews, were stuck in complacency; only taking in the basics of the faith, instead of going deeper and instructing others.
29. The hallmark of the faithful in the book of Hebrews... none of them saw the fulfillment of the promises given to them here on earth. Just read Hebrews 11... we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
30. John the beloved fell to the ground in dispair with the vision of the angel, and of the vision of Heaven. He wept (in utter dispair) because of the 7th seal! Read Revelation 5.
31. The whole world. Read Revelation 6-18.
After reading these breif reference that I just remembered off the top of my (there are many more in the Scriptures). There is a connection between being poor in Spirit and finding God, read Matthew 5:1-12.
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Don't miss the correlation of depression and the need of God to save. Romans 10: 9-10.
My great need helped me look for Jesus and it was in that despair I found Him. My sorrow turned to gladness, and my despair turned into joyful song.
Darla J. Smith
