Christ’s Victory Over Death (and Depression)

Key Passage: Isaiah 53

Devotional:

Depression...let’s be honest about it. Until recently, it was something that many followers of Jesus avoided talking about, and even more so, avoided admitting to struggling with it. It was the proverbial skeleton in the closet, meaning if it wasn't talked about, it didn’t exist. It was, and still at times is, associated with a lack of faith or trust in the Lord. Nothing could be further from the truth. And while the Bible doesn’t use the word “depression” in the way we do today, it speaks a lot about despair, sorrow, and hope. People like David, Job, and Paul experienced deep emotional struggles and seasons of darkness, yet they found victory in God.

Pain, sorrow, trials, hardships, grief, and so many other emotions that can lead to a season of depression, are real. What if you knew that Jesus understood pain, and He understands your pain? Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised...” There is no evidence that Jesus struggled with depression, but the Bible clearly points to Jesus understanding the emotional weight of the world. That is why in Matthew 6, Jesus could say “’Do not be anxious about your life,’” (v.25) and “’Do not be anxious about tomorrow,’” (v.34). A further dive into the biblical text shows verse after verse that point to a greater hope and victory over depression.

Some examples:

Psalm 34:18- “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 42:11- “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Philippians 4:6-7- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 12:9- “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

The darkness of this world wasn’t and isn’t foreign to Jesus. He experienced it in the flesh. He truly empathizes with the depth of human emotion. God doesn’t want you consumed by your despair, sorrow, or grief. He wants you to fully know that by His grace and power you can be triumphant over the burdens of this world. Yes, those feelings are real, but they don’t have to define you. Let the victory found in Jesus be what defines you.

Application Question: What is weighing you down and possibly fostering depression in your life? What do you need to do to lean into the Lord and experience victory (prayer, mentorship, time with God’s Word)?

Further Reading: Philippians 2

Written by Eric Heatherly