Psalm 43:3

O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, So I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence.

Sounds like we're going on a hike, but you don't need to go hiking to find God's presence.  He's with you right now.  Think of the lantern, compass, and map as the methods God uses to lead you out of depression.  Think of healthy eating, exercising, and positive thinking.  It is a hike to get out of depression, but God is with you, leading you out.  Keep focused on God's word and let it light your way.  Dwell especially on the verses that tell you of God's deep love for you.  They are powerful tools against the negative thoughts that may fill your mind during depression.

Lord, thank you for being with me.  Fill my mind with your light and truth, so that I can find my way out of depression.  Amen.

Psalm 42:5

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?  Why are you crying the blues?  Fix my eyes on God- soon I'll be praising again.  He puts a smile on my face.  He's my God.

I have asked myself these questions, listed all the reasons I shouldn't be depressed, even scolded myself to snap out of this.  It doesn't work.  Why?  Because I'm sick.  I have a disease.  While the thinking component is important in recovering from depression, that's not all there is.  I also need to exercise, take medicine, eat, sleep, and fix my eyes on God.  Don't let this verse sound like a scolding.  My soul is cast down and disquieted because I have an illness called depression.  I have the "hope of the hopeless," however, when I fix my eyes on God.

Lord, I want to be praising you again.  I want my praises for you to come naturally and spontaneously, from my joyful soul.  Keep my hope in you.  Amen.

Psalm 41:11

By this I know that you are pleased with me; because my enemy has not triumphed over me.
Meanwhile, I'm sure you're on my side - no victory shouts yet from the enemy camp!

Now this is something to dwell on:  God is pleased with me.   He knows about the discouragement of depression, and how difficult it is to keep working toward recovery.    The Lord knows, especially, how easy it would be to give up.  God is pleased with you and your steps toward recovery.  God is pleased with you as you look to him for hope and strength.  God is pleased with you.  You may have trouble believing this.  You may even think depression has triumphed.  I say this:  depression cannot triumph because God is pleased with you.

Lord, fill my heart with the surety that depression cannot triumph over me.  Help me dwell on this:  I know that you are pleased with me.  Amen.

Psalm 40:2

He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud.  He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.

Are you in talk therapy?  I am, and it gets confusing sometimes.  The therapist takes my deep muddy thoughts, and helps me rephrase them into solid rocks.  Sometimes the shift is subtle, and often uncomfortable.  Our phrases about depression show it to be a muddy place.  We talk about "sinking into depression" and "crawling out of depression."  God is using my therapist to lift me out of the ditch, and he's not going to leave me clinging to the side, sliding back down.  He's going to set me on a secure rock.  I have the rock of God's unfailing love and mercy to stand on. 

Lord, let all my thoughts be built on the rock of your unfailing love and mercy.  Please help me rephrase any muddy thoughts with the truth:  I am your child and you are my God!  Amen.

Psalm 39:7

"And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?  My hope is in you."
"What am I doing in the meantime, Lord?  Hoping, that's what I'm doing - hoping."

"To stay in one place in expectation of" the Lord's presence is difficult, if not impossible, without hope.  One definition of hope is "to expect with confidence," making it the perfect companion for waiting.  Here I am, in a depression, confidently expecting God's compassion and mercy.  You might be disagreeing with that.  You don't want to stay in this place, and you aren't confident.  But is that true?  You're reading this devotion, and that means you expect God's word to comfort and help you.  Dwell on this:  I confidently expect God's compassion and mercy.

Lord, I confidently expect your compassion and mercy.  My hope in you may seem weak to me right now, but let me see it as a strength.  Let me, in any place, be confident in my expectations of you.  Amen.

Psalm 38:15

But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord, who will answer.
What I do, God, is wait for you, wait for my Lord, my God - you will answer!

The definition of wait is "to stay in place in expectation of."  With cell phones, computers, and 24 hour service, we have little need to wait.  Depression, however, involves waiting. What are you expecting?  Don't expect to stay in this place forever; that is a lie of depression.  Trusting God means I can be in this place, in this depression, and expect God's presence.  I can expect to feel his compassion and his mercy.  Expecting these things opens my heart to experiencing them.  How has God answered you today?  Write down the ways God has answered your expectations today.

Lord, depression can make me expect to suffer forever.  Help me expect your loving presence, compassion, and mercy.  Open my heart to recognize you in my life.  Amen.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.
Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done.

I commit my way out of this depression to God.  Certainly I know that I can't find my own way out.  I trust that the Lord is at work in my life, leading me out of depression to joy in him.  The second translation tells me to open up and hold nothing back.  That's comforting because I have been crying out to God, but not always in trust.  I can trust God to not only walk me through this, but also to use depression to deepen my faith in him.  God is doing whatever needs to be done to bring me to wholeness and wellness.  By trusting in him, I will recognize his actions in my life.

Lord, help me, once again, to put this depression in your hands.  Strengthen my trust in you.  Do whatever needs to be done, Lord, to bring me closer to you.  Amen.

Psalm 36:7

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
How exquisite your love, O God!  How eager we are to run under your wings...

Depression feels like walking in shadow.  It's difficult to trust what we see and hear.  It's difficult to trust our thoughts.  We may see problems where there aren't any, and be unable to make decisions about real problems.  But shadows can also be cool and comforting, a place to rest.  They can protect us and keep us out of sight for a while.  Picture yourself safe under the wings of God.  I can be comforted in the shadows of depression.  I can look at it as a time to find comfort in my Lord, under the wings of his love and guidance.  This is an opportunity to build trust in God's steadfast (unchanging) love.

Lord, your love never changes.  Guide me to run under your wings for comforting rest.  I know that only you can help me feel safe and protected during depression.  Amen.

Psalm 35:28

Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.
I'll tell the world how great and good you are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.

This psalm has plenty of verses about what life is doing to me.  This psalm has plenty of verses pleading with God for mercy.  Finally, this psalm makes a deal:  rescue me and I will praise you.  Faith tells us that God's rescue is the only way through this, and he is at work right now.  What if we start fulfilling our end of the bargain?  What does shouting Hallelujah do to depression?  Maybe it's a good time to find out.  I've shouted pleas, complaints, and sobs.  Could it be possible to shout a word of praise?  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah! 

Lord, open my heart to singing your praises.  It feels awkward and forced, but I know that I was created to praise you.  Even in depression I will praise you.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Amen.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.


Sometimes I wonder if God is using depression to help me catch my breath.  He saw me on a path that was crushing my spirit.  When the depression took over, he was near.  He is near.  I am brokenhearted and crushed in spirit.  God is near, saving me.  I may be tempted to think that my broken heart and crushed spirit mean that God has abandoned me.  Not true.  God does not guarantee his path to be free from pain and suffering, but he does promise to walk us through it.  Keep dwelling on the signs that God is near.  Use this time with God to catch your breath.

Lord, I am brokenhearted and you are near.  Lord, I am crushed in spirit and you are saving me.  Let me use this time with you to catch my breath.  Amen.

Psalm 33:15

...he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.

You are not alone.  God created you and he is still watching out for you.  It may not  feel like he's watching out for us when we're sick with depression, but he is.  Think of the ways he has helped you through this.  Who is he using to help you get well?  We have prayed for guidance in identifying the lying thoughts of depression.  What lying thoughts has he helped you identify and even eliminate?  We have prayed for truth in our thoughts.  What truths has he planted in your mind?  God created you and he is still watching out for you.  Dwell on that thought.

Lord, you created me and you are watching out for me.  What a blessing that is!  Help me dwell on the blessings you have given me.  Amen.

Psalm 32:5

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God."  Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.

Sometimes I try so hard to be responsible for my depression.  I look at my failures and character flaws as if they point to the reason I'm depressed.  This psalm tells us otherwise.  God forgives us our sins and our failures.  An iniquity is "a wicked act."  God forgives even wicked acts.  You are forgiven for who you are and what you've done.  Not only does he forgive you, but as we learned in Psalm 18, he delights in you!  If God were holding on to your iniquity, he would not be able to delight in you.  Embrace God's forgiveness and be delighted in who you are.

Lord, there is no reason for me to hold on to my sins when I have your forgiveness.  Help me to fully experience your forgiveness.   Let it lead to feeling delighted in who I am.  Amen.

Psalm 31:14

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."
Desperate, I throw myself on you:  you are my God!

I have read over and over how God uses life's difficulties to bring us closer to him.  Is God using depression to bring you closer to him?  Yes.  When I first realized that I was in a major depression, I somehow found the energy to research on-line, read books, and put my trust in a psychiatrist and a talk therapist.  I groaned and prayed to God for an end to this, but trust?  I turned to the 23rd Psalm, which I read over and over each day.  That was how I realized that the help I was desperate for could only come from God.  In my life, God is using depression to bring me to him, trust him, and say, "You are my God."

Lord, help me to feel you at work in this depression.  Lead me to put my trust in you.  Let me exclaim, "You are my God" in my desperation and in my joy.  Amen.

Psalm 30:2-3

O Lord, my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.  O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.  God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down and out.

Depression is giving you another chance at life.  No matter what the cause, or combination of  causes, there is a way through and you will be different.  Sometimes I cry that I'm lost and will never be myself again.  That's partly true.  I tell myself that the joyful parts of me are still there and will show themselves again.  It's the part that led me into depression that will be different.  Pay attention to the different aspects of your recovery:  the medical, the psychological, and the self-care, like diet, exercise, and stress reduction.   God is using them to restore you to life.

Lord, let me see the ways you have healed me.  Guide me in all aspects of recovery, and work through them to give me another chance at this gift of life.  Amen.

Psalm 29:11

May the Lord give strength to his people!  May the Lord bless his people with peace!
God makes his people strong.  God gives his people peace.

I like the second translation better because it's happening right now.  God is giving you strength and peace right now.  He has been all along, and he will continue to do so.  The problem is, depression can make it difficult to believe it.  I assume that if I had God's strength and peace I'd feel fine and not depressed.  I have to look for God's strength and peace in my life.  Seeking treatment is a sign of strength and peace.  Being active, to whatever degree, is also a sign.  Every step you take in your recovery is because of the strength and peace given to you by God.

Lord, in depression I can feel weak and hopeless.  Open my heart to the strength and peace you give me.  Help me to recognize them working in my life.  Amen.

Psalm 28:1

To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me,  I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Don't turn a deaf ear when I call you, God.  If all I get from you is deafening silence, I'd be better off in the Black Hole.

A black hole is "a celestial object that has a gravitational field so strong that light cannot escape it."  I was going along, living my life, and then I got sucked into the black hole of depression.  I felt so out of reach that light couldn't find me.  But look at the definition:   depression keeps light from escaping you.  Depression might be hindering your inner light from shining through, but it's still there.  You are still you, a unique individual loved by God, and as you recover from depression more and more of your inner light will escape and shine on those you love.

Lord, keep me mindful of being your beloved unique creation.  Guide my recovery so that my inner light can shine as you intended.  Amen.

Psalm 27:8

"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!"

You are seeking God's face.  There is hope in you, hope that God is with you.  Even in depression, your heart whispers, "Seek God," and you respond.  Grab on to that hope, because hope is a very important aspect of treating any disease.  Since depression involves a feeling of hopelessness, any glimmer of hope is even more important in your treatment.  Your hope is also very well-founded, because all information about depression states that it is often successfully treated.  Accept depression and treat depression.  Remind yourself of your hope, and continue to seek God and his comfort.

Lord, I know that any whispers in my heart come from you.  Keep me focused on the signs of faith and hope in each day.  Keep me focused on recovery, so that I may serve you and glorify you.  Amen.

Psalm 26:3

For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
So I never lose sight of your love, But keep in step with you, never missing a beat.

I do not feel in step with God right now.  I do not feel his steadfast love in depression.  In fact, depression makes me feel separated from God, unloved by God.  That is how I feel, but that is not what I believe.  I believe that God is with me, loving me.  I believe that the way depression makes me feel is a lie, but God's love for me is true.  I believe that depression is temporary, but God's love for me is eternal.  These beliefs give me the strength to challenge the lies of depression, and counter them with thoughts that are true.  I may be taking baby steps, but I am walking with God.

Lord, it would be too easy to believe the feelings of being separated and unloved.  Fill me with thoughts of you lovingly walking me through depression, back in step with you.  Amen.

Psalm 25:17

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Use all your skill to put me together; I wait to see your finished product.

Integrity:  "an unimpaired condition."  God is using all his skills to put you together into an unimpaired condition.  God is working through your professionals and the people you love, and God is working through you.  Yes, each step that you take toward integrity shows God working in and through you.  We're waiting for healing, but we can't just wait.  Recovery requires action.  Look for the opportunities for action God provides you today: opportunities to move your body, appreciate beauty, and smile. 

Lord, as much as I want to leave this depression, sometimes it's difficult to act healthy.  It's so tempting to isolate myself.  Help me say yes to the opportunities for action that you provide today.  Amen.

Psalm 24:5

They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
God is at their side; with God's help they make it.

A blessing is "a thing conducive to happiness or welfare."  You and God both want the same thing:  your happiness and welfare!  That is such a relief.  God is at your side, helping you through this depression, and leading you toward happiness and welfare.  You aren't alone here.  You have set your eyes on God and the hope that he brings, and he is helping you to make it through this.  Think of the people who are a blessing to you right now.  Think of the treatment decisions you've made that are a blessing to you right now.  Think of God at your side, blessing you.

Lord, it's so hard to recognize your blessings.  Help me to trust that you are at my side, blessing me now and preparing blessings for my future.  With your help I will make it.  Amen.

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk by my side.  Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.

This one is hard because I am afraid.  I'm afraid I'll make the wrong decisions, I'm afraid I'll never feel like myself again, and I'm afraid that this dark valley is my new home.  The shepherd's crook is for hooking around the sheep and pulling it back where it belongs.  I've pictured myself in the shepherd's crook with God pulling me up, out of the dark valley.  So how do I answer my fears?  I dwell on the image of God pulling me out of depression.  I accept depression and treat depression knowing God is with me.  This dark valley is not my new home.

Lord,  calm my fears and lift me out of this dark valley.  Guide me and the people helping me, so that I can see more of your light each day.  Amen.

Psalm 22:24

For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around.  He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.

Despise means "to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful."  Negligible means "...so unimportant or of so little consequence as to warrant little or no attention."  I would say that feeling negligible and worthless warrants a diagnosis of depression and much attention.  You may despise yourself and your illness, but your thoughts on this don't count here.  God does not despise you or your depression; he is with you, strengthening you and listening to you.   Answer your negative thoughts:  "God does not despise me or the depression.  He hears me when I cry to him."  And keep crying to him!

Lord, depression can make me despise myself.  Keep me focused on you and your love for me.  Open my heart to feel you right here, listening.  Amen.

Psalm 21:13

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!  We will sing and praise your power.
Show your strength, God, so no one can miss it.  We are singing the good news!

You may be telling yourself that if you were strong, you wouldn't be depressed.  You may not be feeling strong enough to make decisions about treatment:  hospitalization, medication, therapy, alternative therapy, exercise, getting out of bed...  It's overwhelming!  Think like a psalmist:  all victories come from God and his strength.  Wherever you are on this journey, from raising your head to making a major life decision and anything in between, exalt God for his strength.  Exalt, by the way, means "to raise high by praise."  Praise God by reciting this verse today.  Be strengthened by it.   

Lord, help me to think like a psalmist, looking for victory through your strength.  Especially guide me in the treatment decisions, both big and small, that I face each day.   Amen.

Psalm 20:4

May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans.
(God) give you what your heart desires, accomplish your plans.

My heart's desire?  I want to forget medications, doctors, therapy, and side effects.  I want to live my old life and not have any "side effects" from that, either.  I want to be the strongest, most resilient, most faithful, most joyful person ever.  Those are wishes and it is very unlikely that those wishes will be granted.  When you accept depression, your plans have to shift, maybe subtly or maybe drastically.  Remember, though, that depression is just one part of you.  Identify your gifts by knowing your heart's desire, and then make your plans.  God will work with depression or in spite of depression to fulfill your plans.

Lord, it can feel like depression is all there is to me.  Help me recognize my heart's desire so that I know how to serve you.  Fill me with hope to make plans and, with your grace and guidance, to fulfill those plans.  Amen.

Psalm 19:8

...the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.  The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.


My life-map right now is filled with recovery.  I'm taking medication, going to therapy, walking every day, examining negative thoughts, eating right, writing "gratitudes," petting the dog...anything to feel better!  But it's not enough to feel better.  Through his Word and the people in my life, God is showing me the way to joy.  Depression is so tricky, and some days I'm still on Psalm 3, lifting my head.  I read these verses and I yearn to feel the words:  rejoicing, enlightening, joy.  These are for me.  These are for you.  Dwell on this:  God is working in you to rejoice your heart and show you the way to joy.

Lord, keep me on your life-map and lead me to rejoicing and enlightenment and joy.  Keep my heart yearning for them, knowing that you intend me to have them.  Help me to recognize, each day, the rejoicing, enlightenment, and joy you provide.  Amen.

Psalm 18:19-20

He brought me into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.  The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved - surprised to be loved!  God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.

There it is again:  acceptance.  In trying to figure out my depression and fight my depression I have to hang onto it.  If I accept it, along with the treatment and the side effects of treatment, I can place all the pieces before God.  And what happens then?  God makes my life complete!  Place all the pieces before God:  the genetics, the chemicals, the psychology, the past, the present, and the worries about the future.  You cannot figure this out, but God can.  Not only can he, but he wants to.  Why?  Because he delights in you.  Dwell on that:  God delights in you.

Lord, help me accept my limitations and all the pieces of this depression puzzle.  In my acceptance, I give you the all pieces knowing you will work this out for my good.  Fill my heart with knowing that you delight in me.  Amen.

Psalm 17:5

My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
I'm trying to get your way, your Word's way.

I've been repeatedly told that depression is a disease and it's not my fault, but I keep thinking about where I went wrong and how I ended up here.  In my mind, that's the only way to figure out how to fight depression and avoid it in the future.  But focusing on where I went wrong keeps me in a state of fear.  Maybe it's only by accepting this disease that I can let go of the blame and focus on the recovery.  The path I'm on involves medication, talk therapy, and decisions.  Trusting, through his Word, that God is with me on this path, I know that even depression can become a reason to glorify God.

Lord, my thoughts can keep me in a state of self-blame and fear.  Lead me to acceptance so that I can feel at peace in my decisions.  Open my heart to feel you with me on this path.  Amen.