Christians And Depression: How To Keep Faith During Hard Times

Medically reviewed by Majesty Purvis
Updated February 27, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Christian depression, like depression for anyone else, can be a mental health struggle that begins or worsens during a challenging time. Although life contains ups and downs, learning how to keep faith and remember God's love can be a skill that helps you push through even the most difficult circumstances. 

Research has shown that having a source of faith and hope outside of ourselves can be a supportive factor in maintaining positive mental health.

This doesn't mean that a Christian's life will be more comfortable than that of a non-Christian or that Christians won't face mental health challenges and need professional support. Rather, it indicates that Christians facing depression may be able to rely on their faith when overcoming their symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about struggling with depression as a Christian and how your faith can be just one resource to help you tackle challenges like mental illness.

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Mental health concerns can impact even the most faithful people

Bible studies: Spend time in the word to improve mental health

A lot of Christians spend considerable time reading their Bible. Whether it's for a few minutes or a few hours, reading the Bible is just one way to keep your faith strong. It's not magic, however. You can't merely crack open the Bible and expect all your problems to be suddenly answered or your mental illness to disappear. 

However, when you take the time to do Bible studies, your mind's thoughts are placed elsewhere: on the Bible's teachings, the inspirational stories about Jesus and King David, and all the uplifting guidance it contains. Rather than focusing on the negativity that depression typically creates, you can concentrate on something different and perhaps more positive. 

Consider how depression might make it as though you worship your mind. You might spend every second of the day in your head, putting weight on thoughts that are likely untrue, putting yourself down, and feeling shame about it. Although this is normal, it isn't always the best place to get your facts. Rather than putting hope and faith in what your mind is telling you, you can turn to your Bible readings and explore how its teaching may be helpful in your present situation. 

You might even seek out a Christian counselor or other Christ-followers who are also trying to overcome a mental illness or have done so in the past. You can work through Bible studies with them, which may make it more engaging and encouraging. 

Whether you do a Bible study with a group, alone, or in a counseling session, what matters is that you are spending time in His truth and applying the word of God to your life. Allowing that truth to take over your emotions and thoughts and fill your mind can be essential to maintaining your hope and faith in God and overcoming your depression. It can also give you a sense of spiritual growth and trust in the Lord that carries you through present and future challenges. 

Keeping faith when you’ve lost interest as a result of mental illness

Depression can cause you to lose interest in the people and things around you. You may not feel like cracking open your Bible or praying. Perhaps it has made you too tired to even try, or it's difficult to concentrate – this is a common side effect of mental health issues. When depression affects you and your mental health like this, keeping faith in God and maintaining hope often requires some extra effort and possibly some support from others.

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Although reading and studying require effort, several other activities may be far more manageable and worth trying. These activities can keep you connected to Jesus while simultaneously improving your mental health. Attempting one or more methods may help you hold on to your faith in God and make it feel as though your depression is not too big to handle. Consider trying one of the following:

  • Music As A Lighter Alternative: When reading is too hard or carrying on a conversation with God feels impossible, music might make things a bit simpler. For many experiencing mental illness, listening to a contemporary Christian music station gives them some necessary light. Others turn to Southern Gospel tracks to reconnect with God. If words are too much to handle, listening to an instrumental version of your favorite Christian song is another option. These songs can remind you of your faith in the Lord and the feelings of love, inspiration, and inclusion you experience from it in this world. Some songs might even lead you toward spiritual growth, improved mental health, enhanced self-love, and a renewal of your soul.
  • Christian Podcasts As A Guide: In the technology era that we live in, podcasts are a dime a dozen, and some are award-winning for their insightful help. Although you may not have the energy to get up on Sunday morning and attend a church service, there is a wide variety of Christian podcasts to choose from instead. For many Christians, merely listening to the words of a fellow believer can help ease their depression. It may provide them with hope and a reminder that the challenges they're facing can eventually pass. 
  • Prayer As A Cleanse: Mental health is all about what's happening in our heads. For those who are experiencing depression, talking to God can be an effective way to cope with your thoughts and overcome the troubles of the world. Saying things out loud and speaking to someone else may help your mind untangle itself. In some cases, God may even speak back, whether through words, signs, feelings, or in another unique way. 
  • Journaling Or Drawing To Express Yourself: If you have the energy, it can be helpful to journal your prayers, feelings, or unconfessed sins. Journaling can allow you to see how far you've come and how God has acted in your life. As time passes, you can go back, re-read your old entries, and see how things have improved from what they once were. This can give you a sense of hope that things can always get better, despite how dire life may feel. Writing can be cathartic in itself and help you express yourself. In fact, the American Psychological Association even promotes doodling as a form of emotional release.

Finding a bridge between faith and mental health

Many people express that it's their belief system that keeps them afloat during difficult times. When times get tough, focusing on your faith and love for God can help keep you strong and determined to heal and move forward. It can be crucial that the connection between mental health and faith helps rather than harms. 

There can be a stigma that reaching out for support, such as from a therapist, points to weak faith. Further, those who need to go on medication, like antidepressants, may be told that they simply need to pray more, read their Bible more regularly, or ask for healing from God. They might experience shame from other Christians who don't understand why they're meeting with a mental health professional or taking medication for their depression. 

Note that struggling with mental illness does not make you any less of a Christian. It also doesn't mean your faith is any less valid or strong than someone else's. Rather, reaching out for help is an act of bravery and shows that you trust the resources God has placed in your path. Just as faith can be a tool for healing, so can medication and professional guidance. After all, if you're a Christian, then you likely believe God allowed these resources to be created and even intended for them to be used. 

Seeking someone or something that is intentionally faith-centered, like a Christian counselor, may help you feel better about getting professional support. Mental illness is a challenge many face; maintaining a hold on your Christian faith may make that challenge a bit more guided.

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Mental health concerns can impact even the most faithful people

Online therapy for depression

If you're struggling with a mental health disorder such as depression, know that you don't have to go through it alone. By connecting with a licensed professional, you can learn how to manage and cope with your symptoms more productively. Finding the right therapist in your area can be difficult, particularly if you're searching for a faith-based provider. With online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a Christian therapist within 48 hours of signing up online. From there, you can use various means to connect, such as video chats, phone calls, or in-app messaging. If your symptoms make it difficult to get out of the house, online therapy makes it easy to keep your appointments by letting you speak with your therapist from the comfort of your own home.

Online therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention for a range of mental health disorders, including depression. In one comprehensive review, researchers assessed the efficacy of 17 different studies, finding that online cognitive behavioral therapy was just as effective as face-to-face therapy in treating symptoms of depression. CBT is a popular form of therapy for treating conditions like depression. It works by helping people identify and challenge their unhelpful, unwanted thoughts and then teaching them how to create newer, more positive thinking patterns. 

Takeaway

When you're a Christian living with symptoms of depression, it can be tempting to feel like your faith isn't strong enough; however, this is far from the truth. Depression can be a challenging mental health condition for anyone to live with, and it doesn't say anything about your worth or your strength. Just like physical illnesses, mental illnesses can happen to anyone. Getting the right support and treatment can be vital, and you can even connect with a professional who also comes from a faith-based background. With an online platform like BetterHelp, you can set your preferences to match with a Christian counselor and meet with them from your home or anywhere else you feel comfortable. Having their encouragement and guidance may help you cope with your symptoms more effectively and lead a healthier, more productive life.

Depression is treatable, and you're not alone
The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
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