The apostle Paul had some experience with depression, but he always made a comeback. He wrote about being content in every situation, whether hungry or satisfied, with plenty or with nothing. Jeremiah lived in a state of despair most of his life. King Jehoiakim cut Jeremiah’s scroll into shreds and burned it (Jeremiah 36). However, God told Jeremiah to write it again (actually dictated to the scribe Baruch)—a long, hard job in 600 bc. Jeremiah suffered near-death prison time in a cistern with water up to his neck—an early version of water boarding? In Lamentations 3, he expressed his bitter feelings. Hope faded. But a new day dawned when Jeremiah discovered that God’s mercies are new every morning. He wrote that man needs to wait for God’s deliverance. With God’s help, we too can get through tough times.
1. Genesis 27:46; 28:1–5. Why was Rebecca depressed about her son Jacob? Who helped her? How can we help people with difficult decisions avoid despair?
2. Numbers 11:10–17. Why did Moses feel depressed and blame God for his troubles? What did he ask God to do? What answer did God give Moses? How can we apply this story in our own lives?
3. Numbers 21:4–5. Why were God’s people impatient and upset? Why did they blame God and criticize Moses for their predicament? Why were they in the desert in the first place? What daily routines today can be depressing?
4. Joshua 7:5–12. What did Joshua do in this stressful, daylong experience? What was his regret? What was God’s answer?
5. 1 Kings 19:1–8. Why was Elijah in the desert? What did he want God to do to him? Have you ever felt like Elijah? How do bad experiences sometimes bring about good decisions?
6. Psalm 142:1–7. Who will listen to our complaints? What bad can happen when we are in the right place? What is our resource when no one seems to care about us?
7. Jonah 4:1–11. Why did Jonah say it would be better for him to die? Did he need a new focus? What would happen to our depression if we obeyed God?
8. Matthew 27:46. What did Jesus say as He was dying? Why did it feel like God had left Him? If Jesus could be depressed, this would certainly be the time.
9. Luke 15:20–21. What brought on the depressed state of the prodigal son? When a person’s friends and money are gone, will depression be the natural outcome? What is the solution?
10. 2 Timothy 4:10, 16–17. Did Paul sound depressed in these verses? If your friends all forsook you, how would you feel? What help did Paul find? What is our hope in desperate times?
1. Genesis 27:46; 28:1–5. Why was Rebecca depressed about her son Jacob? Who helped her? How can we help people with difficult decisions avoid despair?
2. Numbers 11:10–17. Why did Moses feel depressed and blame God for his troubles? What did he ask God to do? What answer did God give Moses? How can we apply this story in our own lives?
3. Numbers 21:4–5. Why were God’s people impatient and upset? Why did they blame God and criticize Moses for their predicament? Why were they in the desert in the first place? What daily routines today can be depressing?
4. Joshua 7:5–12. What did Joshua do in this stressful, daylong experience? What was his regret? What was God’s answer?
5. 1 Kings 19:1–8. Why was Elijah in the desert? What did he want God to do to him? Have you ever felt like Elijah? How do bad experiences sometimes bring about good decisions?
6. Psalm 142:1–7. Who will listen to our complaints? What bad can happen when we are in the right place? What is our resource when no one seems to care about us?
7. Jonah 4:1–11. Why did Jonah say it would be better for him to die? Did he need a new focus? What would happen to our depression if we obeyed God?
8. Matthew 27:46. What did Jesus say as He was dying? Why did it feel like God had left Him? If Jesus could be depressed, this would certainly be the time.
9. Luke 15:20–21. What brought on the depressed state of the prodigal son? When a person’s friends and money are gone, will depression be the natural outcome? What is the solution?
10. 2 Timothy 4:10, 16–17. Did Paul sound depressed in these verses? If your friends all forsook you, how would you feel? What help did Paul find? What is our hope in desperate times?