By Victoria Myers
Like many people, I use to think depression, suicide and mental health struggles weren’t really addressed in the Bible. I believed that these were just “modern problems” things our world has only recently named and addressed. But after losing my son and turning to Scripture for answers, I found something surprising:
The Bible is full of people who battled despair, hopelessness, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts or actions.
Before we dive in, know I’m not a mental health professional or a Bible scholar of any kind. I’m a mom who’s walked through loss, traumatic grief, and years of prayerful study and Christian counseling. My hope is that what brought me peace and clarity will do the same for you.
For additional insight from a trusted Christian source, Focus on the Family shares helpful guidance on how faith and mental health intersect in their article “Christian Depression and Mental Health.”
Biblical Examples: They Struggled Too
Many of the words we use today for mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation didn’t exist in biblical times—but the experiences absolutely did. In fact there are many faithful followers of Christ that struggled in these ways.
David – Battled deep despair and feelings of abandonment. He often cried out his despair with these words, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (Psalm 42 ). Yet even in despair, David continually turned to God .
Job – After losing all of his children, his possessions, and his own health, Job, quite justifiably, was overwhelmed with severe trauma and loss. Job came to a point where he uttered these words, “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” (Job 3:11). But he also uttered these, “My ears have heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” This shows the depth of the places Job had gone with God. And that God met him there every time.
Hannah – Crushed by infertility, she experienced “bitterness of soul” (1 Samuel 1:10). She poured out her anguish honestly before God, and she left her burden at His feet.
Elijah – Exhausted and suicidal, he cried out, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life.” (1 Kings 19:4). And God met him with rest, food, and a gentle whisper.
Jonah – Angry, hopeless, and spiritually burned out he said, “Now, Lord, take away my life.” (Jonah 4:3). Yet even in rebellion, God pursued Jonah with mercy.
Paul – Even this great hero of faith admitted, “We despaired of life itself.” (2 Corinthians 1:8). Yet Paul’s suffering taught him to rely not on himself, but on God who raises the dead.
And of course, we see Jesus the suffering servant who carried every form of human sorrow. His suffering was so intense that He sweated blood. He cried out in one of his darkest moments, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Matthew 26:38) He walked through anxiety, anguish, and despair so He could walk with us through ours.
So what did these individuals do in their times of significant mental and emotional hardships?
They turned to God. Maybe it wasn’t immediately, but Scripture shows they turned to Him.:
- They cried out honestly.
- They brought Him their pain without filters.
- They asked raw, difficult questions.
- They didn’t hide their emotional state.
And what did God do?
He met them there.
But I also want to say something very important here with gentleness and honesty. In Scripture, God met each of these individuals in their pain — but that didn’t always mean He removed the suffering or delivered them out of their struggle.
And the same is true today. A person can be faithful,
devoted to God,
praying,
trying,
fighting…and still lose the battle with mental illness.
But hear me when I say: losing that battle does not mean they failed spiritually.
It does not mean they didn’t turn to God.
It does not mean God abandoned them.
It means they were human, living in a broken world with real struggles.
We must never stand in judgment over those who did not survive their mental anguish. Many of them trusted God with everything they had—and he held them even in their final moments. (If this speaks to you, I’ll be sharing much more about it in future blog posts and in my upcoming book. It’s my prayer that the words God has given me will bring comfort and understanding to those walking this road.)
I love that God doesn’t hide these moments of desperation when the heroes of the faith cried out. Why? Because God knows we too can find ourselves in darkness and despair, and He wanted us to see that faith does not eliminate suffering, but faith anchors us in suffering.
So what does this tell us?
This tells us suffering isn’t unbiblical.
Emotional or mental suffering is not a sign of weak faith or even weak people, but a reminder that we are human and we all need God’s grace. The Bible doesn’t shame those who struggle; it shows that even the most faithful believers wrestled with fear, despair, and deep emotional pain. These stories remind us that pain and faith often coexist. (I share more about this in “Grace Isn’t Earned: Why Being Close to God Doesn’t Guarantee Protection From Pain.”)
Today, studies show that one in two people will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime (Harvard Medical School).
That means when you look around your church pew, workplace, or family, the odds are nearly fifty-fifty that someone nearby is struggling—or will at some point—with their mental health.
Faith and Healing Go Hand and Hand
So knowing we are not alone brings some comfort, but how should we approach the healing process?
Because we are whole beings, mind, body, and soul, created for a relationship with God and each other, it is best to approach healing with a multifaceted approach. Don’t misinterpret, I’m not saying God alone can’t heal us; he absolutely can, but it is okay to take a holistic approach until our full healing is seen.
What might a holistic approach to healing look like:
- Pouring our hearts out to God through prayer, repentance, and remembrance of God’s goodness
- Asking for church elders to pray over us
- Scripture memory to battle against false thought patterns
- Talk therapy with a reputable Christian counselor
- Medication (when needed)
- Regular physical activity
- Supplements (ask your doctor which is best for you)
- Journaling
- Staying connected in Community
In short, addressing mental health from every angle honors how God designed us.
Take Heart
If you’ve ever felt alone in your mental or emotional pain, take heart — you’re not. As you can see you are in the company of some of the most faithful people in scripture.
Call out to God,
confide in someone you trust,
and reach for help in every way available—spiritually and practically. There is no shame in that.
If this post spoke to you and you’re looking for more faith-based tools to help you walk through grief or emotional struggles, I’ve created a free Curated Recommended Resource Kit filled with books, devotionals, and practical support for healing. You can get it free when you sign up for my email newsletter.
If this encouraged you, I’d love for you to leave a comment or share it with someone who needs hope today.