The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness

Bible & Depression

Depression is something that a lot of people suffer with in modern times and there is very much a tug-of-war between "modern science" and the Bible in terms of depression, how it should be dealt with and what actually makes things worse. The same can be said of the broader medical field as some people rely on faith alone rather than the "poison" and such of modern medicine. As with most things, neither extreme is wise and a middle ground that recognizes both science and faith should emerge. While it is possible to read too much into certain clips and phrases in the Bible, there are certainly portions and passages where depression certainly was pointed to or that almost certainly existed with or without mention.

Analysis

The passages about Adam and Eve are a good starting point when it comes to depression and negative feelings. Indeed, Adam and Eve surely felt guilty and dejected when they realized the gravity of what they did when they ate the forbidden fruit. Perhaps a much better example was the plight of Job later in the Old Testament. Of course, it is cited directly by God that Job did not lose faith even in light of the horrific things that happened to him, his family and the things around him. However, to suggest that he was not suffering or that he was not depressed would be one heck of a stretch (Holy Bible, 1978). Depression, however, can be rendered from feelings that are both realistic and imagined. It can stem from frustration, dejection, fear and the thought that continued existence will be unbearable. The symptoms can be both physical and purely mental (Mayo, 2015)

While modern medicine would suggest that depression, regardless of the source, should be handled through counseling and medicine, the human soul and spirit plays an immeasurable part in how quickly (if ever) someone bounces back. Indeed, Proverbs 18:14 says that the spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness. While one could suggest that this makes reference to common diseases like influenza or something of that nature, it perhaps makes more sense to suggest that the precise same thing could and should be said about mental health issues. While the use of the word "demons" is perhaps tossed around a little too much nowadays, there indeed feelings and thoughts that need to be stomped out through strong resolve and resoluteness and relying on a pill to do that is going to be losing endeavor. It may provide a proverbial Band-Aid, but it will not solve the problem. The other scripture to point to for this report is Psalm 119:25, which states "I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word." This is yet another statement that no matter what beats us down in life, we need to have faith that God will deliver us and depression is very much one of those things that could beat us down (Holy Bible, 1978).