Everything changes when you put your hope in the Lord

Depression can make you feel like you’re drowning in darkness, even when the world around you seems to be full of light. You might find yourself praying and wondering if God even hears you at all, feeling like He’s silent when you need Him the most. And if you’re anything like me, you still believe He’ll come through for everyone else… just not for you.

I can assure you that this could not be further from the truth.

I used to struggle with depression, and for years, I felt completely hopeless. I would start to feel better for a while, but every couple of years, I’d fall right back into that same dark hole. And every time, it felt harder and harder to climb back out. I was running out of strength to keep doing it on my own.

But everything changed when I came to know Jesus. For the first time, I had something, or rather someone, to hold onto. I didn’t have to do it on my own anymore. I didn’t have to be strong enough. Jesus became my hope, my anchor, and the reason I don’t fall as deep or stay there as long.

He meets me in the darkness, and He stays with me through it. Remember this: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

1. God is close, even when He feels far

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” - Psalm 139:7-10

When you’re deep in depression, it can feel like God has left the room. Like you’ve been abandoned in your suffering.

But Scripture tells a different story.

Psalm 139 reminds us that there is no place too dark, too far, or too low where God won’t go to be with you. Even when you can’t sense His presence, He is still right there. You might not feel Him, but that doesn’t mean He’s gone.

2. Jesus understands emotional suffering

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” - Isaiah 53:3

When you’re struggling with depression, it’s easy to feel misunderstood, even by the people closest to you. But Jesus understands.

He knows what it’s like to be rejected, to grieve, to feel sorrow so deep that He wept. Jesus suffered more than we could possibly imagine. He’s not distant or detached from your pain. He stepped into it. And now, He walks through it with you.

He doesn’t just offer comfort; He is your comfort.

3. Your feelings are not facts

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Depression has a way of convincing you that what you’re feeling is reality. It tells you that you’re alone, unloved, and forgotten. But feelings, as real as they are, are not always the truth.

God’s Word reminds us that we walk by faith, not by sight or emotion. Faith says, “Even when I feel abandoned, I know God is still with me. Even when I feel hopeless, I believe His promises still stand.”

You don’t have to ignore your emotions, but you don’t have to be ruled by them either.

4. You are not alone in this battle

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” - Romans 8:26

Sometimes, the last thing you want to do is turn to God and pray. That’s okay. He’s still got you.

The Holy Spirit is with you, even in your weakest, quietest moments. When you don’t have the words to pray, He prays for you. When you don’t have the strength to keep going, He intercedes on your behalf. You don’t have to carry this burden by yourself. God is carrying it with you.

When I’m really low, I often just pray two simple words: “help me.” And somehow, that’s always enough.

5. There is still purpose in your pain

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

When you’re in the thick of depression, it can feel like everything is pointless, like nothing good could possibly come out of the pain you’re in. But God promises that nothing is wasted in His hands. He can take even the darkest, most painful parts of your story and turn them into something meaningful.

That doesn’t mean everything will suddenly make sense, or that the pain will disappear overnight. But it does mean that your suffering is not in vain. God can use your story to bring healing, to build strength, and to show others that there is still hope.

If you let Him, He’ll take what the enemy meant for harm and use it for good.

Keep Going

Depression is real, and it can feel overwhelming. But it’s not the end of your story. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. Even when you can’t see Him, God is with you. Right there in the middle of it all.

If all you can do today is exist, then just exist. If all you can say is “help me,” then that’s enough. Healing is a process, and you don’t have to rush it or fake your way through it. Jesus isn’t asking you to have it all together. He’s just asking you to come to Him, right as you are.

So take one small step. Drink water. Reach out. Pray the tiniest prayer. Open your Bible. Talk to a friend. Rest in the truth that God is working, even when you can’t feel it yet.

Remember that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Lean on Him.

You’re not walking through this alone. And your story is not over.