Are the feelings associated with depression sin? - Depression - TouchPoints

Isaiah 24:16We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One! But my heart is heavy with grief. Weep for me, for I wither away. Deceit still prevails, and treachery is everywhere.

Becoming angry and outraged when we see the sin of a terrible crime can leave us depressed about all the evil in the world. This is not a sin.

John 11:33-36When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!”

John 12:27“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!”

When Jesus saw others grieving about the death of his friend Lazarus, and when he faced the cross, he felt deeply troubled. Since Jesus felt very low at some points but did not sin, feeling low or depressed cannot be a sin. It is natural to feel down as we face troubled times and distressing situations.

Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

1 Corinthians 10:13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Hebrews 6:11-12Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

James 4:17Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Feelings of depression are not a sin, and neither is taking a step back to care for our mental health (see 1 Kings 19). However, depressive thoughts can lead to sin if we let them. Depression isn’t pleasant, but it can sometimes begin to feel comfortable and familiar, leading us into apathy and hopelessness. That apathy can cause us to neglect the gifts and responsibilities God has given us, including our relationships with God and others. We must actively choose to resist such apathy. No matter how often we have failed or how far we have fallen, God loves us, and he isn’t finished with us yet.