I. What are the causes of depression?
    1. Lack of adequate rest. I Kings 19:3-4 
    2. Lack of proper diet. I Kings 19:6-7 
    3. Frustration and anger at God or others. Genesis 4:6; Numbers 11:11; I Kings 19:10,14 
    4. Excessive stress. Matthew 26:37-38 
        -A person fails to delegate: Numbers 11:14 
        -A person fails to trust God: I Kings 19:1-4 
    5. Feeling sorry for oneself because of circumstances. Numbers 11:11-14, Psalms 77:3; Jon. 4:1-4 
    6. Disobedience to God’s revealed will. Genesis 4:6; II Samuel 12:1-18; Psalms 51:1-12; Jon. 4:1-4 
    7. Personal expectations of others or God that are not realized. 
        -Jonah didn’t want Nineveh to repent. Jon. 4:1-4 
        -Elijah wanted people to turn to God. I Kings 19:10-14 
        -Moses wanted Israelites to stop complaining. Numbers 11:10-14 
    8. Fear of what might happen. I Kings 19:3 
    9. Loneliness. I Kings 19:4

II. What are the examples of depression in Scripture?
    1. Cain’s depression was caused by disobedience to God’s revealed will. Genesis 4:6-7 
    2. Moses’s depression was caused by excessive stress. Numbers 11:11-15 
    3. Elijah’s depression was caused by high expectations, excessive fatigue, lack of food, fear of Jezebel and loneliness. I Kings 19 
    4. David’s depression was caused by his adultery. II Samuel 12:1-17 
    5. Jonah’s depression was caused by circumstances that did not go as he desired, and disobedience to God’s will. Jon. 4:3 
    6. Christ’s depression was caused by excessive stress prior to the crucifixion. Matthew 26:37-38 

III. What are the characteristics of a depressed person?
    1. Complaining about his circumstances. Numbers 11:4; Psalms 38:4, 77:3 
    2. Desire to be alone. I Kings 19:3-4 
    3. See no meaning or purpose in his life. I Kings 19:4 
    4. Loss of joy. Psalms 51:8,12 
    5. Sense of problems being overwhelming. Psalms 77:3,4 
    6. Continual focus on one’s problems even sleep. Psalms 77:6 
    7. Question God’s goodness. Psalms 77:7-9 
    8. Anger and jealousy. I Kings 19:10,14; Jon. 4:1,4 
    9. Facial expression of despondency. Psalms 38:6; Matthew 26:37-38 
    10. Physical exhaustion. Psalms 38:10 
    11. Imagine exaggerated calamities that may come upon him. I Kings 19:10,14,18; Psalms 38:11 

IV. What are the consequences if depression is not resolved?
    1. Desire to be alone. I Kings 19:3-4 
    2. Sense of being rejected by others. Genesis 4:7; I Kings 19:10,14 
    3. Feeling of worthlessness. I Kings 19:4,10 
    4. Angry at himself and others. Genesis 4:5-6 
    5. Stop fulfilling his responsibilities. I Kings 19
    6. Desire to escape pressures rather than deal with them. I Kings 19:4 
    7. Sense of being alienated from God. Psalms 51:12, 77:7-9 
    8. Loss of joy and positive attitude. Genesis 4:6; I Kings 19:4; Psalms 38:6, 51:12, 77:6; Proverbs 17:22 
    9. Complaining because circumstances seem overwhelming. Numbers 11:14; I Kings 19:10,14; Psalms 38:4; 77:3 
    10. Desire for God to end his life. 
        -Moses: Numbers 11:15 
        -Elijah: I Kings 19:4 
        -Jonah: Jon. 4:3

V. What is the Biblical solution to depression?
    1. Regular eating habits. I Kings 19:5-7 
    2. Proper rest. I Kings 19:4-7 
    3. Share your inner feelings with another concerned person or God. I Kings 19:9-10,21; Matthew 26:37-38 
    4. Resolve unnecessary stress by delegating positions to others. Numbers 11:10-25 
    5. Determine areas of responsibilities that have been neglected and begin to focus on them. I Kings 19:15-18 
    6. Confess all known sin, if sin is the cause. Genesis 4:5-7; Ps 51:1-4,8-12 
    7. Focus and meditate on God’s goodness and greatness and share it with others. Psalms 42:5, 77:2,11-15

A typical believer will face difficult situations as Paul faced, but will not allow them to destroy his outlook on life or his effectiveness. II Corinthians 4:8-9 Paul was: Troubled but not crushed. Perplexed but not despairing. Persecuted but not forsaken. Struck down but not destroyed.

VI. How to help a depressed person? How did God deal with depressed individuals?
    1. Make certain they are eating properly. I Kings 19:5-7 
    2. Make certain they get the rest they need. I Kings 19:5-7 
    3. Evaluate what is causing their stress. I Kings 19 
    4. Speak in a quiet, concerned tone of voice to show them you care. I Kings 19:13 
    5. If their depression is caused by sin encourage them to confess it. Genesis 4:5-7; Psalms 51:10-12 
    6. Encourage them with positive statements of hope. Depressed people want help but their attitude, and quietness alienates others from them. I Kings 19:18,21 
    7. Encourage them to guard their thoughts. Philippians 4:8-9 

(Explanation to the counselor)

I. What are the causes of depression?

Depression is experienced by many people today. There are a number of different causes for depression. We would like to look at some of the causes for depression given in the Scripture. If a person fails to get adequate rest or eat correctly he will experience depression. Elijah, after fleeing from Jezebel, was exhausted and possibly hadn’t eaten in days when he experienced the symptoms of depression. Many of those who were depressed were angry at God for circumstances, or at others, for what they had done. Anger, if not resolved, will cause depression. Cain and Jonah are examples of anger that led to depression. Excessive stress also causes depression. Moses neglected to delegate responsibilities to others, and as a result, he became depressed because of the undue stress. Elijah failed to trust God with circumstances beyond his control, and excessive stress caused depression. When Elijah felt sorry for himself in the circumstances he faced, he became depressed. Another cause of depression is disobedience to God which causes guilt, if unresolved will lead to depression: Cain became depressed after he killed his brother Abel; Jonah became depressed when he refused to accept the repentance of the people of Nineveh, and David became depressed after his immoral relationship. These individuals became depressed because of their failure. If a person has expectations or goals that are not reached, he may become depressed. Jonah became depressed because he didn’t want the city of Nineveh to repent. Elijah was disappointed because Israel didn’t respond to the miraculous evidence of God’s power on Mt. Carmel. Moses became depressed because the Israelites continually complained about God’s provision. In each case, these men’s expectations were not met. Fear of threats or events can also cause depression.

II. What are the examples of depression in Scripture?

There are at least six individuals in the Bible who were depressed. These examples can be used to illustrate how others face the same problem of depression. Identify the causes and use these examples to illustrate how they resolved their problem.

III. What are the characteristics of a depressed person?

A depressed person will complain about the circumstances and problems they are facing. Their negative thought patterns will be observed in what they say. Due to their negative feelings, usually a depressed person will want to isolate himself. He will see little purpose in his activities and will lose interest in doing his work or responsibilities. A depressed person usually expresses sadness and will not have a positive attitude or a pleasant facial expression. He will have the feeling that his problem is overwhelming which may lead to loss of sleep due to the continual focus on his problem. Since a depressed person’s focus is negative, he will question God’s goodness and may even become angry with God and others, who he feels has caused his difficult situation. Negative thought patterns will result in either constant fatigue or an inability to sleep due to the constant focus on their problems. The depressed person, many times exaggerates his problems and imagines greater problems than actually exist. 

IV. What are the consequences if depression is not resolved?

To motivate a depressed person, share the consequences of depression. This. can be illustrated by using people in the Bible or other individuals who failed to resolve their depression and faced these consequences. Sample questions: -Would you like to continue your feelings of being alone and rejected by others or would you rather have their encouragement? (1,2) -Would you like your sense of worthlessness to be changed? (3) -Would you like to have your joy and a pleasant, positive attitude instead of your despondency? (8) The final consequence of depression is a sense of worthlessness, which leads to either asking God to end one’s life, as Moses, Elijah, and Jonah prayed; or actual suicide. Encourage the depressed to see the value of gaining victory over depression. One does not have to live the rest of his life in depression. There is a solution and help for them.

V. What is the Biblical solution to depression?

In giving solutions to the depressed, we must first evaluate whether or not the person has good eating and sleeping habits. Then, encourage them to share how they genuinely feel, and listen carefully with concern and compassion. Both Elijah and Christ sought someone to listen to.them. If a person’s depression is caused by excessive stress, help them evaluate how they can delegate some of their responsibilities to others. A depressed person will stop assuming normal everyday responsibilities, such as; housework or yardwork. After the depression is resolved, the person must be encouraged to assume these neglected duties. Elijah, as a prophet, was encouraged to continue his ministry by returning to the responsibility God had given to him. If sin in one’s past has caused depression, it must be confessed and resolved. David, found comfort and encouragement by meditating on God’s goodness and greatness, and began sharing with others to lift his own depression. Paul shares how he faced very difficult situations and yet did not allow those situations to get him down. He faced trouble, perplexing situations, persecutions, and being cast down, yet he did not allow these experiences to lead him to depression. He never allowed any situation to stop the ministry God had given him. Share the four comparisons of Paul’s experiences to help others who become depressed to stay above the difficulties they face.

VI. How to help a depressed person?

If we desire to help a depressed person, we must observe how God dealt with the depressed in the Bible. God first made sure that Elijah had the proper food and rest before he confronted him with some of the other problem areas in his life. God then spoke in a still, small voice to Elijah. A loving concern in one’s voicetone is needed to reassure a depressed person that we really care for them and are not critical. God gave Elijah hope that the situation he faced, was not as bad as he had anticipated. When Elijah could focus his attention on the Lord, he was able to come out of his depression. After helping a person with his depression it is helpful to share the importance of controlling his thought life so he will not be led back into depression. Encourage him to focus his thoughts only on the eight qualities given in Philippians 4:8-9.

Aritcle Source: http://www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/counseling/jr/bspp/bspp_depression.asp