Proverbs 12:25 mentions depression directly, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad" (NKJV). That's a good place to begin.
Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” The Good News: Even when you're in low spirits, God still loves you.
Psalm 34:17-18
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
No matter the mental or emotional anguish we experience, God is not looking for sin. He's looking to help us know He's there with us … with love and grace! This concept is beautifully expressed in Psalm 37:23-26: "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
Philippians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Psalm 40:1-3
In this, and other Scriptures for depression, we're reminded that God is always near to the brokenhearted. No matter how deep the pit of despair you're in, God can lift you out. Just as He did for David, God can set you back on a path towards hope and He will steady you whenever you start to stumble.
Depression is associated with sin because people experiencing depression are seen to lack some of the spiritual fruits that are regarded as evidence of genuine Christian faith: When dealing with people in the church... some see mental illness as a weakness —a sign you don't have enough faith.
Saviano says Christians typically view mental illness as a spiritual problem, assuming iniquity in the person's life led to the difficulties. “They don't recognize it can be a real biological illness that causes brain chemicals to be off balance,” Saviano says.
Similarly, instead of feeling victorious, Elijah felt hopeless, alone and afraid. He had low self-esteem and wanted to die. He wanted to sleep and had to be encouraged to get up and nourish himself. Elijah, a prophet, Biblical hero, and person of faith, was seriously depressed.
The death of a loved one; the loss of a job; financial hardships; an unfavorable medical diagnosis; marital discord or divorce; an empty nest; unresolved childhood issues; ministry burnout; disobedient children; the list goes on and on of possible triggers for depression.
Depression and mental illness should receive as kind and gentle a response from Christians as they do from Jesus. Jesus made it clear He was not pleased with people who put on a show of being very religious and moral and who judged others.
And perhaps more than just a necessity, sadness may be one of the greatest gifts for which we thank God in the life to come. For in our sadness—in our suffering—we can experience the joy of knowing God's unending mercy and love for us.
The best book of the Bible to read when feeling anxious or depressed is the Book of Psalms. Psalms is the longest book of the Bible and was written by many authors: David, Solomon, Asaph, and the sons of Korah to name a few.
God's desire for us is to be free from pain and suffering, including depression. He feels deeply for us and loves us enough to bring light to whatever darkness we might be in. Here are several examples in scripture that show us how God feels toward those in depression.
One of the most famous is God's promise to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11, when God speaks into a season of hopelessness and reminds them: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Saul had begun to experience a type of panic and stress attack that continued to reoccur and deeply affected his life. Because of the exposure to heavy combat and killing, Saul had begun to develop PTSD wherein he re-experienced unwanted memories, and emotional distress plagued him.
Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from the disorder. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
It has been scientifically proven that faith in God does quicken recovery from illnesses. There are several places in the Bible, where faith alone is accounted for the healing of the people. But there is no place in the Bible that forbids the use of drugs, especially for someone who is ill.
A Christian Perspective on Bipolar
The bible does not talk about bipolar, but it does talk about the war going on in our body and our heart. Bipolar is a mind at war against itself and God wants to bring peace to our lives. It is very clear that He wants to bring peace to our minds and hearts.
It is a true illness which has chronic physical and emotional pain that significantly impacts a person's ability to function in their daily life. It is distinct from spiritual sufferings, or can accompany it, but it is not always caused by spiritual issues.
Tristitia (sorrow/despair/despondency)
The above verses (and others) about anxiety find their home in Hebrews 11:1 and what it tells us about faith. Anxiety in and of itself isn't sinful. Not trusting God is sinful. It's sinful to live as if you need to take care of yourself because you can't trust God to provide.