I know the importance of prayer for depression.
Here are FIVE prayers for depression to lift up to God when you find yourself in the darkness.
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Prayer For Depression and Trusting God
Father, I don’t understand why I’m going through this dark depression.
I don’t understand why you’ve allowed me to sink so low. I confess that I often feel confused in the midst of this darkness.
But I know that I can trust you. I know that you are good, that you love me, and that you are still doing good to me, even when I can’t see it. I know that you are a faithful God and that everything you do is for my good and your glory.
As it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
I thank you that you are working this depression for my good. I don’t understand how it can be good, but I believe your word. I firmly believe that you will use this darkness to make me more like Jesus.
So I lift this prayer for depression to you. I trust you to do good to me even when I can’t see your goodness.
In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer For Depression and Hope
Lord, right now I feel hopeless.
When I look around, everything seems dark and dim. Like there is no good in my life. As if I’m wandering through a bleak desert with no sign of an oasis. I can’t find anything to hold on to, and I feel as though this depression will never end.
I feel like David, who said in Psalm 13:1, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
Right now, please give me your abundant hope. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, you say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction…”
I thank you that you are the God of all comfort and hope. Please comfort me right now. Give me hope for the future. Restore again the joy of my salvation. Please refresh me with your divine presence and give me hope according to your promises.
I lift this prayer for depression to you, trusting that you’re going to give me fresh hope.
In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer For Sadness and Encouragement
Father, I feel so alone in this depression. Most people don’t understand what I’m going through. When I tell people that I’m depressed, I often receive unhelpful advice. I know they mean well but it hurts nonetheless.
Please bring people into my life who can give me encouragement. Bring me into contact with people who can strengthen me and lift my head.
In Proverbs 18:24 you say, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
I need a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Who will be with me as I walk through this darkness. Who will bear this burden with me. Who will strengthen me when I’m tempted to doubt.
I offer this prayer for depression to you, believing that you hear it and will answer me. Thank you, Father.
In Jesus name, amen.
Healing Prayer For Depression
Lord, I know that depression is both a spiritual and physical affliction.
Please bring healing to me. Bring life to my body. Please heal whatever is causing me to feel so bad all the time.
Jesus healed every person that asked him, and I know that the same Jesus sits upon the throne today. And so I come boldly to the throne of grace and ask you to bring supernatural healing to my body. Please restore me to good health, full of joy and life once again.
This depression reveals how dependent I am upon you. I need you to sustain my body and give me health. I need you to cause my brain to work properly. I need you to lift the darkness that seems to always encompass me.
I lift this prayer for depression, believing that you still heal today and are eager to answer my prayer.
In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer For Strength
Father, right now it feels as though I have no strength. Like I’m stuck in the mud and can’t get out. Everything feels too big and overwhelming to handle. My strength is sapped and I find myself unable to do much, if anything.
In Psalm 3:3, you tell me, “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”
Lord, right now I need you to lift my head. To give me spiritual, emotional, and even physical strength. To refresh me with your grace and mercy. To give me the grace simply to get out of bed and do the things you’ve called me to do.
Lord, apart from you I can do nothing. I feel that more than ever right now. This depression is a reminder that I am weak and helpless apart from you. But I also thank you that you give strength to those who have no strength.
As I lift this prayer for depression, I remember Isaiah 40:31, which says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
I have faith that you, O Lord, will renew my strength. I am depending on you and waiting on you. I am hoping in you alone. I am trusting that you will strengthen me.
In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer For Depression and Joy
Father, when I’m in the midst of depression, it feels like there’s no joy. It’s like I’m stuck in quicksand and can’t see a way out. All the darkness has taken over and I feel like I’ll never see light again.
Lord, you tell us in Romans 15:13 that your hope does not put us to shame. You tell us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Lord, I am asking for an abundance of joy right now. A deep abiding joy that is far beyond what I can understand or figure out. Help me to trust in you, even when it doesn’t make sense. Help me to cling to hope and keep believing that one day I will experience joy and peace again.
In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer For Faith During Depression
Lord, it’s hard to have faith when depression has taken over my life. My strength is depleted, and my worry and anxiety seem never-ending. It feels impossible to believe in the promises of your Word when I don’t even have the energy to get out of bed.
But you tell us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). So I am asking you, Lord, to fill me with strength and courage. Help me to trust in your goodness and faithfulness. Remind me that even when it doesn’t feel like it, you are at work in my life. Please show me the path of hope and peace.
God please give me fresh faith right now. Give me faith that you are still doing good things in my life. Fill me with a hope and joy that can only come from you.
Read Next:
You are an inspiration and doing excellent work for the kingdom. You have no idea how your blog has helped me and others through rough times. You are an important member of the kingdom and a lifter up of heads. May God bless you and dissipate the darkness of depression in Jesus name!
Hey Alissen,
Your encouragement is so meaningful to me. I’m so grateful that my blogging efforts have helped you. It inspires me to keep going.
Thanks again!
Stephen
When going through these depressive moments i tend to worry why is it that i cannot pray, read and meditate on the word of God, thus increasing the paralysis on ones spirituality, and also worry why is it that i am going through it. but all i no is that our Father is not a liar, His promises are yes and amen, He will never leave nor forsake us to the devices of the evil one. He will not let temptations beyond the strength He planted in us.
Thank you, stay blessed
Thank you for this and you are not alone. Sometimes I cry because when the depression hits, I don’t feel like praying and then I feel like I’ve let God down again.
God bless you for being so honest. Too many pastors have preached when I was in their ministry that I had a demon and if I took medicine I didn’t know Jesus and He surely didn’t know me and to stop taking the medicine and let God heal me.
Each time I stopped the medication I got worse.
Why does the church keep doing this to us when we’re already feeling like we’ve let God down so much. And how do you heal from what pastors have preached to you about having a demon if you take medication for depression.
Funny thing I never hear them tell a heart patient to stop taking their medicine or that they have a demon.
God bless you for all you do.
Cherlyn
So sorry for the struggle you encounter with depression. I understand exactly what you feel. Thanks for reading this and I pray that God helps you in your darkest hours!
Hi Stephen. I love reading your prayers they are beautiful. I have been diagnosed with sads / bipolar and have had depression for years but bipolar about three years .i am going through an episode now as medication not working. I have exhausted myself with prayer I have pleaded begged and demanded. I don’t know what denomination you are from I guess it doesn’t matter only that you have great faith. There is a saint Dymphna ( patron saint of anxiety and mental health ) I pray to her as well . Mental illness is such a debilitating illness. I will continue to pray but sometimes it is Sooo exhausting as what is written about Him helping you is so positive but I just don’t get anything and just don’t get it . Ask and you shall receive……I have been pleading as this has been a long episode and so disappointing that the medication isn’t working. I apologise if I am complaining to much and hope I don’t sound ungrateful. I thank and praise Hiim everyday. Anyway thanks for your prayers and God Bless all . ???Amen
Stephen. You wrote this for me if no one else. You read my mind and as I read your examples of how to pray through depression, I knew the Holy Spirit was showing me that I can do this!! I have struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life. There are many reasons why, too, I believe. Childhood, marital, church abuse are at the core of my struggles. I finally went to therapy and was diagnosed with PTSD, which stunned me, but made perfect sense as I researched the topic. The praise you place after the end of each prayer is the most helpful. When people say to just praise through it, I want to scream, but to see in writing what someone who is struggling with depression wrote as praise is revelatory to me. I can do this!! The Spirit of God who lives within me will help me. “Even darkness is light to Him “, isn’t it? (Micah, I believe.)
Thank you, Stephen, for writing this and thank you, Jesus, for letting me see it.
I’m so glad it was helpful Marie. I know just how hard it can be when you’re battling depression to praise God. Hopefully this helped in some small way!
Hi Stephen,
I know what you are talking about when depression hits. Thanks for highlighting that you don’t feel capable of praying. That’s the enemy’s tool – he wants to paralyse your prayer life because it paralyses him. For a few years I struggled with depression. I was not clinically diagnosed, at least the doctors did not tell me but the medication I was given was for depression. I know the darkness and fogginess. t was so terrible to the extent that I could go for 5 days without a wink of sleep. This worked into my mind and body. I got sick. I prayed, I cried, I got angry with God and had suicidal thoughts. Then I read Derek Prince’s book, “They Shall Expel Demons”. BTW, he also survived depression. I changed my prayer strategy and faced the devil head on. I used the blood and mighty name of Jesus Christ to “demand” my healing and to stave him off (Rev. 12:11). I told him he had no right to stay in, torture, torment and harass me – a child of the King of the Universe (Jn. 1:12). I increased the frequency and intensity of my prayers, with the help of my family. I was so desparate that I fasted on some days. Satan came to me and said “If God really loves you as you think, why for he want you to suffer more by fasting?”. I thank God for my wife and three young daughters! We fasted, read the Bible and declared our affirmations of healing together. It created energy, hope and revived my waning faith. After about 6 months with this approach to prayer, the breakthrough came!! I now feel completely healed and there is another level of joy that I had never experienced before the depressive experience. I won’t prescribe this to you or anyone but would advise you to start using the offensive approach – praise the Father for loving and healing you but claim your healing from the devil. It pains me to hear a brother/sister suffering the same way I did. I don’t say all sick people should be healed at once but we know for sure God’s not pleased when we suffer. Shall he not give those who ask, answer those who seek and open for those who knock? (Matth. 7:7).
I too struggle with these two spirits, but I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. I thank God for his word that says don’t be anxious for nothing, and God has not giving me the spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind. I am sticking by God words. It brings healing and deliverance. Thank you for sharing. It helps us to know we are not going through this alone. God bless you.
Stephen, I also struggle with depression and anxiety, so I very much appreciate this post. Thanks for your honesty, and for offering some help! Be blessed.
You’re so welcome Lynne. I’m so glad it was helpful for you.
I can relate. Thank you for your ministry. Please consider looking up the book, “A More Excellent Way “ by Henry Wright.I also believe Derick Prince’s writings and YouTube videos have been used by God to help many. God doesn’t want this for us. I do use the psalms and especially Psalm 35. If David was able to say to God, “Say to my soul,’I am your salvation,’” then certainly I can, too!
God’s word is important. Not a “magic solution “ but it is there to help us.
Yes, God’s word is so important! It is there to strengthen us when we are in our weakest moments!
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for the prayer. This is exactly what I need right now. Sometimes when we go through trials and feel depressed, God provides us with friends who help us to keep moving on in faith. You are one of that friends for me today. May God bless you in your ministry and remember helping others in helping yourself too. It is good to know that there are others who are going through the same experience and so comfort each other in God’s promises.
Thanks so much Marguerite. I’m grateful that this was helpful in some small way!
Thank you Brother Stephen for those very encouraging and up lifting prayers! depression is a spirit from Satan himself and I also realize that depression is very real. When I find myself falling into a state of depression I immediately proceed to give God praise when the words of God is not flowing through my mine at that particular moment but once I began to give God praise I experience the release of the stronghold or that yoke of bondage being lifted off of me and I begin to usher the presents of The Holy Spirit into my heart and mind which is the anointing of God that destroys every yoke of bondage that tries to hold my mind us captive.The more we call and depend on JESUS the more at ease and the more peace we will experience. Thank you Brother Stephen for those beautiful prayers! May God take you and all participants on this blog from Glory to Glory to Glory for Christ’s sake!! Amen!
I’ve been suffering from depression for decades, my entire existence is misery. I pray for God to help me out of this, refill my cup. This may sound bad, but I have come to realize that my depression is caused by God’s inaction. I’ve spent years reflecting on this. The conclusion is always the same. If God answered my prayers I wouldn’t be depressed. I can’t make God do anything He doesn’t want to do. So unanswered prayers are God’s fault as to why they aren’t answered. Yet all the clergy I’ve spoken to lay God’s inaction at my feet. Blaming the victim. I believe that my depression won’t go away until God acts. I can only seek, it’s up to God if I should find.
Stephen:I was so thankful to find these inspired & heart felt prayers for depression. I believe, Sir perhaps you have (yourself) experienced depression. You may have read the phrase..” no way can you understand how I feel unless you’ve literally walked in my shoes.., I sense that you feel the pain & despair I have experienced for 30 plus years! But as you said…God holds on to you & will never let go. I accepted Jesus as a child and He has been my stay. I do although believe that the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the exact words to pray… either way thank you for these annointed prayers to pray in my days & nights of hopelessness. God has been so good to me.. through my ups & downs over shadowing me with his endless love & mercy. God bless!
Stephen:I was so thankful to find these inspired & heart felt prayers for depression. I believe, Sir, perhaps you have (yourself) experienced depression. You may have read the phrase..” no way can you understand how I feel unless you’ve literally walked in my shoes.., I sense that you feel the pain & despair I have experienced for 30 plus years! At times I wanted to just let go. But as you said…God holds on to you & will never let go. I accepted Jesus as a child and He has been my stay. I do although believe that the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the exact words to pray… either way thank you for these annointed prayers to pray in my days & nights of hopelessness. God has been so good to me.. through my ups & downs over shadowing me with his endless love & mercy. God bless!