10 Prayers for Overcoming Depression

If you're feeling depressed, remember that you're not alone. God is with you always. Don't be afraid to reach out to people in your family, your church, or your friend circles. Ask them to pray with and for you, and continue to pray each day, asking God to draw you closer to Himself. 

If you're feeling the weight of depression today or if you've felt it for quite some time, pray these prayers today:

A Simple Prayer for Battling Depression 

Dear Lord, thank you for being my constant in an ever-changing world. Please steady me when I feel unstable and protect me from life's storms.

Help me understand the roots of my depression, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, and guide me to the appropriate help. Thank you for understanding my struggles, as Jesus himself faced deep emotional pain.

I ask for someone to support me, to share my burden when it becomes too heavy. I'm grateful for your grace and the community around me.

Use this time to deepen my relationship with you and show your strength in my weakness. Help me remember that I am defined by your love and Jesus's sacrifice, not by what my mind tells me. Guide me to focus on truth and to see my weaknesses as opportunities for you to work through me. Amen.

A Prayer Against Depression

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that you never change, even when everything around me is changing and unpredictable. (Hebrews 13:8) Thank you that you are stable, even when I feel so very unstable. (Isaiah 33:6) It feels like Satan has been whipping me around! Please sustain me, protect me, and enable me to stand. (1 John 4:4; Psalm 28:7)

I know that because sin entered the world, all of creation is under a curse–all creation groans. (Romans 8:22) Because of this, I struggle physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for how my body is made, and that it sends me warning signals to tell me that I need help. Right now my brain and emotions are telling me that something isn’t right.

Help me to see if there is something physical that is causing my depression. Help me to sift through my circumstances to see if there is a need for change in some way. If I am experiencing depression as a result of a spiritual battle, please bring that to light and show me the best way to fight that battle.

Please lead me to the right source for help. Thank you for understanding what I am going through (Hebrews 4:15), and thank you that Your Word tells me that even Your Son went through hard times emotionally. There were times that He was distressed, grieved, faced loneliness, experienced deep sorrow, and after the death of John He went into isolation (Matthew 14:13). He cried in prayer (Hebrews 5:7-9), and at times he was overwhelmingly sad (Isaiah 53:3). There was even a time that he was afraid his body would not survive the anguish he felt. (Matthew 26:38)

I pray that You would send someone to  help bear my burden. (Galatians 6:2) Thank you for again reminding me of how weak I am, and for the body of Christ that you have provided to help bear burdens when we grow too weary to bear them alone. I need someone to come along side me, take my arms, wrap them around their neck, and help me walk until I am strong enough to walk on my own. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

Thank you for the grace that you have provided. (Hebrews 4:16)  I pray You will use this difficult time to cause me to go deeper in my relationship with You, and that You would get the glory for anything that is produced in me. (James 1) Thank you for how you are going to use this time in my life and for all you are doing through this depression. Thank you that You have allowed my weakness to manifest itself in the form of depression, so that You can work more of Your image into my life. (Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:19)

Thank you that I am not defined by this weakness.  Since I am Your child, I am defined by what You accomplished on the cross. Because of Christ’s death on the cross, I can wake up every morning and live life knowing that no matter what I do, think, say, or feel–the cross covers it. Because You offered up Your own beloved Son, I can have peace with You and can face each day with fresh hope and grace.  Help me to focus on what is true, and not focus on how I feel. As I sit before the cross, help me to gain a new appreciation for what it actually means for me on a daily basis.

Help me to embrace my weakness as a gift. Remind me that my weakness allows You to work through me even when I am so very weak and feel as though I can do nothing. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Through this time, I pray that you would enlarged my heart that I might love and obey You, and love others more deeply. (Psalm 119:32; Galatians 6:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Amen. - Gina Smith

Hurting and in need of prayer? Download our FREE Trusting God When Life Hurts Prayer Guide, a 30-Day guide to help you through this difficult season.

A Prayer for Worry

Father God, I come before You with a heart full of worries and anxieties. Your Word tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). I lay my concerns at Your feet, trusting in Your promise that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). Help me to rely on You and to feel Your comforting presence. Amen.

When Overwhelmed

Heavenly Father, please strengthen our hearts, and remind us to encourage one another when the troubles of life start to overwhelm us. Please guard our hearts from depression. Give us the strength up to rise up each day and fight against the struggles which seek to weigh us down. Amen. - John Barnett

A Prayer When You're in Darkness

The darkness has taken hold me and I can’t find my way back to the light. In this moment, ending it all seems like the best option, the only option, the only way to escape. Yet, there is something in me that wants your light to snuff out the darkness. So I ask, Lord, that you would do just that. You are the only light that can shine in the darkness. I know when I’m consumed with thoughts of death I’m believing lies from the enemy. I ask Lord that you would remind me of these truths: when I feel alone, you are with me; when I feel invisible, you see me; when I feel worthless, my value is knowing you and being known by you. Amen. - Beth Ann Baus

A Prayer For Escaping the Pit

Lord, it seems as if my world has collapsed, hurling me into a deep, dark pit. I come to you in complete surrender. I am desperate for you, helpless and afraid. Please lift me out of this pit and show me the way, Lord.   In Jesus’ name, Amen - Mary Southerland

To Find Peace and Rest 

Father God, I come to You seeking rest and peace. Your Word reminds us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). I surrender my burdens to You and ask for Your comforting presence to fill my heart. Grant me the peace that surpasses all understanding, as You promise in Philippians 4:7. Help me to trust in Your care and find true rest in Your loving arms. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Desire to Live

I often feel out of place in this world. I don’t fit in and I’m not sure I want to. Remind me that this world is not my home and while, as your child, I will never fit in here, my time here isn’t over. Not yet. Please, give me the desire to live. When I feel like I don’t matter, remind me that I was created with purpose. When I don’t know or understand why I feel the way I feel - remind me that you know the depth of pain in my heart, in my body and in my being. You know me better than I know myself… and yet you still love me. - - Beth Ann Baus

A Prayer for Those Struggling

God bless all who are battling those inner demons of depression, loneliness, unworthiness, and hopelessness. Shine Your warm Heavenly Light down upon all of us, Lord, who are looking for our soul mates. Guide us to find peace, happiness, and contentment in our lives and within ourselves. Amen.

A Prayer for Overcoming Depression and Anxiety

Dear Lord, I am suffering from depression and anxiety disorder. Thank you for giving me the medical attention that has helped place my soul back into my skin. Give all of us who suffer this stress the courage and strength to trust you and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. You love and through your love all things are possible. In Jesus’ name we praise you. Amen.

(provided by PrayWithMe.com)

Bible Verses to Help Fight Depression and Anxiety

These are some of our favorite Scriptures to help fight depression and the anxiety that rises. Find Scripture that will encourage us to find peace and joy in the midst of depressing circumstances and feelings. You can find even more in Bible Verses for Fighting Depression

1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 23:3 - He restores my soul. He leads me on the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you; do not be discouraged.

Psalm 3:3 - But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory,  and the lifter of my head. 

Gina Smith is the author of Grace Gifts: Celebrating Your Children Every Day and writes at her personal blog GinalSmith.com. She has also been featured on HSLDA'S Homeschool Heartbeat Radio. She has been married to her husband Brian for 29 years and they have 2 adult children. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Image courtesy: Unsplash.com