Depression of a spiritual nature arises when individuals feel overwhelmed by the horrible conditions in the world, such as crimes against children and the promotion of perversions, leading to discouragement that turns into deeper emotional distress. Biblical characters like Noah, Moses, David, Elijah, and Jeremiah experienced such depressions, sometimes to the point of asking God to end their lives, yet they overcame through faith and became more stable and mature. All depression is not caused directly by spiritual problems, though a spiritual problem may be found indirectly if traced far enough back. Negative thoughts originate with Satan, who broadcasts damaging moods into vulnerable minds and implants impulses to give up on life. When people are not close to God, these moods overtake them more easily, as Satan capitalizes on difficult circumstances to generate feelings of dejection. To combat this, one must focus on the awesome Creator, remember the spiritual goal of becoming more like Christ, pray and study God's written Word every day, be patient with oneself and God, remain content and generous toward others, stay positive and active, and remain faithful and obedient no matter what happens. By drawing on the power of God's Holy Spirit and staying in intimate contact with Him, discouragement yields to peace and strength, allowing one to view trials as light afflictions that work for good when met with the right attitude.

Times are so overwhelmingly stressful that even people in God's Church feel a crushing weight bringing many dangerously close to chronic depression. This is a trap that cannot be allowed. Satan will try to use God given understanding as a tool to defeat by triggering such depression right as the next step in God's plan approaches. Often what goes on in the world God allows to happen in the Church yet with those in the Church if handled His way God will use it towards perfection. God has promised to be the only source of real healing. God shows through the apostle Paul that He does not always heal when thought He should but often uses infirmities to work out something much greater according to His purpose. Being justified by faith brings peace with God and access to stand before the Father. Through Christ all have access to the Father in the same spirit together. God is using infirmities to drive unity with one another and to Them. A training process may prove so painful that it causes hands to hang down in weakness and knees ready to buckle yet the ultimate end is a journey together to holiness and everlasting healing. All are built up a spiritual house a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. All are to bear one another's infirmities and to receive one another as Christ receives drawing into the closest fellowship and rescuing from affliction and loneliness. Just as some battle cancer diabetes and other diseases so too a few battle depression and will not climb out without a united effort in corporate faith before the very throne of God. Faithfulness to God is judged not only by individual faith in God's sure promise of healing but also by offering sacrifice in prayer of faith for one another where hands hang down and cannot get up. God has allowed every one to go through personal afflictions pushing limits of personal faith but in these God expects a unified body lifting up the feeble hands of every one that cannot do it alone. Coming into God's heavenly throne room together in faith and lifting up the hands that hang down of one another in areas where they cannot raise them themselves is a vital key to unity and the mutual assurance that the many working as one body will do in faith what the one could not do alone.

Spiritual depression often affects Christians because the life of a Christian involves special trials and discipline from God along with the need to overcome Satan, the world, and human nature. This stress arises from assaults by the powerful adversary described in the Bible as the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now rules in the children of disobedience, the god of this world, and Satan the Devil. Satan attacks in subtle ways, including as an angel of light who counterfeits the gospel, which leads many to fail in resistance without realizing it. A common cause of spiritual depression is hopeless regrets over time spent outside the church, late baptism, little effort while in the church, missed opportunities for service, and what one might have attained by now if only one had responded earlier to God's call. To avoid misery over the past, common sense principles must be applied. To be miserable in the present because of some failure in the past wastes time and energy since the past cannot be changed. Dwelling on the past causes failure in the present by crippling action now. If one truly regrets wasted time in the past, the response is to make up for it in the present through diligent effort rather than sitting in dejection. The apostle Paul illustrates this approach by regretting that he came into the Christian life so late yet working harder than others by the grace of God. Jesus Christ teaches the same principle in the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Those hired at the eleventh hour receive the same wage as those who worked all day because God is just and sovereign and gives according to grace rather than length of service. What matters is not what one once was but what one is now. By the grace of God a person is forgiven, reconciled to God by the blood of His Son, a child of God, adopted into His family, and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. It is not the time of entry into the church that matters but the fact that one is in the church now. This manifestation of spiritual depression stems from morbid preoccupation with self in judgment. Christians must leave judgment to God, deny self, and follow Jesus Christ. The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that the Christian looks at Jesus Christ without a veil and imitates His example. Jesus Christ was a master of Scripture, set a blameless example, knew human nature, was master of His emotions, and was dedicated to doing the work of God the Father. To combat spiritual depression one must study the Scriptures for insight into Satan's methods, apply common sense, become spiritually awakened through Bible study, prayer, and fasting, and focus on an intimate relationship with God. In the evening of life one must not lag in diligence but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. God promises to restore the years that the locust has eaten. Never look back again, never waste time or energy in the present, forget the past except to learn its lessons, and rejoice in the fact that if one is a true Christian one is in Jesus Christ by the grace of God.