Despondency, often understood as a state of low spirits or loss of hope, is a condition that is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible. The Scriptures provide guidance, encouragement, and examples of how to deal with such feelings, emphasizing reliance on God and His promises.

Psalm 42:5-6 :
"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. O my God, my soul despairs within me; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—from Mount Mizar."

In this passage, the psalmist speaks directly to his own soul, questioning its despondency and urging it to hope in God. This internal dialogue reflects a common biblical approach to despondency: acknowledging the feeling but redirecting focus towards God and His faithfulness.

1 Kings 19:4 :
"But he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, LORD,' he said. 'Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.'"

Elijah, a prophet of God, experiences profound despondency after a significant spiritual victory. His plea to God reveals the depth of his despair. Yet, God responds not with rebuke but with care, providing Elijah with rest and sustenance, demonstrating His compassion and understanding of human frailty.

Philippians 4:6-7 :
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The Apostle Paul encourages believers to combat despondency through prayer and thanksgiving. By presenting concerns to God, believers are promised a peace that transcends understanding, which acts as a guard over their hearts and minds.

Isaiah 41:10 :
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness."

This assurance from God to His people serves as a powerful antidote to despondency. The promise of God's presence, strength, and support provides a foundation for overcoming feelings of despair and fear.

Matthew 11:28-30 :
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to find rest in Him. This invitation highlights the relief and comfort available through a relationship with Christ, offering a solution to the heavy burdens that often accompany despondency.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 :
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Paul speaks of God as the source of all comfort, emphasizing His role in providing solace during times of trouble. This comfort not only aids the individual but also equips them to support others facing similar struggles.

These scriptures collectively underscore the biblical perspective that despondency, while a common human experience, can be addressed through faith, prayer, and reliance on God's promises and presence.Numbers 17:12,13
And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
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Deuteronomy 28:65-67
And among these nations shall you find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the LORD shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
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Job 3:1-26
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
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Job 17:13-16
If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
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Psalm 31:22
For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before your eyes: nevertheless you heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to you.
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Psalm 77:7-9
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more?
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Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
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Isaiah 2:19
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he rises to shake terribly the earth.
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Jeremiah 2:25
Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst: but you said, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
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Jeremiah 8:20
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
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Jeremiah 18:12
And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
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Lamentations 3:1-21
I AM the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
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Lamentations 5:22
But you have utterly rejected us; you are very wroth against us.
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Hosea 10:8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
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Jonah 2:2-4
And said, I cried by reason of my affliction to the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and you heard my voice.
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Micah 7:1-7
Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fruit.
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Matthew 24:30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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Luke 13:27,28
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not from where you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.
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Luke 23:29,30
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts which never gave suck.
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Revelation 6:14-17
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
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Revelation 9:5,6
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.
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Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... religion which is delivered in the Scriptures, and which ... custom is just a kind of
general pestilence in ... must they not have forthwith given way to despondency? ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

John iv. 13, 14
... flourishing, allowing it neither to feel despondency nor the ... so much stung by what
is general as by ... and goes over its contents, and searches the Scriptures? ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxii john iv 13.htm

Report of Mr. Geo. Borrow's Late Proceedings in Spain
... was frequently overcast with the clouds of despondency. ... ignorance of the Spaniards
in general, I have ... districts the chances of the Scriptures are considerably ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/report of mr geo borrows.htm

The Great Commission
... Crushed by despondency, grief, and despair, the disciples met ... their beloved Master
explaining the Scriptures in the ... be in their ranks"the General of the ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 3 the great commission.htm

2 Timothy iii. 16, 17
... Thou hast the Scriptures, he says, in place of me. ... He is desirous to console the
despondency of his disciple ... Here again he calls virtue in general righteousness ...
/.../homily ix 2 timothy iii.htm

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The ...
... own private fancies, than to a general consensus of ... pliability as will make His own
Scriptures mean anything ... farewell to peace in days of despondency and gloom ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon v interpretation of holy.htm

John's Recognition of Jesus as the Messiah.
... life as they are stated in the Scriptures; and we ... and spontaneous activity; to apply
the general laws of ... of wonder if, in some hour of despondency, the worldly ...
/.../section 41 johns recognition of.htm

Chrysostom -- Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
... He made a profound study of the Scriptures, the whole ... a relative departing, yield
not to despondency; give thyself ... so in respect to affairs in general, we all ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/chrysostom excessive grief at.htm

Acts i. 12
... imitates his Master, ever discoursing from the Scriptures, and saying ... come out of
it, people in general have seen ... the rays of the sun, when despondency on your ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iii acts i 12.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... 1. ITS GENERAL MEANING: ... to trace the development of prayer in the Scriptures. ... consist
of varying moods: complaint, supplication, confession, despondency, praise ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

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