THOUGH I AM HARDLY a psychiatrist, and the Book of Job is far from a textbook on mental health, we can easily see how much Job’s experience displays the classic symptoms of clinical depression. And though the text is not intended as therapeutic, it can provide hope and clarity to individuals grappling with mental health challenges nowadays.
All Birth and No Death?
Chapter 3 presents the first major signs of Job’s despair. After sitting in silence for seven days, he finally opens his mouth and curses the day of his birth (v. 1). He wishes he had died in the womb (v. 11) and longs for death to free him from his misery (v. 21). This kind of hopelessness and preoccupation with death is a classic symptom of major depression.
All Pain and No Pleasure
As we read on, Job’s anguish only intensifies. In chapter 6, he describes his suffering as “arrows of the Almighty” that have pierced him (v. 4). He has lost his appetite and can find no comfort (vv. 6-7). Again, changes in appetite and an inability to feel pleasure are hallmarks of clinical depression.
All Accusation and No Arbitration
Perhaps most heartbreaking is Job’s sense of alienation from God. In chapter 9, he laments that there is “no arbiter” between him and the Almighty (v. 33). In chapter 13, he accuses God of hunting him like a lion and multiplying his wounds “without cause” (v. 14). This feeling of being abandoned or even persecuted by God is all too common among those in the depths of despair.
All Night and No Sleep
Job’s depression also manifests in physical symptoms. In chapter 7, he describes restless nights full of tossing and turning (v. 4). His flesh is clothed with worms and dirt, and his skin hardens and breaks out (v. 5). Chronic pain and insomnia frequently accompany mood disorders.
Worthless Friends and Whitewashed Words
Perhaps the most telling thing is the way Job pushes away the people who care about him. He accuses his friends of being worthless physicians who whitewash their advice (13:4). He even turns on his wife, telling her she speaks “as one of the foolish women would speak” (2:10). Although he is correct in not listening to some of their so-called advice, isolating himself from social support is a dangerous tendency for those battling depression.
Great Agony and Little Hope
Overall, Job’s portrait is one of a man in deep agony—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Yet even in his darkest moments, he clings to a sliver of hope and faith. “Though he slay me, I will hope in him,” Job declares (13:15). This is a powerful reminder that God is present even when he feels absent and that his love is constant even when our feelings fluctuate.
If you have dealt with depression, you will hopefully find some comfort in Job’s story. It assures us that we are not alone. It can assure us that even the most righteous can struggle with despair. More importantly, it points us to a God who is not afraid of our doubts and questions.
Photo by Nilay Ramoliya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-s-body-covered-with-cloth-3111251/