Researchers have discovered what many Christians have know for a while, that trusting in God wards off depression.

Scientists conducting a new study found that going to church, a synagogue or a mosque led to better mental health in the over 50s who had the condition, than doing sport, volunteering for charity or other community groups.

The Global Burden of Disease study was looking into the effect of social activities on mood and questioned 9,000 Europeans, but the researchers could not say whether the positive effects of churchgoing was caused by having a faith or a sense of belonging.

The Bible is full of wisdom that scientists are slowly discovering for themselves, as this study shows. There are many verses in the Holy book that link following the Lord and feeling joyful. Here are just a few:

‘You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’ Psalm 16:11.

‘And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.’ Psalm 35:9.

‘Let all those that seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, the Lord be magnified,’ Psalm 40:16.

‘Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.’

Two of my favourite verses are: ‘The joy of the Lord is my strength,’ (Psalm 28:7) and ‘For you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands’ (Isaiah 55:12).

The Lord Jesus Christ told us to cast all of our cares on Him and the Bible tells us to draw close to God and He will draw close to you. I know that whenever I am going through troubled times if I surrender to God and draw close to Him, I always start feeling uplifted.

If you are feeling low now, read some of the verses about joy quoted here. Memorise them if possible. Tell God about your situation and ask for his help. His promise in His Word is that He will never leave you, so ‘delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your desire.’ Psalm 37:4.

(Please note that those with a chemical imbalance in their brain causing clinical depression should seek medical help until they feel the Lord has fully healed them.)

May God bless you.