aBible.com     

Proverbs 12:25 - Dealing With Anxiety Which Can Cause Depression.

Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) Anxiety in the heart 
of man causes depression, But a good word makes 
it glad.  

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) Anxiety weighs down the 
heart, but a kind word cheers it up.  

Proverbs 12:25 (NLT) Worry weighs a person 
down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.  

PREFACE

Some stresses/anxieties God has made 
provisions for and expects us to make use of them to 
find relief i.e., medication, surgery, 
counseling, etc. 

INTRODUCTION

The face glows with joy when the heart is 
full of light and peace. But the spirit is broken 
by continued sorrow of heart. When anxiety is 
permitted to reign, resilience is steadily weakened, 
until at last the resistance of the mind may be 
broken. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

Anxiety/Heaviness can be greatly lightened 
by a word of hope and encouragement, and an 
exhortation to faith in the promises of God (see Isa. 
35:3, 4). [SDA Bible Commentary] 

Anxiety loses some of its force in the face 
of a positive, encouraging word. Barnabass 
encouragement of Paul is a great example of this (see Acts 
4:36; 9:27; 11:2"30; Gal. 2:1). [Nelson SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Power of the Mind
   The relation that exists between the mind 
and the body is very intimate. When one is 
affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the 
mind affects the health to a far greater degree 
than many realize. Many of the diseases from 
which men suffer are the result of mental 
depression. Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, 
distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and 
to invite decay and death.  
   Disease is sometimes produced, and is 
often greatly aggravated, by the imagination. Many 
are lifelong invalids who might be well if they 
only thought so. Many imagine that every slight 
exposure will cause illness, and the evil effect is 
produced because it is expected. Many die from 
disease the cause of which is wholly imaginary.  
   Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, 
promote health and prolong life. A contented mind, a 
cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength 
to the soul. "A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth 
good like a medicine." Proverbs 17:22.  
   In the treatment of the sick the effect 
of mental influence should not be overlooked. 
Rightly used, this influence affords one of the most 
effective agencies for combating disease. {MH 241} 
[Remnant SOP SB re Proverbs 17:22] 

COMMENTARY

Anxiety/Worry and Prayer
   Worry is wearisome. It is fatigue to our 
emotions like physical pain is to our bodies. Worry 
can trigger stomachaches, high blood pressure, 
headaches, anxiety disorders and depression. It is an 
enemy to a joy filled and productive life. Worry 
can so weigh you down that you are immobilized 
by lack of energy and fear.  
   Your family tree may have borne the fruit 
of worry over generations, but you can purge 
obsession with negative thinking through trust in the 
Lord. Jesus teaching is very clear, But seek 
first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all 
these things will be given to you as well. 
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow 
will worry about itself. Each day has enough 
trouble of its own (Matthew 6:33-34). Exercised 
trust energizes the weary.  
   Your personality may lend itself to 
worry. You can see it in your furrowed brow, or 
brooding countenance. You worry about the economy and 
its effect on your retirement. You wring your 
hands over the war and wonder when it will ever 
end. You are stressed out over work, because of 
situations and people you are unable to change. Anxiety 
may have paralyzed you as a parent, because you 
dont feel qualified to carry out your 
responsibilities.  
   Alcohol has become your outlet for those 
things you cannot control, but the gnawing fear is 
still there the next day. One simple solution is 
to make a two-column prayer list with the 
headings Things I cant change and Things 
I can change. Ask God for faith and 
patience with the former and wisdom and courage to 
act on the latter. Prayer is your time-tested 
prescription for worry:  
   Do not be anxious about anything, but 
in everything, by prayer and petition, with 
thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 
4:6).  
   Furthermore, look for those who long to 
be encouraged, who feel trapped by the 
anxieties of life (Luke 21:34). They need the truth of 
Gods word, because the cares of this world try to 
marginalize the truth. Truth can be forgotten in the 
fearful suffering of severe trials. Your kind words 
remind them of Christs care and concern for 
their health, family and their faith.  
   Lift yourself and others out of the 
downward spiral of depression by cheering them up 
with truth. Read the Bible out loud with a friend 
and meditate on its promises that are filled 
with hope and encouragement. Use uncertainty as a 
reason not to worry, but rest in the Lord. You are 
freed up when you dont fret, but apply faith 
instead. Above all else, His word wins over worry and 
provides strength for your faith journey!  
   Jesus answered, It is written: Man 
shall not live on bread alone, but on every word 
that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 
4:4). [Wisdom Hunters Devotional] 

PRAYER the Better Way
   Anxiety weighs down the human heart 
(Proverbs 12:25 NRSV). But theres a better way. 
Invite God to speak to the problem. Capture 
every thought and make it give up and obey 
Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV).  
   Slap handcuffs on the culprit, and march 
it before the One who has all authority! Jesus 
says, Get away from here, Satan! And as the 
discerning, sober-minded air traffic controller of your 
mind, you refuse to let the thought have the time 
of day. 
   Lay claim to every biblical promise you 
can remember, and set out to learn a few more. 
Give Satan no quarter. Give his lies no welcome. 
Resist the urge to exaggerate, overstate, or 
simplify. Focus on the facts. For all you know, God 
may want you to be a poster child for growth. 
What you can do is pray and trust! [Max Lucado 
Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com] 

Anxiety/Worry and ENCOURAGEMENT
   A word of encouragement does 
wonders! (Proverbs 12:25 TLB). 
   If someone came to you today and said, 
Lets go have some coffee; I want to point out all 
the areas in your life that need changing, 
you probably wouldnt be thrilled to have that 
conversation. You might think, Who do you think you 
are? You might become resentful, rebellious, and 
resistant. 
   Heres a better strategy. When you have 
a speak-the-truth-in-love session with 
somebody, begin and end on a positive note, and affirm 
these things: 
   1. You love and care for that person.
   2. You will pray for and help that person.
   3. You believe that person can change.
   Paul did this in 1 and 2 Corinthians by 
beginning and ending with affirmation. For example, 
Paul starts one letter by saying, I always 
thank God for you, and ends with, My love to 
all of you in Christ Jesus. Between that 
hes dealing with some very tough truths while 
also giving affirmation in the middle: I have 
great confidence in you, and I have a lot of 
reasons to be proud of you (2 Corinthians 7:4 
GW). 
   Notice that Paul used the word and. 
Never use the word but in a confrontation. 
The moment you do, whatever you say before or 
after will be totally ignored and invalidated: 
I think youre a great person, but ., 
Weve been friends a long time, but . 
Instead, use the word and: Youre a great 
person, and I believe you can be even better, 
Weve got a great relationship, and I believe 
there are some things we need to work on. 
Thats what it means to affirm someone. [Daily 
Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

Anxiety/Worry and KINDNESS
   Kindness is commended throughout the book 
of Proverbs not as an emotion felt, but as an 
action performed. We may feel compassion, sorrow or 
regret at the misfortunes of others, but it is when 
we turn those feelings into actions that we 
show kindness. Kindness is one of the most 
endearing and heartwarming expressions of the human 
heart. Nothing lifts us up like receiving a little 
kindness, and nothing strengthens and enlarges us like 
giving it. There may be many Christian practices 
that are hard for us to implement, but this isn't 
one of them. If we simply show kindness, we will 
demonstrate something of the heart of God. [NIV Once A 
Day Bible] 

Anxiety/Worry and REST
   Sometimes we just need rest.
   Experts say that worry and anxiety 
actually can cause deep depression. The Bible told us 
this long ago. Proverbs 12:25 says, Anxiety in 
the heart of man causes depression, but a good 
word makes it glad (verse 25 NKJV). 
   We might think that worry is somehow a 
virtue, but worry actually can be a sin because 
its a failure to trust God. Nothing touches the 
Christian that has not first passed through the loving 
hands of God. 
   Think of the prophet Daniel, a man of 
God. He faithfully delivered the word of God to 
kings, and no one intimidated him. But some who 
knew Daniel, other officials in the kingdom, were 
very jealous of him. 
   Because Daniel was such a man of 
integrity, they couldnt find anything in his life to 
trip him up. So they decided the only way they 
could bring something against Daniel was to find 
something concerning him and his God. 
   They knew that Daniel had the habit of 
praying every day. So they convinced King Darius to 
sign a decree that no one could pray to anyone 
except the king for the next 30 days. And if 
someone disobeyed the decree, he would have them 
thrown into a den of lions. 
   Daniel, however, prayed as he always 
prayed, and immediately the authorities arrested him 
and threw them into a den of lions to be fed to 
them alive. King Darius, who liked Daniel, spent 
the entire night worrying. Meanwhile, Daniel 
slept like a baby in the lions den. And the 
next morning, the king gave the order to bring 
out Daniel, who was very much alive. 
   Psalm 127:2 says, God gives rest to 
his loved ones (NLT). We can rest in the 
Lord, knowing that He is in control and at work in 
our lives. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Positive Attitude. Gratitude, rejoicing, 
benevolence, trust in God's love and care--these are 
health's greatest safeguard. To the Israelites they 
were to be the very keynote of life. {MH 281.3} 
[Remnant SOP SB] 

Since anxiety can cause depression, then 
Phi. 4:6-7 is the solution for both as it tells 
us how God expects us to deal with anxiety: The 
Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, 
but in everything, by prayer and petition, with 
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace 
of God, which transcends all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ 
Jesus. Phil 4:5-7 (NIV) FGibbs 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Psalm 42:5 - Finding Hope in Discouragement 
and Depression. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200610-0847.html 

Psalm 42:5 - Dealing With Discouragement and 
Depression. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190105-2037.html 

Psalm 43:5 - Remedies for Discouragement and 
Depression. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20120502-1812.html 

Proverbs 17:22 - A Merry, Joyful, Happy, 
Cheerful Heart Is Like Medicine. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160331-1405.html 

Proverbs 15:13 (NKJV) A merry heart makes a 
cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the 
spirit is broken.  

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE