Why does Proverbs 12:25 say that anxiety causes depression?

(1) The considerate words of comfort used by the Lord are illustrative of that tender compassion of His, ever in active exercise towards those who sought Him in their distress. He knew the intense mental depression which accompanies protracted physical suffering, and especially so when, as in this case, the disease repeatedly baffles human attempts to cure. The heart is sick with oft-deferred hope, and the debilitated frame is further weakened by the added burden of nervous anxiety and worry. But while "heaviness in the heart of a man makes it stoop, a good word makes it glad" (Prov. 12:25).

There are many instances of the Lord removing such feelings of distress by His word. To the trembling woman before Him, whether her fears were the indirect result of the wasting disease from which she had now been freed, or whether they arose from her apprehension that she had offended the Great Physician, He addressed her with the words, both tender and strength-giving, "Daughter, be of good comfort."

"Anxiety in the heart of one causes depression." Is there ever a good reason for anxiety? No! For the Word of God tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let you requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7). Thus, in place of depression, believers are entitled to the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. Precious alternative! This will certainly produce "a good word" to make the heart glad (v. 25).

Heaviness in the heart renders the hand powerless, and hinders the eye from seeing the opportunities which God takes care to present. A good word gladdens the heart in the midst of manifold trials; and what an unfailing supply does Scripture afford! If it be so with the Old Testament, characterized as it is by the law, how much is it with the New Testament where the gospel gives the tone! The very word means glad tidings; and this is truly beyond question, save to such as, believing in their wretched and guilty selves, have no faith in God. Its blessedness is not only that it comes forth from the infinite love of God, giving His only begotten Son and in Him life eternal, but that He as Son of man meets all that could hinder or disable, in the cross where God made the sinless One sin for us. It is therefore directly and expressly for those who have neither goodness nor strength, but are sinners and enemies, breaking their hard hearts with grace, to fill them with His light and love. As He said who told it out with matchless simplicity and fullness, "Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." "Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out."

The truth therefore of the gospel is, that they who believe it are justified freely by the grace of God, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; that He is Himself our righteousness by faith, even as He is eternally the right arm of Jehovah's righteousness, in nature and in fact; that the time therefore of doubt and despondency is past for all who have an ear for God, seeing that it is He who is the judge of all who now "preaches peace by Jesus Christ." There is no saving and effectual gospel of God for the careless, and impenitent, and unbelieving. Grace saves only by that faith which is itself the gift of God. As it is written (Rom. 4:16), "It is of faith, that it might be by grace: to the end the promise might be sure" to all who are followers of Abraham's faith. Christian doctrines are realities to the believer only, and it is evident that none can believe truly in a Saviour who does not first believe that he is personally lost. And such faith produces its emotional results. A conviction of sin clothes the heart of the believer with despair and dread: for he believes that God is just, while as yet unacquainted with the mystery of His grace; for the same reason a belief in the truth of God's great salvation fills it with the joy and peace of God. As the spirit of wisdom has before declared: "Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad" (Prov. 12:25). The heaviness is in and of ourselves, and fostered by the devil, who skilfully manipulates the evil heart of unbelief. The good word, or gospel, is from without; from God who might take vengeance, but who chooses mercy. In effect the truth of the gospel is the word of life eternal or of endless death, according as it is received or rejected by those to whom it is addressed.

And there is another characteristic about anxiety. It looks unbelievingly ahead. Unbelief draws dark pictures of despair and occupies the mind with a day which may never come. How different it ought to be and will be if we but follow His word, "Be not careful then as to the morrow, for the morrow will be careful for itself: sufficient for the day is its own evil."

It is unbelief, accompanied by loving the world or the things in the world, which produces anxiety, darkness, and doubt, as in the Gentiles who knew not God. If we know Him, and the blessedness of His kingdom, and the perfection of His righteousness, why be careful for the morrow? For the morrow, says the Lord, shall be careful for itself. Has He failed us today, or in the past? What evil has He ever done us, what good thing withheld from us? Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. Even if the hardest trials come, do we not know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those called according to purpose?

The Lord asked if we can add a cubit (18 inches) to our physical height by worrying. If our anxious thoughts cannot change even the small matters, what is the sense of anxiety in reference to anything? Worry only distresses us and often others too. It can change nothing. Why not then be calm and at peace in trusting the Lord? He has certainly always proven faithful.

Spreading all out before the One whose love is as great as His power, we are assured that instead of fretting under some trying circumstance, or being burdened with anxious care, our hearts will be kept by the peace of God which passes all understanding. The trial may not be removed, nor the request granted but, having poured out our anxieties into the ear of God He will pour His peace into our hearts.

Ver. 5. I have heard a man say, I seek to act righteously to others, and I expect them to act righteously by me. But that falls much below what we have here. Then we are told to "Be anxious for nothing" (ver. 6). Bengel has said, "Care and prayer are as opposed to each other as fire and water." If you really know what it is to have to do with God, the care goes; and if you are still carrying it, you have failed in prayer to God. It is showing us the secret of having a quiet heart and mind. We cannot keep our own hearts. There are things come along that disturb and distress us, but there is One who can keep it for us. And "in everything" — great matters and small ones. G. V. W. used to speak of "handing up every thing to God." Of course there is always room for thanksgiving and earnest supplication. And then I have the sense of having left it in the hands of One of almighty power: and here is the secret of a quiet heart and mind.

We may not be fully conscious of the fact that sin and self-will are the cause of our anxious fears. It is so easy to deceive ourselves and make ourselves believe that someone or something else is responsible. However, we will never get rid of our fears or have any real peace until we admit the truth and get things right with God.