Hope Prevails Bible Study Resources for Depression
Helpful articles and videos to use as a resource for those facilitating or participating in a Hope Prevails Bible Study.
Welcome to the Resource page for the Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
A personal welcome from Dr. Michelle Bengtson.
Introduction to Dr. Michelle Bengtson.
Billy Graham has said, “What oxygen is to the lungs hope is to our world.”
Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares about the statistics surrounding the growing epidemic of depression and offers to speak to your group regarding depression’s signs, symptoms, and the hope that exists for those who suffer.
Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares three points on depression.
- What is depression?
- Causes of depression.
- Spiritual components of depression.
Dr. Michelle Bengtson interviewed on Life Today TV by Sheila Walsh and Randy Robison.
To watch the video, click here: Dr. Michelle Bengtson on Life Today TV.
Dr. Michelle Bengtson’s TV Interview with Todd Cantelon of 100 Huntley Street, Canada’s longest running daily talk show.
Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares who Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression is for. It’s not just for the depressed individual. It’s for everyone.
Letter to My Depressed Self
Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares a letter she wrote to herself and included in the book, Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression.
Chapter 1: This thing called depression
This thing called depression.
Chapter 2: You are not alone
Hope-Filled Perspective: Depressed? Anxious? There is help & hope. Do you want to get well?
Related Blog Post: Do You Want to Get Well? 5 Important Lessons on Healing
Related Blog 2: Do you want to get well?
Hope Prevails! Maybe you can relate
Related Blog Post: Hope Prevails! Maybe You Can Relate
Chapter 3: The underlying causes of depression
Hope Prevails! No shame in depression
Related Blog Post: Hope Prevails! There Is No Shame In Depression
Chapter 4: Recognize you have an enemy
Depression contributes to loneliness
Chapter 5: Recover your joy
Dr. Michelle Bengtson: The Thief of Joy (James Robison / LIFE Today TV excerpt from full interview).
Hope filled perspective – Don’t let comparison steal your joy
Hope Filled Perspective: You Can Have Joy
Hope-Filled Perspective: Don’t Compare Your Backstage With Someone Else’s Onstage
Hope Prevails! Joy Comes in the Morning
Related Blog Post: Hope Prevails! Joy Comes in the Morning
Seek God’s Presence to Recover Joy
Chapter 6: Reclaim your peace
Hope-filled perspective: there is no shame in needing help
Anxiety the Thief of Peace
Chapter 7: Reestablish your identity
Hope-filled perspective: You are who God says you are and no less
9 Truths from God’s Word: What God Says About You
Reestablish your identity
Hope-filled perspective: there is no shame in needing help
Anxiety the Thief of Peace
No Matter What You are a Child of God
Chapter 8: Know your worth
Your Worth Your Identity Whose Opinion Counts
Related Blog Post: Whose Opinion Counts
Know your worth
Every fear is based on a lie
You Are Worth It
Chapter 9: Remember your secure destiny
Your Destiny is Secure
Chapter 10: Be confident that nothing separates you from God’s love
God is Always With Us
Nothing Separates Us From God’s Love
Your Destiny is Secure
Chapter 11: God uses your pain
7 Unexpected Ways Depression Changed and Challenged Me
Your Pain is Never Wasted
Chapter 12: The way to hope
Free to Choose
Take Time for Praise and Gratitude
Hope Prevails Bible Study Music Playlist
Visit this Music Playlist on YouTube for inspiration and encouraging music referenced in each chapter of the Hope Prevails Bible Study.
Helpful Articles on Depression
Summer Depression: Why Feeling Low in Summer Does Not Mean You Are Failing
Summer is often portrayed as a season of ease. Longer days. Warmer weather. Lemonade and BBQs. More opportunities for rest and connection. Yet for many people, summer quietly intensifies emotional struggles rather than relieving them. Summer depression is one of those often-overlooked struggles. As a neuropsychologist and as someone who walks closely with individuals navigating depression, I want you to know this truth. Feeling low in summer does not mean something is wrong with you.
7 Tips for Winter Blues Rooted in Faith, Scripture, and Self-Care
January has a way of feeling heavier than expected. As the holidays fade and routines return, many people notice a quiet dip in mood that’s hard to explain. As a clinical neuropsychologist, and someone who has walked through depression personally, I’ve seen how this season can affect both the brain and the heart, and how hope, truth, and intentional care can begin to lift that weight.
If you’ve been feeling off, here are 7 steps you can take, both practical and spiritual, to begin shifting your perspective and restoring your joy.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Explained: Faith, Neuroscience, and Practical Strategies for Winter Well-Being
For many people, winter brings more than cold weather. It brings emotional heaviness, fatigue, and discouragement that can quietly erode hope. Seasonal affective disorder explained through both science and lived experience shows why winter blues affect millions, including committed Christians who love God deeply yet still struggle mentally during darker months. As a clinical neuropsychologist and author of Hope Prevails, I want to help you understand what’s happening in your brain, why faith still matters deeply in this season, and how Scripture and self-care work together to protect your mental health when winter feels overwhelming.
How to Cope with Holiday Sadness and Loneliness
The holiday season is often painted as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. Images of families laughing around the dinner table, gifts wrapped in sparkling paper, and twinkling lights fill our social media feeds. But for many, this season brings a different reality. Holiday sadness and loneliness can surface unexpectedly and feel heavier when the world seems to be celebrating. If you find yourself dreading the holidays rather than delighting in them, you are not alone and you are not without hope.
When Christians Face Depression: Finding Strength and Hope in God’s Promises
Christians are often expected to radiate joy and live in unshakable peace—but what happens when depression hits? Even faithful, Scripture-reading believers can experience its weight. As a clinical neuropsychologist who’s treated thousands, I’ve been there too. My darkest valley became a place of growth, compassion, and understanding. Learn how, when Christians face depression with faith, they find strength and hope in God’s promises.
Finding Light in the Darkness: Coping with and Preventing Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, many of us find ourselves feeling a little less energized, a little more withdrawn, and perhaps even a little blue. For some, these feelings go beyond the typical “winter blues” and manifest as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—a form of depression that occurs at specific times of the year, most often during the fall and winter months. If this sounds familiar, these 5 simple strategies will help you cope with SAD.
Warning Signs Your Teen Is More than Just Sad
Sadness is a normal part of life, but what if your teen is facing something deeper? Lori Wildenberg opens up about her journey of nearly losing her daughter to teen depression and the critical signs she missed. In her story, she shares how to recognize warning signs, provide support, and encourage teens to see asking for help as a brave and vital step. Read on to discover how Lori helped her daughter navigate her mental health struggle—and how you can support your teen too.
Depression: An Invisible Illness But No Less Real
Depression is an invisible illness, affecting millions but often ignored because it’s unseen. Unlike a visible injury, it’s easily misunderstood, and stigma remains. Yet, it’s one of the leading global health challenges. With understanding and compassion, we can help tear down the stigma and be part of the solution. There is real hope and help for those who suffer.
How To Combat Depression with God’s Word
Depression can feel overwhelming and isolating, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to face it alone. There are practical ways to combat depression, including turning to God’s Word for strength and guidance. Learn how Scripture helped me overcome the darkest moments of my own journey with depression, and how you can use these powerful truths to find hope and healing.
Meet the Author
Dr. Michelle Bengtson
DR. MICHELLE BENGTSON (PhD, Nova Southeastern University) has been a neuropsychologist for more than twenty years. She completed postdoctoral training at both the Henry Ford Hospital and the University of Alabama Health Sciences Center. She lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her husband, their two sons, and two dogs. She offers more hope at www.DrMichelleBengtson.com. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
GET A FREE EBOOK!
FREE EBOOK!
Are you a friend or family member of a depressed loved one? This free eBook will help you understand what your depressed loved one is experiencing and how you can help.
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