Depression

Some Reflections on Ministerial Burnout

Mark Jones
Nov 13, 2023
One of the most disinteresting comments that can come from a pastor’s mouth when asked how he’s doing is, “I’m so busy.” It is not only disinteresting, but if he has a habit of saying that each time he’s asked about his ministry, he may be, either implicitly or explicitly, suggesting that God is a...

What the Bible Teaches About Depression and Happiness

Grant Van Leuven
Jul 5, 2021
An old spiritual laments, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrows.” A modern rock song languishes, “You don’t know how it feels to be me!” But Jesus does . In Matthew 26:36-46 , Jesus’s agonizing, lonely prayers in Gethsemane show the hellish human suffering of His soul before...

Charles Haddon Spurgeon and His Struggle with Depression

Simonetta Carr
May 11, 2021
Charles Haddon Spurgeon and His Struggle with Depression Charles Spurgeon is known as one of the greatest preachers in history. Not everyone knows about his ongoing battle with depression. Even fewer people know about his advocacy for people who lived with the same – or a similar - condition. While...

Spiritual Despair: Consciousness of Despair

Bruce Baugus
Dec 5, 2016
A piercing observer of the human condition, Søren Kierkegaard argues that despair is the sickness unto death. The very structure of being human is such that we can only be what we were created to be and are called to become by resting transparently in God. This means, among other things, that being...

'Mindfulness' or the mind of Christ: A false dilemma

Matt Jenson
Feb 12, 2015
"Come to me all you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) Oh, the beauty of Jesus' invitation. Who has not known the weariness that Jesus evokes, and the almost palpable relief in the promise of succor? For the anxious in particular, no words are sweeter. And for...

'Mindfulness' or the mind of Christ: A false dilemma

Matt Jenson
Feb 12, 2015
"Come to me all you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) Oh, the beauty of Jesus' invitation. Who has not known the weariness that Jesus evokes, and the almost palpable relief in the promise of succor? For the anxious in particular, no words are sweeter. And for...

Tangled Up in Blue: Depression and the Christian Life

Sammy Rhodes
Aug 25, 2014
"Why doesn't the church know what to do with depression?" That's the question I've been asking myself since the almost unbearably sad news broke that Robin Williams had taken his own life last week. There were a plethora of responses. Some touching. Some naive. More than a few lacking the nuances...

Tangled Up in Blue: Depression and the Christian Life

Sammy Rhodes
Aug 25, 2014
"Why doesn't the church know what to do with depression?" That's the question I've been asking myself since the almost unbearably sad news broke that Robin Williams had taken his own life last week. There were a plethora of responses. Some touching. Some naive. More than a few lacking the nuances...

More Resources on Depression

Robert Brady
Aug 20, 2014
As a follow up to Todd's post on resources on depression , I wanted to share a few items that the Alliance keeps around on the topic. These and more can be found at ReformedResources.org . And as a reminder, if you are a Friend of the Alliance , your shipping is free; if you are part of our...

Excellent resources on depression

Todd Pruitt
Aug 13, 2014
Depression is a very real problem for many within the body of Christ. There are varied causes behind depression. Sometimes it the result of very poor choices. Sometimes there are physiological explanations. But often times the causes of depression are as elusive as the wind. While depression is...