The Bible on the blues
Issue 371: August, 2009 |
All the research suggests we live in the age of depression. According to one article I read, those born after 1945 are 10 times more likely to suffer from depression than those born 50 years before.1 Talk to any pastor and they will tell you that Christians are not excluded. That's why this Briefing explores what God has to say to those who are suffering from depression and anxiety.
Our aim isn't to examine the lives of those biblical heroes who have suffered with depression, even though there are a number of those. Nor is it to work through the Psalms and their outpouring of grief over this broken world, even though this would be a good thing to do. Instead, we want to remember that God, in the gospel, speaks the same word to all people, whether they are struggling with depression or not.
My article ‘Trusting in the Dark’ reflects on how the gospel speaks to those suffering from anxiety and depression. It's based on my own experience of wrestling with the ‘black dog’. Jean Williams's review of D Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Spiritual Depression is a reminder that Christians have been dealing with the issue biblically for long before the time medication was an option. (We're not saying that medication is wrong, but we are suggesting that the occurrence of depression and anxiety is often connected with deep issues about how we think of ourselves before God. That's why it presents an opportunity to grow in our understanding of ourselves and of our Lord.)
To round out the issue, Ben Underwood's article on sloth is a timely reminder that, even in a culture obsessed with busyness, we are still prone to sloth. And Rob Smith's conclusion to his article on the glory of God is, to use an ockerism, an absolute ripper. If you felt like you were missing the conclusion last month, that's because you were! Rob's reflections on the nature of God's glory in the New Testament are not to be missed. May you read them slowly and prayerfully. PG
(P.S. UK Briefing readers in need of the Bible brief for August can now download 20 studies by Michelle Philp on Micah.)
1 http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/Depression_Information/facts.htm.
Up front
- Miraculous godliness
- The blessing of unanswered prayer
- What kind of discussion is this?
- If I said I wasn't a hypocrite, would you believe me?
- Contextualization vs. chameleonization
- Water
- Jars of clay: Fruitcakes and the fruit of walk-up evangelism—Roger Hokin tells how he went from having Christians walk up and evangelize him to doing walk-up evangelism himself.
Features
- Trusting in the dark—Paul Grimmond shares some personal and biblical reflections on depression and anxiety.
- Sloth: Is it our problem?—Ben Underwood shows that our busyness and toil is just evidence we're caught within sloth's grip..
- The story of the glory of God (Part 2)—Rob Smith brings his series on the story of God's glory to a ringing crescendo.
Departments
Bookshelf
- Spiritual Depression by D Martyn Lloyd-Jones—Jean Williams takes a look at a Christian classic that assists every Christian in overcoming discouragement and recovering joy.
- Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by DA Carson—Alan Lukabyo explains why this particular Christian biography is well worth a read.
Resource talk
- The Briefing, to go—Tony Payne introduces our brand new Matthias MiniZines.
Bible brief
- Daily readings on Micah—by Michelle Philp.
Interchange
I would like to say a big thank you to Paul Grimmond for his article ‘Trusting in the dark’. There are insights in this article that provided me with greater understanding of my own condition, which I had not seen articulated anywhere else and from which I believe I can move forward towards management of D&A. Paul's willingness to be ‘real’ and vulnerable for the love of the Lord Jesus is a fine example to those of us who, though undoubtedly sinners saved by grace, struggle with issues that, at times, seem insurmountable. May the Lord make his face to shine on you, Paul!
Jemima Hamilton of Location not supplied (13/05/2010)
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Thanks to Paul Grimmond for your article on depression and anxiety. So much of what you said was very true of my own experience with it over the last 18 months. I too have spent months wondering where my value as a Christian could now be found, given that I couldn't even bring myself to answer the phone (a difficulty in ministry).
I so appreciated your honesty. I found great comfort in reading that I am not alone in feeling ‘lazy’, guilty and burdened by the unreasonable expectation that I do have that I should be able to meet the needs of everyone else.
If I have learned anything from this, it would be that my priorities were all backward, and I am working to keep my relationship with Jesus first and my responsibilities to my husband and my children next. As a result, our home is a far happier one, even if the mum is a bit sad and stressy from time to time.
Kath Hirons of East Maitland, NSW, AUS (02/09/2009)