Chapter 1 spiritual depression by martyn lloydjones. To truly know yourself, you must look away from yourself. Rather, with patience, manifest love, and a listening ear, we can be used as god s instruments to bring sustaining grace into some of lifes most dreadful seasons. A strategy for defeating it treasure regular corporate worship interestingly, in the bible, individual songs of complaint often turn towards a corporate focus see psalm 22. The message below is from the blog of desiring god. Jun 20, 20 but in 2006, there was an uproar within the christian community after john piper extended an invitation to a young, filthy mouthed, unabashed preacher from washington state, mark driscoll, to be one of the speakers at his desiring god national conference. Continuing along my reading list of uplifting titles im now in martyn lloydjones spiritual depression. Sproul is senior minister of preaching and teaching at saint andrews chapel in sanford, florida, and he is the author of the book truths we. And it became a book, a book which perhaps many of you have read.
In classic style, piper harkens back to those who have gone before him, particularly the puritans, in understanding depression. But lets assume that all depression is spiritual depression, which, indeed, it is. Anyone who has ever felt rolling into his soul the black clouds of depression, who has gone in an instant from the passionless peace and contentment of the mundane to the paralysis, the hopelessness, the feeling of drowning in meaningless and despair that constitutes the essence of the black beast depression, will know well the subject about which i hope to. She delves into scripture daily, and for decades has shepherded others through bible studies. This may work for some people, but those with complex brain chemistry issues may not able to solve their problem with a mere attitude adjustment. When we think and feel with the psalms, we learn how to. Expectation psychologyreligious aspectschristianity. John stott correctly observes, the cure for spiritual depression is neither to look in at our grief, nor back to the past, nor round at our problems, but away and up to the living god. I knew desiring god ideology is spiritual abuse, but wow. Desiring god has been perpetuating the myth that mental health issues can be taken care of by simply changing your attitude or focusing more on god for years. Despite its title, it is one of the most encouraging books that a christian could possibly read because he deals with the sources.
When the darkness will not lift 2006, a short, 79page book that was originally appended to another book when i dont desire god was a treatment he gave to the issue of melancholy. Discover biblical answers to the question of spiritual depression in the sermons below. Another wellworn saw was recently offered to us in the form of a clyde kilby quote on desiring gods twitter. I have seen the damaging effects of messages like this and know how christians with mental health diagnoses hear this. Spiritual depression, 2021 on this side of the cross, we know the greatest ground for our hope. The spiritual meaning of anxiety and depression disorders. The presence of faith gives no guarantee of the absence of spiritual depression. Ive begun reading the book i most wanted to read during vacation, d. And on the cross, he experienced separation from god in its fullness.
Most of the comments and retweets expressed concern that desiring god would be promoting mental health as a metric for spiritual wellness. The only way to slay it once and for all is by understanding your right as a child of god and using the word of god to slay the lie of depression. The course the first problem that stands out is how elijah lost. Every day is a struggle to balance the aggression of anxiety and depression. According to john piper, the pursuit of pleasure in god is not only. Church attitudes toward mental health by kathi there has been much talk recently about desiring gods tweet on february 6, 2018.
Church attitudes toward mental health by kathi there has been much talk recently about desiring god s tweet on february 6, 2018. Perhaps i am sensitive to this message due to my clinical experience with christians. There are many degrees of discouragement, and god is able to provide help in them all. Jesus christ crucified for our sins and triumphant over death. The simple implication in this tweet that good mental health is somehow a matter of spiritual rigor is a damaging and dangerous thing to. See god s word powerfully imparted by this great pastor. Feb 12, 2018 most of the comments and retweets expressed concern that desiring god would be promoting mental health as a metric for spiritual wellness. Scrambling for the light christian depression and the use of medication kathryn butler, md an acquaintance of mine, becky, is a grandmother who cites her chief joy in life as pleasing the lord and walking faithfully with him. Nov 23, 2009 the presence of faith gives no guarantee of the absence of spiritual depression. Desiring gods attitude toward mental health spiritual.
Sep 14, 2003 the christian experience of desiring god. According to john piper, the pursuit of pleasure in god is not only permissible, its essential. Understanding the spiritual cause of depression ask. Elijahs spiritual depression before we note the reasons or causes of elijahs despair, consider the course of it, that is, what actually happened in the story. How to defeat the spirit of depression apostle loretta. He is our help and our god, and if trust in him now, we shall soon have cause to praise him again. I know desiring god preaches all that nasty abusive theology that i used to believe, but i never expected this. God wants his word to do deep down in your heart, so you hold it in your heart. It might be brought on by a specific traumatic experience or a broken relationship, or it might be less traceable. Depression is a spirit it must be fought with the word of god. Tagged depression, hope when it hurts, mental illness, spiritual depression 5 comments desiring god posts, suffering with hope the light at the end of ourselves walking the valley of despair. I had heard the above quote before reading the book but have been thinking about it since reading it in context earlier this week. Desiring god prescribes a spiritual refocus as if those who are mentally healthy are spiritually sound.
It only makes sense, that the turmoil that is by definition individual is countered with a corporate solution. Tagged desiring god, growth, legalism, new year resolution, new years, spiritual disciplines 3 comments desiring god posts, suffering with hope trapped in my own mind three lies depression loves. Unfortunately, pipers lack of obedience to gods word in 1 corinthians 15. Depression is a painful experience that is typically described with images of emptiness, darkness, heaviness, and even hell itself. Spiritual depression is coming for you the village church.
Depression, the heaviness and hopelessness that comes with it, is a very strong and overwhelming feeling. Overcome depression and emotional hardships by immersing yourself in gods word. Spiritual depression is a time of feeling emotionally alone. August 15, 2017 in depression, you dont need to remember the good times or better days. Free sermon spiritual depression martyn lloydjones trust. Spiritual depression in the psalms john piper youtube. When the darkness will not lift of god, my guilt for sin is removed by christs blood in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgive ness of our trespasses eph. He sees the face of god as we do now in the face of christ. The greatest and the best christians when they are physically weak are more prone to an attack of spiritual depression than at any other time and there are great illustrations. The heart of depression by edward welch ligonier ministries.
Depression makes it hard to choose the right christian things. Diabetes, hypothyroidism, and other glandular problems may be directly connected to the depression a. The split can come from several directions, maybe a challenge to ones theology or an incident where a person feels god did not act, respond or provide, as the individual believed he would. The spiritual depression seems too much for david to bear. I grow weary of it all, the medications, the therapies butits not that i dont care, its just that i am tired. Depression of some kind darkens the door of most christians. Spiritual depression is a part of the christian life. Even the most faithful, focused christians can encounter periods of depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay just out of reach. Dec 04, 2011 spiritual depression is a time of feeling emotionally alone. Desiring god with john piper how does the psalmist respond to discouragement. Yes, depression may have a physical cause or it may be rooted in a spiritual issue. Desiring god with john piper john piper, one of the truly spiritual and profound teachers of our time shares his best sermons on preach it, teach it. The concern over this tweet is the lack of consideration for how complex the mind is and how trauma affects the brain.
Its a spiritual or emotional fog that stubbornly clouds our hope and happiness. Theology refresh is a podcast for christian leaders hosted by david mathis, executive editor for john piper and desiring god. So the main thing we must learn is to preach the gospel to ourselves. See gods word powerfully imparted by this great pastor. The bible is very clear, the spirit of heaviness is connected to depression, therefore depression is a spirit, and the route cause of depression is a dysfunctional connection with god, mainly through a misunderstand of his word. Its an article from 2016 called hope for the unhappy christian, and dang, its mindboggling how much abuse is packed into one little article. Depression, god, and you biblical counseling center. Gods love and faithfulness are never dependent on us. Healing spiritual depression from psalm 42 desiring god.
May 28, 20 spiritual depression is a part of the christian life. Mar 30, 2020 god wants his word to do deep down in your heart, so you hold it in your heart. And some of the greatest saints have walked through the deepest depressions. Spiritual depression by martyn lloydjones 1899 1981 the psalmist david writes, why are you cast down, o my soul ps 42. A person doesnt get depressed overnight, it has been lurking and waiting for the opportunity to take control over your thoughts and this spirit doesnt travel alone, it. God through elijah had a monumental victory over the 450 pagan priests of baal at mount carmel 1kings 19. Spiritual depression is real, and it can affect even those who have a strong christian faith. Desiring god selfexamining spiritual depression speaks. May 26, 2017 depression is not simply black and white.
When depression has a legitimate physical cause, its best addressed and controlled through the advancements of medical science. Why i no longer follow john piper or desiring god ministry. Quite a few people have asked me about depression and sudden spiritual awakening, so much so that ill be writing several articles about it. Too depressed to believe what we know desiring god. There is always a way to fight for faith in the dark. Reading martyn lloydjones classic spiritual depression would be a strong way to start the new year. The podcast aims to refresh and sharpen spiritual leaders on key aspects of christian theology for application to everyday ministry.
It can happen because of sin, satanic assault, distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes. Selfexamining spiritual depression speaks a thousand lies. On february 6, desiring god posted this tweet and christian twitter blew up. Recently a new friend gave me a hardback copy published by granted ministries. You cannot isolate the spiritual from the physical for we are body, mind and spirit.
Its a handsome volume with an insightful foreword by geoffrey thomas. Spiritual awakening and depression modern awakenings. The christian experience of desiring god first presbyterian. Piper reveals that there really is no need to choose between duty and delight in the christian life. One anonymous young woman writes in with a question. All the false prophets were killed and israels heart turned back to worshipping the true god. Hearts break a thousand different ways, and many of them make their way into worship on sunday morning. Most of us go through real times of spiritual melancholy in the christian life. Why desiring gods tweet about mental health is so wrong. This statement seems to imply that depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are the result of selfish fixation, and the solution is to turn ones focus to god. Aug 27, 2011 ive begun reading the book i most wanted to read during vacation, d.
Ive read many accounts of spiritual awakening over the past decade, and noticed a common thread of severe depression, even to the point of being suicidal. Gods work in your depression ask pastor john youtube. While spiritual depression can feel like roaming hells hollow, the holy spirit will use mustard seeds of faith to anchor us in divine enablementgod, in all his mystery, will hold us fast and guide us through psalm 9. The spiritual meaning of anxiety and depression, to me, is realizing just how small i am. They can be brief or entire seasons in which, as gisbertus voeitus said, a person fails to feel his or her hearts delight in god and divine things. Every meagre step forward in faith brings us closer to the promised dawn 2 peter 1. Desiring god is a paradigmshattering work that dramatically alters common perspectives on relating to god. Martyn lloydjones sermons on depression offer a ray of hopethe grace of godin what can otherwise be a very dark experience. Jun 01, 2008 spiritual depression, 2021 on this side of the cross, we know the greatest ground for our hope. I delight in the beauty of god, and i battle depression. Depression is a spirit it must be fought with the word.