There are a surprising number
of resources on the Internet dealing with discouragement and depression.
To view
resources click on each link or cut and paste into your Internet
browser's address bar.
These
resources represent a sampling of what is available for those wishing
to investigate this subject further and do not not carry a blanket
endorsement from T-Net.
1. In an excellent article from Rick Warren’s
Ministry ToolBox, pastor and seminary professor Paul Carlisle,
relates his own bout with “the beast" and practical advice for pastors.
How could I be depressed? I
was a pastor, seminary professor, and professional counselor. I believed
I was immune to the despairing grasp of clinical depression. So when it
placed its icy fingers around my life, I was shocked! I could not shake
it no matter how much Bible reading and prayer I engaged in. I was not
sure I would survive my bout with the BEAST.
http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/?id=41&artid=1300&expand=1
2. John Piper has a fascinating paper written
for a Pastors Conference on Spurgeon who suffered so much from depression
and how he dealt with it.
It is not easy to imagine
the omni-competent, eloquent, brilliant, full-of-energy Spurgeon weeping
like a baby for no reason that he could think of. In 1858, at age 24, it
happened for the first time. He said, "My spirits were sunken so low
that I could weep by the hour like a child, and yet I knew not what I
wept for."
http://www.founders.org/FJ23/article1.html
3. Christian Depression Pages has all
sorts of information including articles, FAQ’s, testimonies, Book reviews
and links. "Broken hearted people in darkness is a fairly accurate picture
of what depression feels like. The Christian Depression Pages (CDP) is a
compassion ministry, trying to help heal some of the wounds of depressed
Christians."
Depression can act on faith
like a wrecking ball. People in this situation are often in a similar
place to unbelievers, needing to be re-introduced to the fundamentals of
Christianity. The CDP recommends a number of books to help this process,
and encourages people to ask questions about Christianity via a feedback
email. The pastor of a local church has been asked to answer some of the
more difficult questions.
http://www.gospelcom.net/cdp/contents.htm
4. A study from Calvary Chapel of Arroyo
Grande, CA in their Covenant Keepers site. How To Deal With
Depression by Pastor Steve Carr:
Remember if you take the
biblical action required, your feelings will change. If you wait until
you feel like praying or feel like reading the Bible, you will never do
it. However, when you do pray, read your Bible, and seek the Lord, you
will be encouraged and feel better.
http://www.covenantkeepers.org/articles/general-helps/how_to_deal_with_depression.htm
5. The Christian Answers site gives a
quick but useful listing of Old and New Testament passages showing where
biblical characters like Abraham, Jonah, Elijah, Jeremiah and David
experienced depression and then a number of Bible passages dealing with
the subject. If the passage isn’t written out it is available with the
click of your mouse.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/depression-bible.html
6. Selections from Spurgeon's devotional
Morning and Evening specifically for those who grieve, but dealing
with the topic of depression.
Most of us know what it is
to be overwhelmed in heart; emptied as when a man wipeth a dish and
turneth it upside down; submerged and thrown on our beam ends like a
vessel mastered by the storm . . . The wind blows us out to sea, the
helm answers not to our puny hand; Thou, Thou alone canst steer us over
the bar between yon sunken rocks, safe into the fair haven. How
dependent we are upon Thee--we need Thee to bring us to Thee. To be
wisely directed and steered into safety and peace is Thy gift, and Thine
alone.
http://agapeindia.com/steve/spurgeon.htm
7. The Jay Adams approach to Depression
You may not even care to
read this. If you are depressed at the moment, you certainly won't feel
like it. "What's the use of trying anything else?": you may ask. "After
all, nothing else has worked."
http://www.peacemakers.net//unity/adepressed.htm
8. Southern Baptist’s LifeWay site gives
a brief analysis followed by some practical steps.
Is
depression a medical problem, a mental problem or a “me” problem?
Confusion and frustration can grow out of the chorus of voices in the
public square from people who claim to understand depression.
Neuroscience and psychology offer many theories. Unfortunately, not all
of them are based on facts and others are void of faith.
Depression is not simply a
medical problem or a mental problem, depression often is a being human
problem. While medical and emotional problems can and often do
contribute to depression, for others this illness has very significant
spiritual components.
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%253D151861%2526M%253D150035%2C00.html
9. An extensive exposition from the life of the
prophet Elijah by Hampton Keathley
Have you ever been there,
in the gloom of despair and defeat when all your expectations exploded
in your face? I don’t know what Elijah was expecting. With the power of
God so clearly manifested perhaps Elijah thought there would be some
change in Ahab, some positive response with the result there were going
to be changes in the kingdom of Israel. We aren’t told. We can only
guess. But something really shattered Elijah’s focus and his faith.
Let’s look at the text and see what we can learn.
http://www.bible.org/docs/ot/character/elijah/elijah-16.htm
10. Leadership Journal deals with The
Pastor's Soul: Staying Your Course Amid the Forces of Ministry.
Monday
Morning Restoration by Gordon MacDonald
How Many Did You Have Last Sunday? by Jack Hayford
What I Wish I'd Known Before I Quit by Anthony Laird
Beating the Pastoral Blues by Pete Scazzero
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/8l1/
