Depression and Suicidal Attempts and Christians

What I am about to recommend to you is not an easy read (if you just read the transcript) or an easy listen (if you take the time to actually listen to the message—which I recommend). But if you, or someone you love, has struggled with paralyzing, terrifying, death-desiring depression, then I encourage you to take the time to learn from this message from John Piper:

I also encourage you to mine the depths of:

– Spiritual Depression (Lloyd-Jones)
– Depression: A Stubborn Darkness (Welch)
– Blame It On The Brain: Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience (Welch)

Oh, so much more that I would say if I could. But I have no words. Just a heavy weight pressing on my chest as I pray for and love some people very close to my heart. Please do pray if you would. This life is so hard! My life is so easy—I can be such a selfish, petty woman at times. But the suffering of my friends is great and I am burdened; striving to love and serve well.

I’m at a loss for words. (Me? No words? Can you believe it? But it’s true.) And so the Spirit groans.

Thanks, friends.

Yours,
Tara B.

PS
Even just for my own current, tiny little temptations towards hopelessness, this one line is leading me to repent:

“The first lesson I see is this: that we all fortify ourselves against the dark hours of depression by cultivating a deep distrust of the certainties of despair.”

What an apt word. I am far too prone to absolutes, especially when it comes to relationships. SO high. SO low. GREAT. Hopeless and worthless. This is not wise. This is not mature. So, knowing my tendencies, I must fight faith’s fight against that which is not God-honoring and loving of neighbor. But OH! The feelings are so strong. Tangible. They feel overwhelming, but they need not be. God gives us the grace to grow—and to grow up; to no longer be ruled by our feelings. (And for those of us with deep struggles and medical issues and habitual ruling lusts too? There is grace for us—spiritual, physical. There is grace.) We may not FEEL it at times, but it IS true. Sending you love! — t