Penetrating The Darkness

I am not a Christian because my faith always "works" for me. Yes, it works in the spiritual realm, in terms of my standing with God and eternal destiny. I've been "saved by grace through faith," which is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8). But if by "working for me" one...

I'm taking my son Stephen's advice today:  "Lighten up, dad!" A lot of my posts describe the painful symptoms of depression, then explain how God's resources sustain and enable me.  But today, I'm sharing an upbeat story of God's provision, a resource that has...

The depression in my spirit mimicked the weather that autumn afternoon:  dark, low-lying clouds; wind-whipped brown leaves flying several feet off the ground, and uninterrupted falling rain. A heavy sadness spawned a flow of tears almost as constant as the rain. ...

  By Dr. Michelle Bengtson A Review of a Book Teeming with Helpful Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey through Depression  Note:  You will receive a special treat in this review.  I close my very positive review with a section I label, "A Question That...

One thing I appreciate about God's Word is its realism.   Neither narratives nor instructional passages sugarcoat human sin or suffering.  How special to me are those texts that include both lament to and praise of God by someone hurting, even when there seems to...

  Please...if you're a young or middle-aged adult, don't think this post is irrelevant to you.  In what seems like the blink of an eye, Lord willing, you'll eventually be classified an "older adult."   And you probably know an older loved one who is vulnerable...

The Psalms are a lens through which I see a clearer picture of God: His power, sovereignty, compassion, and faithfulness to His people.  The Psalms are also a mirror in which I see myself in the lives and words of the writers:  my doubts, fears, weaknesses, sins,...

Talking to Myself--and Talking Back to Myself!--When Depressed   What follows are snatches of verbal give-and-take I have had with myself in recent years, depicting the inner reality when despondency skews my thoughts and perspectives on life and daily...

You're hurting. Though it's in the middle of a sunny day, you walk in darkness. You think it's hopeless to keep trying, or to keep praying. You're discouraged about failure in a task, or in a relationship. It's difficult to breathe due to the high humidity in your...

Two More Potential Dangers of Depression   After decades of experiencing chronic depression, I'm intimately acquainted with the potential pitfalls.  In my previous post, I identified two: *Depression Spawns Self-Centeredness *Depression Engenders Doubts About...

In my high school cafeteria, I bit down on a hard morsel of food.  I can't imagine a bullet tearing through my cheeks hurting any worse.  The food particle made a direct hit on an exposed nerve in a wisdom tooth with a large cavity. Screaming, I ran from the...

Truths to Encourage Us When We’re Despondent over Lack of Fruit in Ministry   *This is a longer-than-usual post.  But it’s an important one!  Whether you are a serious volunteer (lay Bible teacher, personal witnessing, etc.) or a vocational Christian leader, the...