CATEGORY: Depression and Faith
“God, You Promised!”
We've all been hurt by someone breaking a promise: A grown child assured you she'd call you every week, but she seldom does. Your supervisor insisted you'd receive a promotion and a raise, but neither occurred. A friend broke your confidence and told others what...
Have You Ever Loved and Lost A Dog?
Farley Powell (May 27, 2007--August 16, 2023) Here's my tribute to Farley, consisting of four slice-of-life memories that revealed his specialness. As you read, sift through your mind for special memories of the dog you loved and lost. Sensitive Comforter...
QUICK VERDICT RENDERED IN SUPERIOR COURT CASE
Special Bulletin from the Christian Chronicle Dr. Terry Powell, Professor Emeritus in Church Ministry at Columbia International University, stood trial yesterday for three charges. According to the District Attorney’s office, the charges are “inexcusable” for a...
Can I Serve Others If I’m Depressed?
There's a beneficial, fruitful response to a period of depression that I've discovered late in life. It isn't a medicine or supplement, though those benefit some sufferers. I'm not referring to one of the four primary means of God's grace I've tapped into that...
Is It the Spirit’s Conviction or Self-condemnation?
When you're hurting, how should awareness of Jesus' suffering affect you? Why can't you experience complete or perfect satisfaction in this life? Why is rest never found in a quest to understand why trials come? How does marriage cultivate one's character? What...
Does Your Seeking Fuel Your Service?
Are you a layperson who's consistently involved in various venues of service for the Lord? Are you a vocational Christian worker? A pastoral staff member, missionary, counselor or parachurch staffer? As you engage in your spheres of service, do you sometimes feel...
Can A Depressed Person Experience “Victorious Christian Living”?
A Story In 2014, in a large public venue, I gave a testimony of how my faith in Christ sustains me through recurring bouts of depression. After pinpointing symptoms through a series of anecdotes covering a two-decade span, I illustrated how three primary means of...
If Only I Had Perceived Things This Way Years Ago
Reflections on Then...and Now How has your thinking about life, relationships and ministry changed over the years? If you're like me, you wish that your current viewpoints on things would have crystallized when you were younger, when there was more time left for...
An Up-Close Look at Jesus’ Heart for Sufferers
In our English usage, the word "sympathy" carries negative connotations. Many folks equate sympathy with pity, with feeling sorry for people who suffer, yet without involving ourselves in their lives or trying to assist them in some manner. We view a similar...
Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God
Nick Challies attended Boyce College in Kentucky to begin his training for vocational Christian ministry. On November 3, 2020, while playing a game with his sister, fiancee and other students, he suddenly collapsed and never regained consciousness. His dad,...
When Life Hurts Too Much To Pray, Where Is God?
Have you been so depressed that you knew you needed to pray, yet your mind was too confused and your heart so heavy that you couldn't find the words to say? As if a dark spirit muzzled your capacity to think or to speak? Were you unexpectedly downsized by your...
What’s Causing The Clatter In My Mind?
Serious Questions About Faith and Depression Wham!! To a man standing in his yard one afternoon, it sounded like boxcars of a train banging together when they hook up. On a different day, a couple in bed at 5:00 a.m. were jarred awake when the foundation of their...