Tis the season for depression. The night’s are longer and the days are colder. There are unusual circumstances with COVID restrictions. Those who battle depression will likely struggle more from now until spring.
This is true for me. I can go through summertime and hardly have a depressed thought. I study and work outdoors from the time spring starts warming up until I can’t stand the cold in the autumn. The extra sunlight is very helpful in my fights against depression. Winter is difficult for me. Normally the first week in October begins the swing, and it is a battle for months.
I have some resources that have proven helpful in the battle. I have also discovered new resources for this coming year. I need Gospel armor for the coming months. Perhaps you are in the same position. Maybe you are the friend of someone fighting depression. Either way, I pray these resources are helpful. These are some of the resources. Perhaps I will share more in the coming months.
“How to Fight for Faith In the Dark: Three Lessons for Depression.” In this article , Stephen Altrogge gives three lessons to fight for faith in depression. I find this article very helpful. Altrogge writes as someone who battles depression. It hit home for me.
The late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones delivered a series of messages on spiritual depression. It has been a great help for me. You can find the sermon series here. He also has a book by the same title.
John Piper has a sermon on Psalm 42 and depression entitled “Spiritual Depression in the Psalms”
Pastors also face depression. Here is an article and a podcast at 9marks.org. The article is by John Starke and titled “Pastoring Amid Depression.” The podcast is titled “On Pastoring Amid Depression” with Jonathan Leeman, Mark Dever, and Blake Boylston. Both are very helpful! If you struggle with the idea of pastors being depressed, take time to read and listen.
Reading the Psalms is a great help in times of depression. I also find meditation on 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 very helpful. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Do you struggle with depression? Are you currently helping someone who is battling depression’s difficult grasp? Would you like for me to pray for you? Feel free to contact me at the Letter’s to the Editor page.
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