Depression, Christians, and ministering in the midst of that

[filosofer]

I have struggled with depression for several decades, reaching the bottom 14 years ago. Over the past years several people who have struggled with depression had questions about it wanting to find any help for understanding themselves and what they experienced. Recently more people have inquired about my own struggles. I finally reached the point of addressing some of that, even though there is still pain.

There are other resources, good solid Lutheran resources. These posts are not comprehensive, they don’t answer many questions, they just relate some of what I had experienced and still experience, both the good and the bad. Some are very personal, others are related to our life together in the Church, as the broken ones.

Depression: The Triggers that Surprise Depression The Triggers that Surprise

Cry of the Broken Part 1 The Cry of the Broken: Part 1

Depression and Memory Depression and Memory

Liturgy: Brokenness, Forgiveness, Praise Liturgy - Brokenness, Forgiveness, Praise

Liturgy: Brokenness, Forgiveness, Praise 2 Liturgy - Brokenness, Forgiveness, Praise 2

How Deep the Wound— How Much Deeper the Healing How deep the wound - How much deeper the healing

God Has Amnesia God has amnesia

If this helps even one person who has lived in the hidden silence of depression, then the posts are worth the time and effort. If it helps the Church better minister to those in depression as well as their families, then even more praise to God.

 

[joyfulthanks]

filo,

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, and for allowing others have access to these resources. I'm so deeply sorry that you've experienced the terrible pain of depression. Dealing with that in the midst of ministry must have been (and must still be) incredibly hard.

I'm really grateful to you for sharing what you have written. I am beginning some work under the direction of our elders in the area of grief and senior ministry, and since grief and depression are so closely linked, and depression can be such a profound issue among some of our older folks (as well as others), I'm very, very grateful for things like this that will help me better understand and walk with those who are struggling.

May the God of all comfort, comfort your heart and the hearts of all those who will benefit from your post and your writings. Thank you!

 

[joyfulthanks]

filo,

I don't want to lose these. Would it be okay with if I printed them out to keep?

 

[filosofer]

filo,

I don't want to lose these. Would it be okay with if I printed them out to keep?

Absolutely. Just include a note about the web source and author

Rev. Richard P. Shields
President, American Lutheran Theological Seminary
Pastor, Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Frazier Park, CA

 

[Tangible]

Absolutely. Just include a note about the web source and author

Rev. Richard P. Shields
President, American Lutheran Theological Seminary
Pastor, Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Frazier Park, CA

These are great resources FILO. There are even more good Lutheran resources available at www.darkmyroad.org

 

[joyfulthanks]

Absolutely. Just include a note about the web source and author

Rev. Richard P. Shields
President, American Lutheran Theological Seminary
Pastor, Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Frazier Park, CA

Will do. Thank you!

 

[filosofer]

These are great resources FILO. There are even more good Lutheran resources available at I Trust When Dark My Road - A Lutheran View of Depression

Yeah, in my reference to other solid Lutheran resources, I had Todd’s book in mind.

Unfortunately when I was going through the worst of it, there wasn’t much help like that, and no support from the church body and leaders. God raised up some people to walk with me in the worst of times, but nothing from the church formally. I am pleased that finally there are some resources.

 

[Winter]

Filosofer,

These are some terrific and helpful links. Thank you for listing them.

May I share this thread on the Depression subforum here at CF? There are many folks over there suffering and the more resources we can share with others the better.

FYI: here is the depression subforum:

http://www.christianforums.com/f393/

 

[filosofer]

Filosofer,

These are some terrific and helpful links. Thank you for listing them.

May I share this thread on the Depression subforum here at CF? There are many folks over there suffering and the more resources we can share with others the better.

FYI: here is the depression subforum:

http://www.christianforums.com/f393/

Yes, that would be fine.

 

[filosofer]

Here is my latest post: Have you hugged your porcupine today?

 

[filosofer]

Two more posts and then two letters by C. F. W. Walther about his breakdown.

Sometimes it is hard…

The blessings of family and friends, and what about Lent and depression?

From Walther:

Walther's breakdown, Part 1

Walther's Breakdown, Part 2

(both translated by Rev. Matt Harrison)

 

[filosofer]

The latest update on my battle with depression.

Depression—a surprise

 

[WildStrawberry]

Filo, my dear dear friend, I know how hard it is for you to talk about/post about your walk in the shadows. Thank you so much for sharing with us, especially those of us who are desperate for a touchstone in the Church. So often we're told to just "trust God" and "Jesus will heal you if you ask" and I want to scream "Don't you think I've DONE that? Don't you think I KNOW that Jesus loves me?" Sadly, not many Pastors are versed in just what depression is and how to help a congregant who is sliding down the bannister of hopelessness. There is the Parish Nurse program, but I know that it's not "pushed forward" (only phrase I could think of right off the cuff LOL) in most congregations, if they have one at all.

It hurts when "Pastor" says, from the pulpit, "if you trust in Jesus, you'll have no fear, no sadness..." etc. Yes, I've heard that from our pulpit in my home church before. I didn't have the moxie to stand up and say "Untrue! Jesus NEVER said we'd have it easy! He never said we'd have a rose garden! He told us we'd have these times of sadness and fear BUT when we trust in Him, we don't have to fear what they do to us because HE is there to hold us through it."

Thanks again, my friend, for posting about this. It's helped more than you know.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

This is timely stuff, since Rick Warren's son Matthew recently committed suicide and it seems he suffered from depression.

Filo, my dear dear friend, I know how hard it is for you to talk about/post about your walk in the shadows. Thank you so much for sharing with us, especially those of us who are desperate for a touchstone in the Church. So often we're told to just "trust God" and "Jesus will heal you if you ask" and I want to scream "Don't you think I've DONE that? Don't you think I KNOW that Jesus loves me?" Sadly, not many Pastors are versed in just what depression is and how to help a congregant who is sliding down the bannister of hopelessness. There is the Parish Nurse program, but I know that it's not "pushed forward" (only phrase I could think of right off the cuff LOL) in most congregations, if they have one at all.

It hurts when "Pastor" says, from the pulpit, "if you trust in Jesus, you'll have no fear, no sadness..." etc. Yes, I've heard that from our pulpit in my home church before. I didn't have the moxie to stand up and say "Untrue! Jesus NEVER said we'd have it easy! He never said we'd have a rose garden! He told us we'd have these times of sadness and fear BUT when we trust in Him, we don't have to fear what they do to us because HE is there to hold us through it."

Thanks again, my friend, for posting about this. It's helped more than you know.

 

[filosofer]

Filo, my dear dear friend, I know how hard it is for you to talk about/post about your walk in the shadows. Thank you so much for sharing with us, especially those of us who are desperate for a touchstone in the Church. So often we're told to just "trust God" and "Jesus will heal you if you ask" and I want to scream "Don't you think I've DONE that? Don't you think I KNOW that Jesus loves me?" Sadly, not many Pastors are versed in just what depression is and how to help a congregant who is sliding down the bannister of hopelessness. There is the Parish Nurse program, but I know that it's not "pushed forward" (only phrase I could think of right off the cuff LOL) in most congregations, if they have one at all.

It hurts when "Pastor" says, from the pulpit, "if you trust in Jesus, you'll have no fear, no sadness..." etc. Yes, I've heard that from our pulpit in my home church before. I didn't have the moxie to stand up and say "Untrue! Jesus NEVER said we'd have it easy! He never said we'd have a rose garden! He told us we'd have these times of sadness and fear BUT when we trust in Him, we don't have to fear what they do to us because HE is there to hold us through it."

Thanks again, my friend, for posting about this. It's helped more than you know.

Your last comment has made it all worthwhile! Thank you.

Since I posted this today, I have been invited to teach pastors in three LCMS Circuits about depression and ministry with those who suffer with it.

Yes, PW, I was thinking about Rick and Kay Warren. We prayed for them this Sunday. At least once a month we pray for those struggling with depression, alcoholism, abuse, etc. It’s amazing how God is reaching people. We live in an area in which the unchurched population is 98%. Praising God because I confirmed 10 adults during Holy Week.