Overcoming the Darkness: Biblical Help for Spiritual Depression

Many of us feel unable to swim against the tide of sorrow and sadness.

Spiritual depression is defined as the prolonged and pervasive numbing, muting, suppressing, or restraining of the joy of the Lord within the life of the Christian. And more and more Christians are besieged with it. Experiencing feelings of doubt, anxiety, or despair can become the norm of our daily lives.

Despite our struggles, the Bible gives us numerous exhortations to battle our downcast condition. But how? Sometimes it feels hopeless, as if nothing can pull us from the mire. Overcoming the Darkness speaks to the deep waters of troubled hearts that feel afflicted or alone in their spiritual struggles. Drawing from the life and wisdom of God’s Word, along with personal experience, pastor and teacher Nate Pickowicz helps us administer God’s balm to our spiritual wounds. Jesus Himself invites us to come to Him for help. He is the ultimate cure for our spiritual depression, but it can be hard to know how to access and experience His healing power. Readers explore the causes of spiritual depression, including calamity, longstanding afflictions, persistent melancholy, fear, persistent sin, and more. And they discover a wholistic, practical road to spiritual health. There is hope for tomorrow, and we can live for it today.

NATE PICKOWICZ (BA, Muhlenberg College; MA, Trinity Theological Seminary) is the teaching pastor of Harvest Bible Church in Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire. He is the author and editor of more than a dozen books, including Why We’re Protestant, The American Puritans, How to Eat Your Bible, and Christ & Creed. Additionally, he has written for several publications, such as Tabletalk magazine. He and his wife, Jess, have three children.