How can she pack so much helpful information into a 60-page book?
I pondered that question after reading Dr. Kathryn Butler’s What Does Depression Mean for My Faith? (Crossway, 2024). And that page total includes Footnotes, Recommended Resources and a Scripture Index!
Though the book has value for more than just the depression sufferer, the size is actually an asset. Someone in the throes of depression is more likely to read a short book than a long one.
Content of the Book
Dr. Butler (an M. D.) begins by defining clinical depression, citing statistics on its prevalence, discussing causes, listing typical symptoms and explaining the most common treatments: medical intervention and counseling therapy. You’ll read her clear differentiation between discouraging trials that challenge our faith and clinical depression. She cites the limitations of antidepressants and follows a long line of research showing that a combination of medicine and counseling offers greater benefits than either treatment in isolation.
Yet she doesn’t rely excessively on a medical model for treatment. She insists that God’s Word, prayer and relying on others in the body of Christ play a vital role. She looks through a biblical lens and puts the believer’s experience of depression within the framework of what God’s Word says about suffering in general. Dr. Butler cites the inevitability of trials, how God can redeem any type of trial and cites lament Psalms that help sufferers deal with despondency. The author also mentions how a study of God’s attributes helped during her bout with depression.
I especially affirm her insistence that depression isn’t usually due to the person’s sin or weak faith. Lack of Bible knowledge or unrepentant sin can contribute to depression, she says, but it’s too simplistic to assign a direct spiritual cause to most cases. She laments that misconceptions about suffering’s role in the Christian life often “dissuade those with depression from seeking help.”
And she’s practical! Several pages offer tips on coping with depression, with special emphasis on confiding in a trusted friend instead of staying in isolation. Her helpful suggestions extend to what church leaders, family members or friends should do for the depressed person.
I especially appreciate her material on how to recognize the signs when someone is considering suicide. Her explanation of the difference between passive suicidal ideation and active suicidal ideation is extremely helpful! She tells how to determine when a person is on the brink of a suicide attempt and what to do about it.
Quotes I Highlighted
- “The two mainstays of treatment for clinical depression are antidepressant medications and psychotherapy or counseling….While both may play a vital role in recovery, neither diminishes the importance of spiritual disciplines for sufferers striving to reclaim their joy.”
- “A biblical understanding of suffering, and the truth that even those with strong faith can flail in the darkness, can alleviate false guilt, encourage suffering people to seek counseling and ease them back toward the light.”
- “When we dismiss depression as a defect in faith, we forget that the Savior we treasure has also known crushing sorrow (Matt. 26:38; 27:46). Though He shared perfect communion with the Father, he was acquainted with grief (Isa. 53:3).”
- “If you learn someone is battling depression, show him or her the face of Christ by staying connected. Don’t wait for depressed individuals to reach out for help….Instead, offer to visit. Pray over the phone. Bring them a meal. Invite them for a walk. Check in regularly. Show them they aren’t alone, they’re loved and have dignity and value.”
Her helpful biblical insights and data-based research on depression give this little book huge value.
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I’ve read a number of Christian books on depression, but perhaps you’ve read a good one I haven’t. Share that title with me and tell why you like it. terry.powell@ciu.edu
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