Category Archives: Depression

He is stronger than the Darkness

We’ve been learning this new song from Tommy and Eileen Walker over the past few weeks. Over the past few years, our Sunday Night Church congregation have grown fond of the worship songs provided by Tommy Walker.  The words that particularly struck me in this song are “He’s stronger than the darkness.”  Although this isn’tContinue reading “He is stronger than the Darkness”

If someone says they have depression, please take them seriously

I saw this tweet the other day and would like to respond to it.  The background to the tweet is that the pastor concerned had a high celebrity profile due to Justin Bieber attending his church. Sadly, as with so many pastors over the years behind the public persona was something different and his marriageContinue reading “If someone says they have depression, please take them seriously”

Pastors get depression too

I want to share with you the results of a little survey I did via twitter. It is important to emphasise that these twitter polls don’t count as scientific surveys with appropriate proportions of people and adjustments. Therefore, the percentages are a little meaningless. So, what I’d encourage you to do is to look pastContinue reading “Pastors get depression too”

Redundant

Can you meet with the Trustees urgently about the financial situation?” “Are we looking at redundancies?” “We need to talk options…” That’s the gist of a conversation I was having a few weeks back.  Like quite a few churches in our context, we’ve been encouraged over the past ten years to see Gospel growth butContinue reading “Redundant”

Surviving the pandemic with depression and anxiety

It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay so I thought I’d share some quick thoughts on surviving through the Coronavirus pandemic with depression and anxiety. So, in no particular order, here are some suggestions. If you are taking medication, continue to take it and review with your GP. Don’t suddenly stop. Make sure that you have a sufficient supply inContinue reading “Surviving the pandemic with depression and anxiety”

Grace in the depths

I’d like to introduce you to a new resource online. Grace in the Depths is a website set up by pastors for pastors. This is what we say on the about page: “Let’s be honest, ministry can be tough! As pastors we often feel out of our depth. Ministry can also be, depending on yourContinue reading “Grace in the depths”

The role of Scripture in treating mental health issues

I have read reports recently from people experiencing “Christian counselling” for mental health issues where this amounted to giving them a few bible verses to read and memorise.  So, I thought I would outline a few reflections around this. The first thing to say is that this is sometimes described as Biblical Counselling.  However, thisContinue reading “The role of Scripture in treating mental health issues”

The anxious middle

The Bishop of London has been quoted today observing that it is okay to be anxious at the moment, we are still in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic and there is a real possibility of a second wave striking.  The heart of her argument is that well-worn phrase “It’s okay to not be okay”Continue reading “The anxious middle”

Amazing Grace and the spiritual dimension to depression

One of the helpful things for many of us during lockdown has been hearing different people courageously talk about their experience of depression.  Depression describes an experience that affects how we feel physically (e.g. loss of appetite, feeling tired and restless), emotionally (deep sadness) and relationally (tendency towards isolation).  Here, is Sam Harms who isContinue reading “Amazing Grace and the spiritual dimension to depression”