Speaking from the Shadows: A Pastor's Response to Emotional Darkness

If discouragement is the common cold of our emotions, then depression is the cancer. I love Jesus, I pastor a church, and I deal with bouts of depression. For years I've been wanting to read a book about depression not only from a Christ-centered perspective but from a leader who knew the struggle personally. It was Toni Morrison who once said, "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." Thus you have Speaking from the Shadows. For those who deal with depression, this is my attempt to articulate what you and I experience that others don't understand. For those who've never dealt with depression, this is my endeavor to "pull back the curtain" to let you see into our world to be a support and help through shadowy times. Darkness does not discriminate, but neither does the light. So, like a lantern chasing away a shadow, my heart would be that this book would penetrate the darkness of what depression has been doing and bring hope to lives, marriages, and families. It's time to bring light to a darkness that affects over 18 million adults every year. It's time to bring hope to a largely ignored topic that claims more lives than homicide. It's time to normalize vulnerability. It's time to normalize getting the professional help we need. It's time to recognize the healing virtue that Christ brings. There is a hope. And His name is Jesus.