Image: Hope Prevails by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 7 out of 10. A Christian book on depression that primarily addresses the condition from a spiritual viewpoint.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD, author of unJoy / 12.7.2021; No. 55
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post also contains affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
Star Rating – 7 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Michelle Bengtson
About the author
Michelle Bengtson, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist, speaker, and author of several books and Bible studies. She obtained her PhD from Nova Southeastern University, achieved her board certification in neuropsychology, and completed her post-doctoral fellowships at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and the University of Alabama Health Sciences Center. She has a private clinical practice in Southlake, Texas.
General description
Hope Prevails is a book that predominantly looks at spiritual causes and solutions for depression. The author shares her personal experiences of setbacks, tragedies, and battles with depression. She offers her insights on and approaches to healing depression. Each chapter ends with recommended steps for the reader, a prayer, and a playlist of worship songs. Topics covered in this book include:
Causes and signs of depression
The actions of Satan to deceive and destroy people
Recovering joy and peace
Becoming more grounded in your worth and identity as a child of God
Strategies for improving depression
Unique and most important aspects
Hope Prevails is a courageous and encouraging book. I found the first half of this book to be the most personal, hopeful and engaging as the second half has a repetition of earlier themes. The text is broken into 12 chapters and would be well-suited to a small group or Bible study. Important concepts from Hope Prevails include:
Addressing stigma and shame
Using Bible verses to correct thinking errors
Providing a rational and spiritual argument against suicide
Reminding Christians with depression that they are not alone
Explaining the interplay of anxiety and depression
Providing physical and spiritual steps for improving depression
Best quotes
“I know that physiological problems can contribute to depression, and sometimes medication is necessary and helpful in treating it.”
“You may be reading this and thinking, ‘That’s all well and good for her, but she doesn’t know what I’ve gone through.’ Or perhaps you are reading this and thinking, ‘If one more person tells me another Bible verse and thinks that will make me feel better, I’ll scream.’ Can I tell you something? I thought those very same things!”
“Much as we don’t see a clogged drain before it backs up, we often don’t recognize the initial signs of anxiety, depression, cancer, heart disease, and many other conditions for what they are. Until enough signs and symptoms add up to a situation warranting concern, we don’t recognize a problem exists.”
“Do you want some good news? You are not the primary cause of your depression. Neither are your genetics or your situations. The thoughts that lead to your depression are not your thoughts. They are thoughts offered to you by the enemy that you’ve come into agreement with.”
“Karl Menninger was a famous American psychiatrist of the early twentieth century. Once during a lecture on mental health issues, someone in the audience asked him his advice for a person experiencing an impending nervous breakdown.
Since he was a psychiatrist, you might think he would suggest this person see a psychiatrist who would prescribe medication or inpatient hospitalization. Astonishingly, he responded by suggesting that the afflicted individual leave their home, cross the railroad tracks, seek out someone in need, and meet that need.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in a book that looks at depression primarily from a spiritual viewpoint would likely enjoy Hope Prevails.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are looking for a Christian book that addresses depression from more than a spiritual perspective are unlikely to enjoy Hope Prevails.
Conclusion
Hope Prevails is a Christian book on depression that primarily addresses the condition from a spiritual viewpoint.