Book Review – Overcoming Spiritual Depression
Image: Overcoming Spiritual Depression by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 10 out of 10. An excellent book on depression from a Christian perspective that is spiritual, logical, and practical.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 12.3.2021; No. 51
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 – 10 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Arie Elshout
About the author
Arie Elshout (1923-1991) was a Christian pastor who served for a combined 32 years in the Gereformeerde Gemeenten of the Netherlands and later in the Netherlands Reformed Congregations of North America. He influenced the establishment of Bosch en Duin, a Christian psychiatric hospital in the Netherlands.
General description
Overcoming Spiritual Depression is a book on depression with different perspectives on the experiences of the prophet Elijah, who struggled with emotional turmoil and apparent depression as he fled for his life. The author also shares his personal experiences with depression and his interactions with others as he has helped them find peace as Christians who are struggling with depression and anxiety.
The Reverend Arie Elshout wrote Overcoming Spiritual Depression in Dutch, and it was translated and published in English 15 years after his death. The literal translation of this book’s title is Once more a Helping Hand, and it is considered a sequel to Arie Elshout’s earlier book A Helping Hand, which was written for people who are experiencing sadness and distress.
Unique and most important aspects
In Overcoming Spiritual Depression, Arie Elshout surprised me with his level of compassion, understanding, and reasoning by providing a nuanced view of depression from a Christian perspective. From the title, I was expecting an incorrect and harmful message that all depression is spiritual. Instead, Arie Elshout works to destigmatize depression and anxiety as he shares that medical care and pastoral care can work hand in hand and that as a person’s depression lifts, often their spiritual confusion and distress improve. He provides a persuasive argument against suicide from a Christian view. Overcoming Spiritual Depression is not just spiritual but also practical and logical. In addition to spiritual guidance, Reverent Elshout looks at the causes of depression and basic steps for improving it. Even though the book was originally written over 30 years ago, its contents are timeless. Important concepts from this book include the importance of addressing:
Anxiety and exhaustion
Excessive guilt
Isolation
Incorrect beliefs about the “unpardonable sin”
Sleep and nourishment
Activity (behavioral activation)
Spending time with God
Best quotes
“The prophet Elijah is not only a man whose history is recorded in the Bible, but also a man who struggled with depression.”
“Performing a task that demands a high level of psychological energy – such as when great demands are made on us as a result of domestic, work-related, or church-related stress – can easily lead to being overstressed if not counterbalanced by rest and relaxation. A bow which is always drawn will ultimately break.”
“A state of depression, whether or not of a clinical nature, can rarely be attributed to a single cause.”
“Elijah’s history also confirms that it is simply not true what some suggest, namely, that a healthy spiritual life precludes the possibility of becoming seriously depressed.”
“It is in the best interest of the depressed person that he is surrounded by people who know him. I know all too well from experience that I did not want to interact with anybody when I suffered from the depression of which I have written in A Helping Hand. I am now grateful to those who refused to leave me alone. Their presence and commitment were of greater benefit to me than I recognized at that time. It is painful for spouses, children, or friends when they notice that their presence is not appreciated by those who are depressed. However, this will also turn for the better once recovery takes place.”
“Many situations can occur in a man’s life where he would prefer death above life. God’s law, however, forbids the commission of suicide.”
“For people who are contemplating suicide, the words of Paul to the jailer are most applicable: “Do thyself no harm” (Acts 16:28). It is contrary to God’s will that we should harm ourselves.”
“Psychiatrists and others who are engaged in alleviating psychological stress are extending a helping hand every day to people who have become severely depressed due to experiences similar to those of the poet of Psalm 116. May it comfort such people to know that what they are going through has been experienced by others who were delivered from trouble by the Lord.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in a Christian book with different perspectives on depression, adversity, and suffering would likely enjoy Overcoming Spiritual Depression.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are looking for a Christian book that only considers depression to be a spiritual condition are unlikely to enjoy Overcoming Spiritual Depression.
Conclusion
Overcoming Spiritual Depression is an excellent book on depression from a Christian perspective that is spiritual, logical, and practical.
