I cannot recall a single time in my life when men acknowledged or spoke more openly of depression and its consequences. Some have ridiculed those who battle depression and suggested they are weak-minded Christians. Others have suggested that depression has nothing to do with spiritual deficiencies and is only treatable with medication. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle of these extremes.
Sadly, one of the lesser noticed truths is that a large number of preachers, missionaries, and evangelists across the country also struggle with depression. After all, the weight of the world is on their shoulders. Any criticisms of their ministry feel personal and they rarely hear when something went well. As a result, preachers can get to a place where they merely go through the motions. They can become ostracized from the very people to whom they minister. They can find comfort in things such as food (part of the weight problem among preachers), hobbies, and other things having nothing to do with God, the Bible, and ministry. In short, the preacher can come under the assault of Satan in both mind and body.
If the average Christian fully understood the battle through which the minister struggles, he would pray more, assist more, encourage more, forgive more, and complain less. He would understand that the preacher is human just as he is. As a minister, I am greatly concerned for all presently standing for the Saviour, but I tremble for the next generation of men of God. I personally have battled depression, apathy, panic attacks (for a while rising up every time I preached), etc., but I consider all of it to be a drop in a bucket compared to what Christ has done for me.* I march on by God's grace, but some do not. I consider myself to be blessed!
Please consider praying for the men of God you know. When possible, encourage them, support them, and assist them. Consider their humanity. Most preachers will NEVER admit what I have stated here. I tell you, not because I ask anything for myself, but because I want to confess a reality that frequently goes unknown. *The above post was initially written several years ago. Below is an update added more recently.
While I had enjoyed a decent season void of anxiety in the pulpit, of late, my old familiar friend has reared his ugly head. For those not familiar with these attacks, or whatever they are, they can be debilitating. My greatest frustration is that I labour in preparation for what God would have me to say, only to become almost paralyzed or crippled by fear and anxiousness. The best way I know to describe it is that I feel as though I am drowning, but without water. I know that the answer is to trust God, and to the best of my ability, I do. My fear is that these anxiety attacks are going to get the best of me and call for my withdrawal from God’s work before my race is complete. If the Lord will let me and enable me, there is so much I would like to do for Him.
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