by Dr. Alvin Reed
When I read the sad news about pastor Phil Lineberger, who committed suicide at age 66 (only ten years older than me), I wrote this post. Dr. Lineberger spent years battling with depression. It seems we see this happening too often these days. It hits me harder than in the past.
A couple years ago I was diagnosed as having an issue with depression myself. The news stunned me as I always pictured myself as Mr. Positive. But in quiet, alone moments, or times where the busyness of ministry hits hard, I have felt its icy grip around me.
I claim no expertise in this area. The fact that I am a professor with academic credentials makes me no more authority on this than anyone else. But I have walked with many, many men of God at various stages of ministry, and I have seen personally the weight of discouragement on the one hand to clinical depression on the other. Here are a few things I’ve learned about this:
1. We need to be real with ourselves and others.
Sometimes people want to treat us like supermen, as if we do not have struggles like most folks. We have the call of God on our lives, after all. Our supposedly impressive our track record of ministry accomplishments does not negate the fact that we are fallen, sinful men with weaknesses. Depression is real, and it can be deadly. We need to be able to express our brokenness and need for daily grace to others. I have a couple of men in my life I can be very honest with, and it has been refreshing.
2. We need to own our discouraging days or, when a reality, our real issues with depression.
In my Evangelism Handbook I note four major reason ministers leave ministry: 1) sexual misconduct; 2) financial pressure; 3) selfish ambition; 4) discouragement. We may not be as melancholy as David Brainerd, but we all have times where we are down. Let’s give ourselves a break. We simply are not going to be “up” all the time.
3. We need to learn the reality of Sabbath and personal retreating.
Instituting a regular time of Sabbath for me–at least a half day to full day a week to get off the ferris wheel of a busy life and rest in Christ–has been invigorating and life-giving. We tend to mock gluttony and health issues and ignore Sabbath and the need to rest in God. These traits are not good. This week has been grueling as I’ve been co-teaching a PhD seminar. Every day at lunch or just after the seminar I’ve taken a short little nap, and it has made a big difference.
4. We need to take care of our bodies.
Eating well, cutting out the junk food, getting exercise, drinking lots of water, and resting well all have an impact on more than our physical life–they all affect our emotional, mental, and spiritual lives as well. I had lunch with a PhD student this week who has lost 100 pounds over the last few years. It’s affected all of his life, not just the bathroom scale.
5. We need to learn what sets off our downward trajectory emotionally and mentally and as we can provide safeguards and outlets.
Reading some books on ADHD, depression, and sabbath have helped me to recognize when I am becoming depressed while giving alternatives to that direction. I got some bad news the other day; instead of my previous tendency to blame myself and see myself as the reason (sometimes that is the case and we should take responsibility!), I looked at the issue more objectively and was able to see this as a good thing from the Lord instead of a failure of mine.
6. We need to rehearse the gospel again and again, and then again.
Most days of my life I rehearse these great gospel truths I read in the book Everyday Church:
–God is GREAT, so I don’t have to be in control;
–God is GLORIOUS, so I don’t have to fear others;
–God is GOOD, so I don’t have to look elsewhere (for joy, etc);
–God is GRACIOUS, so I don’t have to prove myself.
These glorious statements rooted in the goodness of God and the gospel of Jesus confront my tendencies to be depressed. I still fail; I still find myself in times of despair. But they are less, and He is more.
7. We need to confront the performance-idolatry of our time.
It’s true; lots of ministers are lazy. But for many of us, the emphasis on successful-ministry-by-production can become suffocating. I learned the game, and have played it well. But in recent years I’ve realized that one more accomplishment is not the goal. The things we do for Christ should come as a by-product of our walk with Him, not as the goal of our ministry.
8. We need to be grateful for those loved ones God has put in our lives.
My patient, loving wife and our wonderful children have been so good to me. Their encouragement means more than 1,000 tags on social media. We need to be grateful for these and other blessings.
I’m grateful that a couple of years ago this humpty-dumpty hit a wall and fell down, broken. But in my case, God was able to put me back together again. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Remember, Jesus already walked the earth. We don’t have to be the Messiah; He already is.
Dr. Reid is Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he has been since 1995. He is also the founding Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism. Alvin and his wife Michelle have two married children: Joshua and his wife Jacqueline, and Hannah and her husband Corey.
Originally posted on June 4, 2015 at alvinreid.com
