Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure

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Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure

4.32 of 5 stars 4.32 · rating details · 810 ratings · 63 reviews

Believing that Christian joy was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity in the early centuries, Lloyd-Jones not only lays bare the causes that have robbed many Christians of spiritual vitality, but also points the way to the cure.

Paperback, 300 pages

Published December 12th 1965 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (first published July 15th 1964)

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Mar 13, 2011 Ryan Adair rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-living, spiritual-growth

Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure by Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a good read. It was very insightful at points, filling my soul with nuggets to chew on, but also hard to plod through at times. For those who dare to take the plunge, you will find great reward for your soul if you stick with it.

Lloyd-Jones writes with great detail, sometimes feeling very laborious, about some of the causes and cures for spiritual depression. Spiritual depression isn’t to be confused with clinical or phycologic...more Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure by Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a good read. It was very insightful at points, filling my soul with nuggets to chew on, but also hard to plod through at times. For those who dare to take the plunge, you will find great reward for your soul if you stick with it.

Lloyd-Jones writes with great detail, sometimes feeling very laborious, about some of the causes and cures for spiritual depression. Spiritual depression isn’t to be confused with clinical or phycological depression, but rather times where we’re not sensing God is near. Before writing the book off because you don’t suffer with depression, give it a second chance if you’ve ever found yourself suffering through spiritually dry periods.

He starts out the book by laying out in great length what the problem is:

"Unhappy Christians are, to the say the least, a poor recommendation for the Christian Faith; and there can be little doubt but that the exuberant joy of the early Christians was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity" (Foreword).

"In a sense a depressed Christian is a contradiction in terms, and he is a very poor recommendation for the gospel....Nothing is more important, therefore, than that we should be delivered from a condition which gives other people, looking at us, the impression that to be a Christian means to be unhappy, to be sad, to be morbid, and that the Christian is one who 'scorns delights and lives in laborious days'....Christian people too often seem to be perpetually in the doldrums and too often give this appearance of unhappiness and of lack of freedom and of absence of joy. There is no question at all but that this is the main reason why large numbers of people have ceased to be interested in Christianity" (11).

One of the cures he mentions for the above problem is being in right relationship with God:

"On the other hand, if we are in the right relationship to God, and in a true spiritual condition, that again quite inevitably must express itself in our countenance, though I am not suggesting we should perpetually have that inane grin upon our faces that some people think is essential to the manifestation of true Christian joy. You need not put anything on, it will be there; it cannot help expressing itself..." (14)

Though the above quotes are only a sample of its causes and cures, there is much more contained within these pages. It took me a while to get through, but rewarded me faithfully in the end. I didn't realize how much I got out of it until I went back to look through my notes. Lloyd-Jones does a good job of treating the subject from a biblical perspective, but it is often too detailed and long winded in his delivery.

If you are going to attempt to take up and read, be warned that it will take some time to get through. It is not a book to read for great lengths of time, but slowly assimilated and digested. I would encourage you to take good notes because you probably won’t read it again. (less)

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May 18, 2010 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm about a quarter of the way through this book, but I've already learned more about God and myself than I have in reading any other Christian book. It is actually a series of sermons the author did back in the 50s or 60s, so as I began reading I was a bit skeptical that it wouldn't apply to today's society. I was completely wrong! Spiritual depression is a huge plague within the church that is destroying our joy as Christians and our ability to minister to the world. We are quick to reach for...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Chapronrin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is Martyn Lloyd-Jones at his best. Like the meticulous doctor he was prior to becoming a minister, Lloyd-Jones in classic "attention to detail" style, breaks down a solid diagnosis on the many causes that stop Christians from being what they should be in Christ and offers the remedy just as skillfully. This set of 21 sermons is very readable and worthy of one slowly sifting through to gain the best understanding possible while reading. You won't get everything the first time through bu...more

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May 04, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Laura by: Dr. Tim Keller mentions this book in his sermons

Though the speech is old fashioned, the advice is invaluable. Most of it is about making the gospel central in your life. But it goes through various common ways in which straying from the gospel causes a Christian to lose his joy, while acknowledging that some temperaments are more prone to introspection than others.

There is lots of good advice in here, and I'll definitely pick this book up again from time to time and meditate on various chapters.

One caveat: D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones does hold th...more

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Dec 17, 2008 Debbie Howell rated it 3 of 5 stars

A collection of sermons, first published in 1965. Refreshing in that it's a different perspective from today's Christian publishing marketing/packaging machine, but I found it best to read it one chapter at a time, not in long stretches. At times it had a bit of a "get over it" feel, but as I got further into the book there seemed to be less of that. Lloyd-Jones' use of the term "depression" is a bit different from what comes to mind now--while we would tend to think in terms of clinical depress...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Mark Nenadov rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-living, theology

This is an extremely helpful classic from the 20th century Welsh pastor, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. As is usually the case with his books, this is a collection of transcribed sermons.

There is a lot of fantastic insight and great gems are to be found here. Reading the book has personally been beneficial to me. Don't let the title fool you into thinking that this book is merely about "clinical depression". The term "depression" is used far more broadly here than we are used to hearing. The topic appli...more This is an extremely helpful classic from the 20th century Welsh pastor, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. As is usually the case with his books, this is a collection of transcribed sermons.

There is a lot of fantastic insight and great gems are to be found here. Reading the book has personally been beneficial to me. Don't let the title fool you into thinking that this book is merely about "clinical depression". The term "depression" is used far more broadly here than we are used to hearing. The topic applies to Christians no matter what their temperamental tendencies are. Christians of all temperaments, including those with the most sunny dispositions, will find much that is helpful herein.

Lloyd-Jones was a medical doctor as well as a pastor and it shows in his approach here. He is not merely satisfied to lay out general theological concepts, he works very hard and systematically to work them out into practice. He presses to evaluate causes, diagnosis and treatment in a logical, ordered, and conscience way.

You probably should be prepared for some heavy sledding here. Don't get me wrong, Lloyd-Jones writes in a transparent and clear way that is very easy for a contemporary audience to understand. However, these are transcribed sermons and they are pretty searching. Be prepared to bite off small parts and chew on them a bit. There aren't any "sub chapters", so you sort of have to find good paragraphs to stop at. I found that I normally was best suited to doing about 10 pages at a time.

This book really showcases how much D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has influenced present-day Protestant Christianity. Suddenly, you realize that much of what contemporary figures such as Jerry Bridges have been saying is, in a large degree, repeating what Lloyd-Jones was saying. And, in turn, Lloyd-Jones is building on the works of others who came before him.

Another work worth exploring on this topic, written centuries earlier, is A Lifting Up For The Downcast by William Bridge. In that work, a collection of Bridge's sermons on one particular text from the Psalms is compiled, and he comes to very many of the same conclusions, as Lloyd-Jones, and perhaps works out some of the points in a bit more detail. That said, Bridge would be quite a far bit more removed by time from the contemporary reader than Lloyd-Jones. And for that reason, this book is probably a better starting point than A Lifting Up For The Downcast.(less)

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May 09, 2013 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-living

I am in the middle of reading a biography of the author of this book, Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones, and what I have read has given me a great respect for this man. This is a helpful book, not only for someone struggling with depression, but for any Christian who has undergone any kind of trial. Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones has an unusual amount of wisdom and that comes through in this book. I especially appreciated the place he gave to individual personality differences. He acknowledges that this plays a fa...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Jenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I originally started this book just because my brother told me I had to read it. It took me a while to get through it. I thought 300 pages should be no big deal but nearly every page had me highlighting, writing notes, and thinking. The author takes a look at spiritual depression on a number of levels without merely treating a specific symptom and leaving the root untouched. Neither does he generalize to the point that the reader feels vaguely encouraged or convicted but not really sure why or w...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Nathan Moore rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a collection of 21 sermons that Lloyd-Jones preached on the topic of Spiritual Depression, a broad term he uses as a sort of catch all for various types of unhappiness in the Christian life. Though I felt introduced to very few new concepts, I have a suspicion that is because I have been taught by many who have been influenced by Lloyd-Jones' teaching.

One of the most helpful concepts he suggests is quite foundational and is the issue of one speaking to himself rather than listening to h...more This is a collection of 21 sermons that Lloyd-Jones preached on the topic of Spiritual Depression, a broad term he uses as a sort of catch all for various types of unhappiness in the Christian life. Though I felt introduced to very few new concepts, I have a suspicion that is because I have been taught by many who have been influenced by Lloyd-Jones' teaching.

One of the most helpful concepts he suggests is quite foundational and is the issue of one speaking to himself rather than listening to himself. Lloyd-Jones often refers to this as "apprehending yourself" or taking your heart to task. In his chapter entitled Feelings he says, "your business and mine is not to stir up our feelings, it is to believe" (116).

The author states early on "ultimately the cause of all spiritual depression is unbelief" (20). This has too has had a profound impact on my life. Much of this book is the author working this out in many other contexts. Much of his strategy could be summed up by "believe and then act... feelings will come."

Perhaps one shortcoming of this book is that some temperaments may find this advice to be a little cold. While in many senses "believe and act" is quite true and the necessary response, what of those who are struggling for hope while stuck in habitual sin... or in a moment of darkness find the faith to act quite small... what then? I would love to have seen him work this out more to make it more accessible to those who are truly depressed.

I would have loved to hear this man preach. I imagine he is far more effective as a preacher than a writer. Since these are sermons which were lightly edited for publication, they read much like sermons do. Lloyd-Jones was not a particularly fiery of teacher, but seems to be to be very accessible - a man of the people. The former physician truly seems to be a physician of souls, a quality I very much aspire to develop in my preaching.

Some of the chapters I found most helpful were:
"Fear of the Future"
"Where is Your Faith"
"Looking at the Waves"
"In God's Gymnasium"

I warmly recommend this book and will likely return to it but would suggest that one read only the first few chapters and then the ones that intrest them. Its conversion from sermons to chapters make the book a little long than perhaps it should have been but all in all this is quite good.(less)

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Oct 22, 2009 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity, non-fiction, 2009, worth-re-reading, own

This is one of the best books on the Christian life that I have ever read. It's a series of twenty-two sermons by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones on the subject of spiritual depression, or the condition of being a downcast, dispirited Christian. He takes the subject logically, working through a number of causes for such a condition, using stories from Scripture as case studies. Topics of discussion include the importance of solid Christian foundations, vain regrets, fear of the future, the place of feelin...more

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Jun 17, 2010 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, all-time-favorites

Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because the title of this book has the word “depression” in it that it doesn’t relate to you. Martyn Lloyd-Jones identifies numerous sources of spiritual discouragement, and encourages us to counteract those causes by preaching the truth to ourselves. His writing is a wonderful mixture of lofty prose, common sense, and practical insights. If you’ve experienced spiritual discouragement of any degree, this book is heartening and applicable.

*note added a year...more

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Jan 08, 2008 Katarina rated it 4 of 5 stars

An honest look at what causes spiritual dryness/depression in a believer's life. Lloyd-Jones' super insightful quote challenges the believer to speak truth to oneself as opposed to listening to oneself. How different my life would look if I were to 'preach the gospel to [my]self every day'.

"The main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression in a sense is this, that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self. Am I just trying to be deliberately paradoxical? Far fro...more An honest look at what causes spiritual dryness/depression in a believer's life. Lloyd-Jones' super insightful quote challenges the believer to speak truth to oneself as opposed to listening to oneself. How different my life would look if I were to 'preach the gospel to [my]self every day'.

"The main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression in a sense is this, that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self. Am I just trying to be deliberately paradoxical? Far from it. This is the very essence of wisdom in this matter. Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problem of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man's treatment [in Psalm 42] was this; instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself, 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul?' he asks. His soul had been repressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: 'Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you'. Do you know what I mean? If you do not, you have but little experience.

The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself. You must say to your soul: 'Why art thou cast down'--what business have you to be disquieted? You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: 'Hope thou in God'--instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way. And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: 'I shall yet priase Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God'.(less)

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Nov 16, 2007 Allen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The author addresses a very common topic that has many causes. The book is arranged as a series of sermons that the author preached during the mid-twentieth century. Lloyd-Jones preaches in the Puritan style: a single passage of Scripture is exposited and applied to the topic of interest. Each chapter addresses a different topic and progresses the theme from personal characteristics of those who are most likely affected by "spiritual depression" to possible causes to the cure.

I have never read a...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Mark A Powell rated it 5 of 5 stars

With pastoral precision and theological acumen, Lloyd-Jones explores the paradox of the ‘miserable Christian’—one whose life should be full of God’s joy yet is often marked by spiritual depression. From various Scriptures, these sermons (originally presented in 1964) examine the conditions and causes of this depression and, more importantly, discusses the cure as revealed in God’s Word. A blend of powerful exposition and helpful practicality makes this book a wonderful resource and easy to comme...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dever-christian-classics-curriculum

A really wonderful book full of wisdom for Christians to discern how to approach the "dark nights of the soul" that are sure to strike in the Christian life. There is much that I will - and have been - utilizing in counseling those in my community. Most notably, the difference between "listening" to oneself vs. "preaching" to oneself, and the difference between "introspection" and "examination."

This is classic Lloyd-Jones - all the way to his characteristic excessive wordiness.

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May 19, 2012 Dustin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: found-at-a-thrift-store, christian-living

I guess it's about time I wrote in my review for this book. To sum up my thoughts about the book, I would say it's an excellent breakdown of the importance of Christian doctrine, primarily justification by faith alone.

I was happy to see Lloyd-Jones hammer the importance of the mind; knowing doctrine will affect your heart/feeling which will manifest in the will/actions. Coming from a Charismatic background, it was refreshing to see it laid out so well.

My only issue with the book (hence -1 star)...more

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Oct 06, 2010 Caitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a comforting book for those who suffer from depression. Many Chrisitians believe that if you are saved than you will know longer be depressed. Lloyd-Jones condemns this attitude and offers explanations and advice on how to overcome doubts and depression. I didn't believe everything, but I appreciated the welcoming attitude of Lloyd-Jones.

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Dec 26, 2012 Roddy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found this more difficult to get through than other books I've read by Lloyd Jones. It seemed overly long and repetitive to me and I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to his work. However, it did help me identify myself as a "miserable Christian"!

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Apr 12, 2009 Gregory marked it as to-read

I had begun this book about about a year ago but I put it down due to trials and work.
I hate having to relearn something, but it is not the relearning that is most difficult it is the applying of something that should have been done along time ago. Suffering for rightousness sake is good but to suffer for stupidity well, oh well.
Many great saint's suffered with depression and for instance Charles Spurgeon would leave the pulpit for month's, King David in the cave, Elijah and the Apostle Paul...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Amber Standridge rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-discipleship

Walks through a variety of circumstances that tend to depress encouraging us to "preach to ourselves" so that our joy may not be dictated by circumstance but rooted in our salvation and certain hope of eternity.

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Jul 22, 2012 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

An excellent set of sermons dealing with spiritual depression, its causes and impact upon our lives. The depth of these sermons, as with all of Lloyd-Jones' books makes one hunger for real preaching.

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Mar 14, 2010 Luis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very insightful book. I commend this book to those Christians who have seasons of feeling despaired in there walk with Christ and just feel they cant take it any more.

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Feb 16, 2013 Adam Talbott rated it 4 of 5 stars

An unfortunate title (written before pop-psychology), this book helps the Christian to find real and lasting joy in real life.

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Apr 13, 2012 Stephen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology, christianity

This is one of the foremost books on my understanding and edification in my life. Depression is a big word in the 21st Century and the Church us scathed by Christians who are depressed. It is an issue that is in need of address and MJ delivers. It gave me insight into my own thinking and took me carefully through Scripture to provide conviction, comfort, and a realization that I must take an active role in Christ's Sovereign work, which is the mystery of the indwelling of the Son of God.

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Aug 15, 2011 Joyce rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was in my collection, has been recycled. Studied it in Sunday School class. Excellent. Good re-read.

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Jun 26, 2008 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: ERM

So why are we Christians, who are supposed to be full of joy, so moody and depressed? What does that say to the unbelieving world? That we are no better off than them? So why should they have any reason to look at us and think we know anything better? This book explores why Christians SHOULD have joy, and why a lot of times we don't, and what to DO about it. We should not let the worldly "stuff" get in the way of our view of the life to come... This book convicted me IN THE INTRODUCTION, and ble...more

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Dec 23, 2009 Kinga rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity, non-fiction

I read through this book several times. It was the source of great encouragement for me.

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Aug 14, 2012 Macira rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Spiritual Classic. It should be made compulsory reading for every Christian

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Sep 14, 2012 Darrell rated it 5 of 5 stars

A life-changing book. Compiled and transcribed from a series of sermons, Dr. Lloyd-Jones covers a variety of "ailments" that keep Christians from being the joyful representatives of Christ that we're called to be, re-focusing believers on their identity in Christ and the power that is available through him. This was the first book by Martyn Lloyd-Jones that I've read but I'll be adding more of his works to my collection.

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Mar 27, 2012 Gabriel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good read. Many encouraging insights in defeating depression.

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About D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London. Lloyd-Jones was strongly opposed to the liberal theology that had become a part of many Christian denominations, regarding it as aberrant. He...more

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“To make it quite practical I have a very simple test. After I have explained the way of Christ to somebody I say “Now, are you ready to say that you are a Christian?” And they hesitate. And then I say, “What’s the matter? Why are you hesitating?” And so often people say, “I don’t feel like I’m good enough yet. I don’t think I’m ready to say I’m a Christian now.” And at once I know that I have been wasting my breath. They are still thinking in terms of themselves. They have to do it. It sounds very modest to say, “Well, I don’t think I’ good enough,” but it’s a very denial of the faith. The very essence of the Christian faith is to say that He is good enough and I am in Him. As long as you go on thinking about yourself like that and saying, “I’m not good enough; Oh, I’m not good enough,” you are denying God – you are denying the gospel – you are denying the very essence of the faith and you will never be happy. You think you’re better at times and then again you will find you are not as good at other times than you thought you were. You will be up and down forever. How can I put it plainly? It doesn’t matter if you have almost entered into the depths of hell. It does not matter if you are guilty of murder as well as every other vile sin. It does not matter from the standpoint of being justified before God at all. You are no more hopeless than the most moral and respectable person in the world.” — 21 people liked it

“we must never look at any sin in our past life in any way except that which leads us to praise God and to magnify His grace in Christ Jesus.” — 9 people liked it

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