Losing God: Clinging to Faith Through Doubt and Depression

by Matt Rogers

It was the perfect irony. To lose God at a missions conference. What's worse, Matt Rogers will tell you, is that it all felt like fate. Years later, even after Matt's depression subsided, the feeling of being forgotten had not left him. So he knew he had to write it down. Recounting his own experience with depression, Matt Rogers explores the question of how, in a world of suffering, we can call God good. This challenging question can manifest itself as a conspiracy of doubt, so that our emotions and our intellect come under attack. Without appealing to easy answers, Rogers offers understanding and a ray of hope for those who suffer from depression, encouraging them never to give up.

Genres: Christianity, Christian, Religion, Faith, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction

170 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Matt Rogers grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, a bit to the west of Charlotte. He graduated from Campbell University in 1999, then moved to Blacksburg, Virginia, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. He lives and works there still. Matt lost his diploma in the move to Virginia and has never seen it since. He promises he did graduate with a Communication degree.

After a few years as a radio announcer and program director, Matt hung up his headphones to join the staff of New Life Christian Fellowship, the church where he was ordained a pastor in 2006.

Matt’s long-held dream of becoming a published author came true in 2008. He has two books under his belt—When Answers Aren’t Enough: Experiencing God as Good When Life Isn’t (Zondervan, April 2008) and Losing God: Clinging to Faith through Doubt and Depression (InterVarsity, November 2008)—with hopes of writing many more.

Reviews

[Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. Though tagline would have been more accurate as "Clinging to Predestination Through Doubt and Depression"

[Michael Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very honest, personal autobiography of one young man's years-long struggle with significant depression and the serious doubts about God and salvation that ensued. Rogers departs very little from telling his own story for generalities about depression, but his story, by-and-large, illustrates the principles he would like to convey. The appendix provides a brief orientation to the symptoms of and components of treatment for clinical depression, as a launching point for those who are suffering. I imagine Rogers has achieved his goal that "the ill walk away from this book convinced that someone else in the world can relate [and:] the healthy walk away [better:] understanding depression and doubt despite never having endured them."

[fpk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to all pastors, church workers, ministry staff and anyone struggling with depression. Matt Rogers writes honestly about his dark years during college, and how pat answers and well worn phrases in sermons damaged and worsened his feelings of isolation and condemnation. I’ve heard a lot of these same irritating catch phrases,”have faith”, “etc. There are many Christians who spiritualize clinical depression with a quick quip to, in essence, shut the depressed person up. And who condemn any medical intervention as worldly.
What a relief to read Roger’s’ book. It’s honest, truthful and encouraging in the end.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went through a very similar depression in college, and at times it felt like I was reading my own story. Some of the passages could have come straight from my diary. it was almost too much at times, bringing back bad memories. I really could relate to the author's struggles, even though we ultimately took two different paths. I ended up heading in a different direction than the author- I lost my faith, but not until many years after my depression was resolved. In his case, it was the doctrine of predestination that made him struggle with questions of whether god was good or evil, in my case it was just the doctrine of hell itself. I remember agonizing over whether God hated me and whether I was truly "saved." I suppose according to born against Christians I was not, because I left the faith. However, I know my own mind and heart better than they do, and I know I was 100% sincere when I accepted Christ as my savoir.

But for me, there were too many things that did not add up. When the author comes out of his depression, he just decides it is ok for him not to understand the contradictions in the bible about sovereignty and predestination (how different parts of the bible say conflicting things.) I see this as a cop out. He is willing to turn off his mind and just accept something that does not make sense. I did not do that, which is why I am now an atheist. The questions he was asking, he was willing to dismiss as soon as he was no longer depressed. I was unable to dismiss mine. Because they were real and valid questions. I feel like this guy just took the easy way out- he can just ignore an obvious glaring flaw in Christianity. I am not satisfied with something that doesn't make sense. I can't just ignore reality the way he does.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because of this line, "Years later, even after Matt's depression subsided, the feeling of being forgotten had not left him. So he knew he had to write it down." But this book isn't about that at all. I know that everyone is different, but based on that description, I really wanted it to deal more with the after, with the reality of the potential for relapses, with the inevitable question "why", with how he wrestled with reconciling religion and the reality of suicide and suffering. Alas, it was all about how he wrestled with predestination during his depression. But it was a quick and easy read, and there were certainly moments of encouragement.

[Jennifer Jarrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I'm so glad he wrote this book that feels like it was written for me! I struggle with faith and doubt and depression on top of that! I'm so glad someone wrote a book that addresses depression as a Christian and how it affects your faith!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at the library in the book sale section. I paid $1 for it. Never heard of it before. I was interested in a Christians view of depression since I am sure plenty of people dont believe if you are a Christian you can be depressed. So that is why it interested me. So I took it home and slowly read it over a few weeks time I finished it. While the message is good yes we can get depression I am curious how he does not get depressed anymore. That is how it ends. He beat depression while most people deal with it their whole lives. Yes some even kill themselves and they are Christians. He also never had medicine. I have ADD and deal with depression not all the time but enough. Its just what I do. So while this book was good it did not speak to me as much as I thought it would. Unsure how to feel. Its a short read not long just 10 chapters I took time reading it skipped a few days but otherwise read it 1 chapter per day over about a 2 week period.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found no value in reading this book.
I am a Christian that suffers with Bipolar disorder an OCD. I really wanted this book to help me with the path of getting out of losing touch with the Lord when deeply depressed.
This book was no help what so ever. He went through a whining four year of being depressied. He had good advice from friends and pastors to see a doctor over the years and chose to ignore it. it ended unresoved for me. No real revealation or help.
I suffered through reading this book hoping it would get better, it never did.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read a book that addressed depression from a Christian perspective. Matt laid his heart out there and I wish more people who do not suffer would read his description. However, I was put off by his struggle with predestination. It was not a topic I pondered or worried about much. UNTIL I read the book . . . He is entitled to his subject of struggle - I just wish the book description would've been clear about it. I wish him no relapse and all the best :-)

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book basically reads like an honest, vulnerable journal. Matt shares the specifics of his own struggles with depression (and doubt). The point is not to try to connect with every single specific of his story, but rather to be encouraged by hearing someone else’s story and his willingness to allow people to know some of the darkness and difficulty of his struggles.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this book. The author chose to ride out his depression without medication, which I'm sure some people can do, but it was almost as though he implied that God would be able to use his testimony more than that of someone who chose to use medicine.

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshingly honest but still encouraging. God is good.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unpretentious and timely

[Kent Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

a painful read that had me nodding in agreement with watery eyes.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courageous book that recounts a journey through the dark night of the soul.