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Down, Not Out
Depression can lead to self–condemnation—and yet the gospel tells us there is no condemnation in Christ.
Anxiety leads us to inner turmoil—but the gospel assures us of the love of God and the peace that comes with knowing him.
Whether you have experienced mental illness yourself, or want to understand depression and anxiety to care for somebody you love, this book provides a personal and theologically–thoughtful reflection on the challenges facing Christians in this area.
Written by a pastor from his own experience of depression and anxiety.
Short accessible chapters with reflection questions for each one.
Anxiety leads us to inner turmoil—but the gospel assures us of the love of God and the peace that comes with knowing him.
Whether you have experienced mental illness yourself, or want to understand depression and anxiety to care for somebody you love, this book provides a personal and theologically–thoughtful reflection on the challenges facing Christians in this area.
Written by a pastor from his own experience of depression and anxiety.
Short accessible chapters with reflection questions for each one.
144 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2018
13 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Chris Cipollone
2 books2 followersChris Cipollone is a pastor, speaker, teacher and author. He currently serves in Sydney, Australia. In addition to this work, Chris is the Founding Director of Biblical Counsellors Australia, an interdenominational organization which seeks to bring the truths of Scripture to all of life.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 3, 2024
Really helpful, practical book written by someone who has struggled deeply with mental health. Would gladly give it to someone struggling or to someone caring for someone struggling. Full of Bible quotes and practical tips.
Key takeaway: regardless of how we feel, God's love, mercy and patience for us does not change.
"When you're having a good day praise God for this mercy. When you are having a bad day, know that God is still for you and not against you. His love never changes and salvation is not dependent on our ability to function how we would like."
Key takeaway: regardless of how we feel, God's love, mercy and patience for us does not change.
"When you're having a good day praise God for this mercy. When you are having a bad day, know that God is still for you and not against you. His love never changes and salvation is not dependent on our ability to function how we would like."
August 19, 2018
An excellent book on the topic of depression, anxiety and Jesus. Thoroughly Biblical and practical. Thoughtfully written including the short digestible chapters. Chris is someone who understands and knows what will help.
December 16, 2019
Excellent book on helping people with depression and anxiety. Highly recommend it!
December 31, 2023
Such a helpful book, would highly recommend to anyone struggling with depression or anyone close to someone who is.
Cipollone is very real with what depression can look and feel like and doesn't shy away from the things that are hard to talk about.
Each chapter is short and succinct, so it's super easy to read a chapter here and there, especially when you might not feel motivated to.
The chapters also end with a reflection/summary of the chapter, which often reiterates the biblical truth mentioned in the chapter. I found these summaries helpful to hold in my mind and remind myself of regularly.
Here is the summary from the chapter on brokenness:
"The beauty of the gospel is that, even at our lowest, we are more than our illness. If we are in Christ, then our identity is secure in him. This helps us to process and grow through all seasons."
Cipollone is very real with what depression can look and feel like and doesn't shy away from the things that are hard to talk about.
Each chapter is short and succinct, so it's super easy to read a chapter here and there, especially when you might not feel motivated to.
The chapters also end with a reflection/summary of the chapter, which often reiterates the biblical truth mentioned in the chapter. I found these summaries helpful to hold in my mind and remind myself of regularly.
Here is the summary from the chapter on brokenness:
"The beauty of the gospel is that, even at our lowest, we are more than our illness. If we are in Christ, then our identity is secure in him. This helps us to process and grow through all seasons."
July 1, 2025
A really helpful little book, helped me in the depths of sleep deprivation bad moods to remember the ultimate things. short chapters are great too. and great one or two sentence summaries at the end. good tone. and helpful even if you don't suffer from mental illness, as a little taster of how to care for others, mostly being patient as you love them for years and years.
favourite quotes:
"have you considered that God might want the goal of your life not to be happiness, but maturity?"
"brokenness is not easy, but it can help you see more clearly your dependence on the love of God"
"Feelings don't always provide the clearest indicator of who God is and his love for us"
"you are free to express the full range of your feelings [to God]... Remember that God is holy and not to be cursed for your suffering"
favourite quotes:
"have you considered that God might want the goal of your life not to be happiness, but maturity?"
"brokenness is not easy, but it can help you see more clearly your dependence on the love of God"
"Feelings don't always provide the clearest indicator of who God is and his love for us"
"you are free to express the full range of your feelings [to God]... Remember that God is holy and not to be cursed for your suffering"
December 25, 2019
Down, Not Out is a book that considers depression and anxiety from a Christian perspective. Written primarily for Christians experiencing these mental illnesses and for those seeking to support them; the book is split up into short, punchy chapters that are grounded in the gospel. Would recommend.
September 10, 2023
I’ve not read a book this excellent on mental health and the gospel before, and would recommend to anyone struggling or seeking to love those struggling. Incredibly moving, clear, and gentle while also challenging.
November 2, 2020
Writing style: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Engagement:🌟🌟🌟
Content:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Purpose:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.4/5
Engagement:🌟🌟🌟
Content:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Purpose:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.4/5
August 18, 2019
A very helpful book. It is practical and very easy to read.
January 2, 2019
This is a very honest, very helpful book.
From near the end of the book, a paragraph that hit me like a sack of bricks, but in a good way.
“If you break your leg, you can expect to be on crutches for 6-8 weeks. After that, you’ll probably be back to walking and running as before. But if you’re living with depression or anxiety, you don’t get a specific timeframe. You don’t know how long it’s going to impact your life. It could ease after a few weeks or months – but it may not”
As someone who’s been wrestling with depression and some related issues for a few years in a row now, and on and off for my entire ‘adult’ life before that, this book has been a restorative read. It is a book that takes seriously both the importance and skill (not to mention the fact it is a beautiful example of God’s goodness to us) of the medical profession, medication and psychiatry, and the radical truth that God can and does heal today. This is a practical book – but not one that makes you feel guilty for not doing anything, or doing ‘enough’. It is a good book for ‘sufferers’ and for those who suffer/care with and alongside us.
https://www.thomascreedy.co.uk/book-r...
From near the end of the book, a paragraph that hit me like a sack of bricks, but in a good way.
“If you break your leg, you can expect to be on crutches for 6-8 weeks. After that, you’ll probably be back to walking and running as before. But if you’re living with depression or anxiety, you don’t get a specific timeframe. You don’t know how long it’s going to impact your life. It could ease after a few weeks or months – but it may not”
As someone who’s been wrestling with depression and some related issues for a few years in a row now, and on and off for my entire ‘adult’ life before that, this book has been a restorative read. It is a book that takes seriously both the importance and skill (not to mention the fact it is a beautiful example of God’s goodness to us) of the medical profession, medication and psychiatry, and the radical truth that God can and does heal today. This is a practical book – but not one that makes you feel guilty for not doing anything, or doing ‘enough’. It is a good book for ‘sufferers’ and for those who suffer/care with and alongside us.
https://www.thomascreedy.co.uk/book-r...
October 28, 2018
As someone who wrestles with anxiety and bouts of depression, I found Down Not Out very refreshing and encouraging. While this is not a replacement for therapy or medicine, it is a helpful tool in the Christian’s toolbox on this particular topic. I believe it would be very helpful for someone who, though they may not wrestle with mental illness themselves, knows, and loves, someone who does wrestle with mental illness.
Chris touches on topics that are particularly difficult for someone struggling with mental illness. The challenge to stay in community and ask for help were two that I have a hard time interacting in due to my introverted nature. Nevertheless, Chris has a way of being firm while still encouraging the reader. And the plethora of Bible verses was wonderful.
Your mileage may vary but I found the book to be helpful overall.
Chris touches on topics that are particularly difficult for someone struggling with mental illness. The challenge to stay in community and ask for help were two that I have a hard time interacting in due to my introverted nature. Nevertheless, Chris has a way of being firm while still encouraging the reader. And the plethora of Bible verses was wonderful.
Your mileage may vary but I found the book to be helpful overall.
December 16, 2020
The book was written with an immense amount of care and attention to detail to maximize the benefit to those reading it.
I appreciate how the author really helps those suffering with anxiety and depression reframe their experiences from a Christian point of view. The author comes from a place of compassion and understanding. The author knows that those with anxiety and depression also struggle with self compassion, so he demonstrates how God love all humankind, even through suffering.
I also appreciate the length of this book. The book is quick and easy to read, and I can imagine that an individual in crisis would not be deterred by the short length. Conversely, the author includes some interesting reflection questions for the reader to pour over and go even more in depth with.
I appreciate how the author really helps those suffering with anxiety and depression reframe their experiences from a Christian point of view. The author comes from a place of compassion and understanding. The author knows that those with anxiety and depression also struggle with self compassion, so he demonstrates how God love all humankind, even through suffering.
I also appreciate the length of this book. The book is quick and easy to read, and I can imagine that an individual in crisis would not be deterred by the short length. Conversely, the author includes some interesting reflection questions for the reader to pour over and go even more in depth with.
October 30, 2018
More and more I hear about people struggling with mental health. As Christians we can eith think our faith has nothing helpful to offer these kind of issues, or think that our faith is the only way to deal with it. In this short book Cipollone vulnerably shares about his own experience with anxiety and depression, how we can apply scripture to the issues that lead to mental health, and also how we can helpfully make use of modern medicine as a means of grace from God. I found the advice for how we can help friends dealing with mental health issues very constructive.
March 31, 2023
Great book. So much to think about and consider. So many different aspects were covered in this book surrounding the topic of mental health and a Christian view with Biblical scripture to support it. I also really liked the way that the author wrote this book, in that it felt like he was talking to me personally, but also was a very well-informed and educational tone. Great book for anyone (Christian or not) to read to better understand mental health, and how we can broach and learn about the subject of mental health.
March 12, 2019
"...however much you love them, you cannot become their saviour. And you don't need to! Your role is to patiently love them, and point them to the Lord. He is the true saviour - not you."
A book that has given me a honest peak behind the curtain of mental illness and how wonderfully the gospel of Christ speaks into it.
"...without love, truth becomes brash and arrogant. When spoken in love, truth becomes gentle and nurturing."
A book that has given me a honest peak behind the curtain of mental illness and how wonderfully the gospel of Christ speaks into it.
"...without love, truth becomes brash and arrogant. When spoken in love, truth becomes gentle and nurturing."
September 23, 2019
As a christian who's dealt with severe depression for many years, I loved how this book applied the gospel's teachings to real life and all its brutality. If you're struggling or have struggled with anxiety and/or depression, or even if you're just going through a rough patch, this book is a great tool to keep your spiritual strength up
August 10, 2020
Very helpful book, easy to read and would be a good resource to give those who are struggling with anxiety and depression. Short chapters with reflective questions at the end. Very biblically based and written by someone who struggles with depression.
June 17, 2022
This book gave me a fresh perspective on anxiety and depression as a Christian.
The examples and stories used to support the main points are beautiful.
The writing style of Chris Cipollone is easy to follow and to understand. No big words, just heart.
The examples and stories used to support the main points are beautiful.
The writing style of Chris Cipollone is easy to follow and to understand. No big words, just heart.
July 26, 2022
An exceptional resource for Christians struggling with anxiety and / or depression - and for those caring for them. A broad range of topics were covered in hopeful, practical and concise chapters. What a blessing this one was!
January 25, 2019
Excellent, helpful book. Biblical and balanced.
January 4, 2023
Very practical, from someone who suffered complete emotional collapse, and covering a lot of areas and subjects raised by this collapse.
January 9, 2020
Great book. Covers a lot of helpful topics with nice short digestible chapters. Sound advice.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews