Fighting Depression and Discouragement in the Ministry

This seems like such a 21^st century topic. It sounds like I am joining the modern legions who are preoccupied with and find comfort in discussions about their mental health. But the springboard for this discussion comes from a text written 150 years ago. It was a recognized problem them, and it still is today—maybe even more so.

Every preacher should go back and read Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. Too often students preparing for ministry read it in college or seminary and then fail to pick it up again. After a decade in ministry (or more) it strikes a more familiar chord than for seminary students. In this article, I am focusing on chapter eleven—“The Minister’s Fainting Fits.”

Discouragement is common among those in ministry.

Here is how Spurgeon so eloquently admits that he struggled with what we would today call depression.

The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy. There may be here and there men of iron, to whom wear and tear work no perceptible detriment, but surely the rust frets even these; and as for ordinary men, the Lord knows, and makes them to know, that they are but dust. Knowing by most painful experience what deep depression of spirit means, being visited therewith at seasons by no means few or far between, I thought it might be consolatory to some of my brethren if I gave my thoughts thereon, that younger men might not fancy that some strange thing had happened to them when they became for a season possessed by melancholy; and that sadder men might know that one upon whom the sun has shone right joyously did not always walk in the light.

Reasons we face discouragement.

We are human beings. Discouragement and depression are common upon fallen souls. God’s goodness and grace often protects us from much of this, but not always. Just because we have received a call to ministry and swim in the sacred text does not mean that we are immune from the ravages of the flesh all the time. In this sense, no minister of the gospel is above others. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we would have tribulation in this world. And Paul not only experienced such fleshly sorrow (described in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10), but also described our inability even to make sense of it in our own spirits (Romans 8:26-27). It is folly to think that our present experience would be exempt from all fleshly weakness when the scripture clearly says it is a common trial we face.

It does us no good to lay guilt on our hearts when we face the weaknesses of our own humanity. We must, in our grief and sorrow, lean even more heavily on our Lord. As we share this weakness with those to whom we minister, we will have more compassion, and weep with them genuinely.

We have physical ailments. Spurgeon acknowledges the sicknesses and disabilities are common among human beings, but he says something remarkable about mental illness (which sometimes is a truly biological problem).

As to mental maladies, is any man altogether sane? Are we not all a little off the balance? Some minds appear to have a gloomy tinge essential to their very individuality; of them it may be said, “Melancholy marked them for her own;” fine minds withal, and ruled by noblest principles, but yet most prone to forget the silver lining, and to remember only the cloud.

Such disabilities do not exempt us from usefulness to God. In fact, God often uses the physical limits of His servant to open doors of usefulness closed to others.

The nature of the ministry is very serious and forces us to carry a heavy weight. We work in the realm of the eternal. The gravity of the counsel we give, the messages we preach, and the work we do is immense. Eternal souls hang in the balance. We are not simply preparing a meal, selling a product, or healing an ailment. Our words and ministry carry weight beyond this earthly life and the gravity of what we do can overwhelm us—even freeze us. We second-guess words we say from the pulpit. We regret counsel given—even after much prayer and soul-searching.

Because of this weight, the ministry can be very lonely. Here is what Spurgeon says,

This loneliness, which if I mistake not is felt by many of my brethren, is a fertile source of depression;

This is especially true for those who head ministries—and especially so for those who carry the weight of ministry all alone in smaller congregations. The insidious nature of loneliness is that we feel like others are not experiencing what we are.

Spurgeon goes on to say,

 and our ministers’ fraternal meetings, and the cultivation of holy intercourse with kindred minds will, with God’s blessing, help us greatly to escape the snare.

This is one of the most important reasons that the FBFI exists. This week, we are gathering at Faith Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. While the preaching and workshops are important and helpful, the fellowship for lonely pastors (and their wives) is one of the most important reasons we gather. Pastors of larger churches, with multiple staff might not understand what the single minister and his wife go through in more remote ministries. Yet, it is so important that all of us care for one another, minister to one another and encourage one another.

The nature of our responsibilities often leads to a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting long in the study, pouring over books, and computer screens, these sedentary activities can easily lead to poor physical condition and as a result mental fatigue and stress.

Spurgeon also lists other situations that are common. We can face depression after a long sought after goal has been reached. We go from the high of a great success to a low to follow. We can face depression and discouragement when a particularly daunting task is ahead. Like the children of Israel facing the giants in the land, we quake with fear at the prospect. We face discouragement in the middle of “a long stretch of unbroken labour.” Preachers need a break, a vacation, rest time, a short season away. Taking such a break is not weakness, it is wisdom, and churches should insist that their pastors take seasons of refreshment and rest.

Sometimes there is one huge crushing blow that waylays us. The death of a family member, the betrayal of a friend or colleague—one event can bring us to our knees. As with Job, we might even face a series of such crushing blows.

In the dark of night, the Christian minister often also faces spiritual oppression. I do not know how else to explain it. Irrational fears, lack of sleep, emotional misery can sometimes be an attack by the wicked one. These often come at our weakest moments, just like Jesus endured after fasting for 40 days in the wilderness.

Sometimes, it helps immensely just to comprehend what we are facing. It does not make the hurt depart, but we can better endure it if we know it is common and can be overcome. Spurgeon’s final words of encouragement are helpful here.

The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble. Count it no strange thing, but a part of ordinary ministerial experience. Should the power of depression be more than ordinary, think not that all is over with your usefulness. Cast not away your confidence, for it hath great recompense of reward. Even if the enemy’s foot be on your neck, expect to rise and overthrow him. Cast the burden of the present, along with the sin of the past and the fear of the future, upon the Lord, who forsaketh not His saints. Live by the day–ay, by the hour. Put no trust in frames and feelings. Care more for a grain of faith than a ton of excitement. Trust in God alone and lean not on the needs of human help.

 Be not surprised when friends fail you: it is a failing world. Never count upon immutability in man: inconstancy you may reckon upon without fear of disappointment. The disciples of Jesus forsook Him; be not amazed if your adherents wander away to other teachers: as they were not your all when with you, all is not gone from you with their departure. Serve God with all your might while the candle is burning, and then when it goes out for a season, you will have the less to regret.

Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are. When your own emptiness is painfully forced upon your consciousness, chide yourself that you ever dreamed of being full, except in the Lord. Set small store by present rewards; be grateful for earnests by the way, but look for the recompensing joy hereafter.

Continue with double earnestness to serve your Lord when no visible result is before you. Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light: faith’s rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her Great Guide. Between this and heaven there may be rougher weather yet, but it is all provided for by our covenant Head. In nothing let us be turned aside from the path which the divine call has urged us to pursue. Come fair or come foul, the pulpit is our watchtower, and the ministry our warfare; be it ours, when we cannot see the face of our God, to trust under THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS.