Struggling with Spiritual Depression? You're Not Alone
Have you ever found yourself asking, "Why am I so downcast?"
If you're a Christian who sometimes feels spiritually depleted, discouraged, or depressed—despite knowing the truth of the Gospel—you're in good company. Even the psalmist cried out, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?" (Psalm 42:5).
The reality is that spiritual depression affects believers across all walks of life. It's a condition that touches the most devoted Christians, often leaving them feeling isolated and confused about why their faith doesn't seem to sustain their joy.
Understanding the Root Causes
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the 20th century's most influential preachers, devoted an entire sermon series to this critical topic. With the insight of both a medical doctor and a pastor, Dr. Lloyd-Jones diagnosed the various causes of spiritual depression with remarkable clarity:
- Misunderstanding salvation - Not fully grasping the finished work of Christ
- Dwelling on past sins - Living under condemnation rather than in the freedom of forgiveness
- Looking at circumstances instead of Christ - Allowing feelings and situations to dictate our spiritual state
- Lacking spiritual discipline - Failing to actively engage our minds with biblical truth
- False teaching - Being influenced by incomplete or distorted presentations of the Gospel
The Path to Healing
In his famous Westminster Chapel series, Dr. Lloyd-Jones doesn't simply identify the problems—he prescribes the cure. Drawing from Scripture, he demonstrates how believers can move from spiritual depression to vibrant Christian joy by:
- Preaching truth to ourselves instead of listening to our feelings
- Remembering our true identity in Christ
- Understanding God's purposes in our trials
- Applying proper spiritual discipline
- Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
As Dr. Lloyd-Jones himself stated: "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?"
A Practical Guide for Your Journey
To help you apply these timeless truths, we've created a comprehensive Spiritual Depression Study Guide based on Dr. Lloyd-Jones' complete sermon series. This guide is designed for:
- Personal study - Work through the causes and cures of spiritual depression at your own pace
- Small groups - Facilitate meaningful discussions about this vital topic
- Biblical counseling - Use as a framework for helping others find freedom
- Midweek studies - Equip your church with tools to address this common struggle
The study guide includes:
- Discussion questions for each chapter
- Scripture references for deeper study
- Practical application exercises
- Fill-in-the-blank sections to reinforce key concepts
- A systematic approach to diagnosing and treating spiritual depression
Don't Stay in the Valley
God doesn't intend for His children to remain in spiritual depression. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones powerfully reminds us, the Christian faith is fundamentally a message of hope, joy, and abundant life—even in the midst of trials.
Whether you're personally struggling with spiritual depression, know someone who is, or simply want to understand this condition better, this study guide provides a biblical roadmap from despair to delight in God.
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Discover how God's Word speaks directly into seasons of doubt and despair—and how you can live with renewed hope.
Click here to download "A Practical Guide to Healing Spiritual Depression"
This comprehensive study guide is our gift to you. We pray it will be used by the Holy Spirit to bring encouragement, conviction, and ultimately, the joy of your salvation.
Want to hear Dr. Lloyd-Jones' complete teaching on this topic? Listen to the full Spiritual Depression sermon series at MLJTrust.org—freely available as it has been for over a decade, with more than 25 million sermon downloads worldwide.
Ready to move from spiritual depression to spiritual delight? Download your free study guide now and begin the journey toward renewed joy in Christ.
The MLJ Trust exists to preserve and freely distribute Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' 1,600+ audio sermons, serving 850,000+ users across 200+ countries. Learn more at MLJTrust.org.