The church's relationship with depression has been fraught: for centuries, depression was assumed to be evidence of personal sin or even demonic influence. The depressed have often been ostracized or institutionalized. In recent years the conversation has begun to change, and the stigma has lessened—but as anyone who suffers from depression knows, we still have a long way to go.

In Companions in the Darkness, Diana Gruver looks back into church history and finds depression in the lives of some of our most beloved saints, including Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr. Without trying to diagnose these figures from a distance, Gruver tells their stories in fresh ways, taking from each a particular lesson that can encourage or guide those who suffer today. Drawing on her own experience with depression, Gruver offers a wealth of practical wisdom both for those in the darkness and those who care for them.

Not onlycan these saints teach us valuable lessons about the experience of depression, they can also be a source of hope and empathy for us today. They can be our companions in the darkness.



Diana Gruver (MA, Gordon-Conwell) writes about discipleship and spiritual formation in the every day. She serves as a writer and communications director for Vere Institute, and lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter.







Chuck DeGroat (LPC, PhD) is professor of pastoral care and Christian spirituality at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and senior fellow at Newbigin House of Studies in San Francisco. He served as a pastor at churches in Orlando and San Francisco and founded two church-based counseling centers. He is a licensed therapist, spiritual director, and the author of Toughest People to Love and Wholeheartedness.



Foreword

Introduction: Defining the Darkness

1. Martin Luther: Flee Solitude—Drink, Joke, and Jest

2. Hannah Allen: Attend to Body, Mind, and Spirit

3. David Brainerd: Leave a Legacy of Faithful Weakness

4. William Cowper:Embrace the Rescue of Art and Friendship

5. Charles Spurgeon: Cling to the Promises of God

6. Mother Teresa: Follow Jesus, Not Your Feelings

7. Martin Luther King Jr.: Drink from the Reservoir of Resilience

Conclusion: The WaterIs Deep, but the Bottom Is Good

Acknowledgments

Appendix: When One You Love Is in the Dark

Brief Biographies of the Companions

Notes