I have been living with/fighting depression for about 30 years. As a young missionary my life was full of promise ... I was looking forward with hope ... rejoicing in the goodness of God. Then my world fell apart ... and I fell into deep, deep depression .... and have never fully recovered ... somehow, I don't how .... I keep hanging on, I haven't quit the faith .... I preach and minister as the opportunity arises.... opportunites which are few and far bewteen.
God’s grace has kept you this far and He will keep you “until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” God bless you. I pray you see His sustaining grace more and more everyday
Thank you for sharing that Banza. I've been a Christian most of my life and have suffered w/ severe major depressive episodes most of it too. By my teens they were getting months long and generally last around 5. Very severe. I hope I'm coming out of my latest one soon. My faith is sound, but i was wondering about my standing as a Christian somewhat. Most Christians won't admit they get it this bad and act like quoting some scriptures, and binding some spirits will quickly chase it off. Not so w/ some of us. God allows suffering. I can read scripture and try and understand what scripture says about suffering, but it doesn't comfort my anguished spirit much while I endure long periods when I can barely enjoy anything, incl. food and have to force it in to keep going. I thank you for sharing what you did. I don't want you to be suffering like this too, it does give me some comfort though that another Godly person, a missionary no less goes through this too. It's not just me being unworthy or missing the mark somehow.
Realize you are more to God than your ministry. He loves you and is even now forming Christ in you! So make a schedule. Put purpose into your days i don't know if you have had a big loss. For that only God's grace and much prayer May God bless you!
I have found Spurgeon to be a respite from today's bombastic, never wrong, self congratulatory preacher. He somehow hit harder but soothed deeper. With Spurgeon I see a man of God compared to most others I see as men of [worldly] men. Thank you for your refreshing faithfulness in this.
I think it’s such a blessing for preachers to stand up and let the congregation and their brothers and sisters in Christ know that they are battling certain things in their life that we all go through.
Pain and suffering are still pain and suffering one must endure regardless of being a believer or not. It's true that God may re-purpose my pain to make me a better witness or expand my ministry, but in the meantime it still hurts!!! Even dear patient Job ended up cursing the day he was born, though he didn't turn against God.
Also spiritual opposition and warfare is real. The devil comes against those preaching the gospel or even living for Jesus extra hard - he knows who to target. Look at Paul. All the disciples. Their lives were not easy. Thank God the One who is in us is greater. Keep up the fight and lean on Jesus, I find the more I talk to Jesus and truly run to Him in a deep personal relationship the better.
12:50 - Oh, thank you! I am not, of course, a preacher, but after being a flower farmer for 2 years, I've gone back to website designing, and I have been feeling more and more lethargic and blue. From so much energy and cheer, to these solemn and lonely days ... I need to get out in the sunshine and sweat again.
I am not a preacher, just an unworthy kingdom citizen with a bunch of thorns, though you videos are still profitable to my soul. Guess, no need to say that I love Spurgeon. Keep it up and may all of us be kept in the faith by Him, who is able.
You are a brave man for putting such a difficult topic out here. There is something I have been wondering. How long did it take you to read through Spurgeon's 'Lectures to my Students'? Does he get into the loneliness aspect of being a pastor?
I do not recall how long I initially took to read through Spurgeon's "Lectures." I am not a fast reader - I tend to read contemplatively. But it is not a terribly long book. It could be read in a month by investing a few minutes every day. Spurgeon does address pastoral loneliness and recommends preachers stay in fellowship with other preachers as one way to alleviate the difficulty.
I had to de-prioritize my channel to address other projects. But I am working on new videos! I was able to fine tune the next script this week. Hopefully I'll have another episode up in the next few weeks. Thanks for the encouragement!
One verse in the scriptures is spoken by Jesus in Luke 21:19. "In your patience possess ye your Souls." AMEN. Was Jesus subjected to Depression ? AMEN.
I have been living with/fighting depression for about 30 years. As a young missionary my life was full of promise ... I was looking forward with hope ... rejoicing in the goodness of God. Then my world fell apart ... and I fell into deep, deep depression .... and have never fully recovered ... somehow, I don't how .... I keep hanging on, I haven't quit the faith .... I preach and minister as the opportunity arises.... opportunites which are few and far bewteen.
God’s grace has kept you this far and He will keep you “until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”
God bless you. I pray you see His sustaining grace more and more everyday
@@PreachBetter Thank you.
Thank you for sharing that Banza. I've been a Christian most of my life and have suffered w/ severe major depressive episodes most of it too. By my teens they were getting months long and generally last around 5. Very severe. I hope I'm coming out of my latest one soon. My faith is sound, but i was wondering about my standing as a Christian somewhat. Most Christians won't admit they get it this bad and act like quoting some scriptures, and binding some spirits will quickly chase it off. Not so w/ some of us. God allows suffering. I can read scripture and try and understand what scripture says about suffering, but it doesn't comfort my anguished spirit much while I endure long periods when I can barely enjoy anything, incl. food and have to force it in to keep going.
I thank you for sharing what you did. I don't want you to be suffering like this too, it does give me some comfort though that another Godly person, a missionary no less goes through this too. It's not just me being unworthy or missing the mark somehow.
Realize you are more to God than your ministry. He loves you and is even now forming Christ in you! So make a schedule. Put purpose into your days i don't know if you have had a big loss. For that only God's grace and much prayer May God bless you!
I have found Spurgeon to be a respite from today's bombastic, never wrong, self congratulatory preacher. He somehow hit harder but soothed deeper.
With Spurgeon I see a man of God compared to most others I see as men of [worldly] men.
Thank you for your refreshing faithfulness in this.
Spurgeon is a beautiful man showing wonderfully the gentleness and perfect love of our precious awesome God and our brother Jesus Christ 💝🙏🙏🙏🙏
I think it’s such a blessing for preachers to stand up and let the congregation and their brothers and sisters in Christ know that they are battling certain things in their life that we all go through.
Amen
Pain and suffering are still pain and suffering one must endure regardless of being a believer or not. It's true that God may re-purpose my pain to make me a better witness or expand my ministry, but in the meantime it still hurts!!! Even dear patient Job ended up cursing the day he was born, though he didn't turn against God.
Also spiritual opposition and warfare is real. The devil comes against those preaching the gospel or even living for Jesus extra hard - he knows who to target. Look at Paul. All the disciples. Their lives were not easy. Thank God the One who is in us is greater. Keep up the fight and lean on Jesus, I find the more I talk to Jesus and truly run to Him in a deep personal relationship the better.
Thank you brother!
12:50 - Oh, thank you! I am not, of course, a preacher, but after being a flower farmer for 2 years, I've gone back to website designing, and I have been feeling more and more lethargic and blue. From so much energy and cheer, to these solemn and lonely days ... I need to get out in the sunshine and sweat again.
Thank you again brother
You are one of the truest I've heard. Thank you !!!
Wow, thank you!
Thank you so much for the encouragement brother 🙏🏿🦅
I am not a preacher, just an unworthy kingdom citizen with a bunch of thorns, though you videos are still profitable to my soul. Guess, no need to say that I love Spurgeon. Keep it up and may all of us be kept in the faith by Him, who is able.
I'm glad the videos are edifying God's people, whether they are preachers or not. God bless you
You are a brave man for putting such a difficult topic out here. There is something I have been wondering. How long did it take you to read through Spurgeon's 'Lectures to my Students'? Does he get into the loneliness aspect of being a pastor?
I do not recall how long I initially took to read through Spurgeon's "Lectures." I am not a fast reader - I tend to read contemplatively. But it is not a terribly long book. It could be read in a month by investing a few minutes every day. Spurgeon does address pastoral loneliness and recommends preachers stay in fellowship with other preachers as one way to alleviate the difficulty.
God richly bless you for enriching us with these crucial lessons for ministerial success!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
Your channel is a treasure..Thank you!
Wow! You're very welcome, Chris. I'm glad it's a blessing to others.
Great lesson for any pastor! Thank-you Brother Joe!
You're welcome! Thanks for encouraging words.
Just what I needed! Thanks
Happy to hear from folks who've been helped. God bless
That is excellent! So thankful. I needed to know this. It was excellent!
Glad it was helpful!
What is the book collection just under your left shoulder! They're so pretty! I'm looking for reading-quality books that look good on the shelf!
They're the books under the square clock. I would love to know!
This is so true. BTW why have you stopped making new videos??
I seriously needed this. Thank you so much
I'm glad the video was an encouragement to you. Be blessed
I miss your videos, brother!
I had to de-prioritize my channel to address other projects. But I am working on new videos! I was able to fine tune the next script this week. Hopefully I'll have another episode up in the next few weeks. Thanks for the encouragement!
I liked it.
Glad to hear it!
One verse in the scriptures is spoken by Jesus in Luke 21:19. "In your patience possess ye your Souls." AMEN. Was Jesus subjected to Depression ? AMEN.
Back ground music 😐
Nooooo!!!
absolutely not !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!