Episode 152 - Diana Gruver, "Companions in the Darkness"

Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

“What does it look like to follow Jesus faithfully when you’re depressed?” - Diana Gruver
James Chapter 1 verses 2 through 4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” These words have comforted countless who have endured hard times, stress, suffering, and even grief. And for many who suffer through debilitating depression, these trials James speaks of can last months or even years. Relief is elusive. Comfort is unattainable. Finding joy may even be a pipedream.
Michael’s guest on today’s podcast is Diana Gruver. She is the author of an upcoming book from Intervarsity Press called “Companions in the Darkness: Seven Saints Who Struggled with Depression and Doubt.” She 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. Drawing on her own experience with depression, Diana offers a wealth of practical wisdom both for those in the darkness and those who care for them.
In this podcast, we hope you will discover:

• What you should say or not say to someone who is depressed.
• How suffering can be a blessing.
• The essence of the Gospel.

Discover how the barrier built by porn addiction can become a bridge to abundant life.
What if lust for porn is really a search for true passion?
In a world where there are 68 million searches for pornography every day and where over 70 percent of Christian men report viewing porn in the last year, it's no surprise that more and more men struggle with an addiction to this false fantasy. Common wisdom says if they just had more willpower or more faith, their fight would be over.

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Thanks for listening!