Mark Meynell, the director for Langham Preaching and Partnership in England (founded by John Stott), opens up about his brutal battle with depression in a new book, When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend, and interview:
One part that particular struck me in the interview with Christian Today (emphasis added):
On one edition of the book’s cover, there is the question: ‘How do you preach a ministry of light through the darkness of depression?’ What is his answer?
‘One [way] is realism, so you’re not pretending and pulling wool over eyes. One is actually faithfulness to the Bible because the Bible helps us live with the complexities of life, ironically.
….we’re preaching a person, and we’re saying hey, come and meet this amazing guy I’ve met, and he has been there. And the astonishing thing is it doesn’t matter who it is you introduce him to, or what agonies they have endured; he’s been there, and that means there is hope for everybody. So there is nothing more wonderful and astonishing that being able to introduce people to him.’
And then there’s his perfect sentence on depression from the book’s preview:
“I’m looking for the words, and writing for those who can’t imagine the words.”
