Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light when Depression Darkens What You See

by Chris Hodges, Rick Warren (Foreword by)

Overview

Do you feel guilt and shame about negative thoughts and emotions and your inability to overcome them? Bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges helps those struggling with depression find liberating solutions by drawing from the life of the prophet Elijah.

You might be asking, Should a Christian even be having these struggles?

Depression is the number one health issue in the world today, yet those who suffer are still sometimes stigmatized--especially followers of Jesus. Many assume God's peace, power, and protection should prevent us from ever feeling anxious, depressed, and afraid. But the Bible teaches otherwise, particularly in its depiction of the life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah.

In Out of the Cave, Chris Hodges uses Elijah's life to show us that everyone is susceptible to depression. Even when we're walking closely with God, we can still stumble and get lost in the wilderness of tangled emotions. But we don't have to stay there, because we serve a God who meets us in the darkness. Out of the Cave helps us

• remove the stigma of depression and realize we're not alone;
• understand the ways our temperament and view of God affect the way we handle depression; and
• learn a comprehensive approach to wellness--mind, body, and soul--from Elijah's journey.

With his trademark blend of Bible-based wisdom, practical application, and vulnerability in sharing his personal struggles, Hodges explores the causes of depression we can't change, the contributors we can conquer, and offers transformative hope and spiritual power to help us win the battle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781400221257
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	221,224
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Chris Hodges is the founding and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands. Under his leadership, Church of the Highlands has launched campuses all across the state of Alabama and has grown to more than 60,000 people attending weekly. He also cofounded the Association of Related Churches, launched a coaching network called GROW, and serves as chancellor of Highlands College, a two-year ministry training college. Chris and his wife, Tammy, have five children and eight grandchildren and live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Table of Contents

Foreword Rick Warren xiii

Introduction: An Invitation to Come Out of Your Cave xvii

Part 1 Defining Depression

1 Just Like Us 3

2 What You Might Not Know About Depression 15

3 Removing the Stigma 27

Part 2 Contributing Causes

4 Life Imbalance 45

5 Scrolling Away My Peace 63

6 Chewing the Cud 77

7 Social Distancing 91

8 Rainy Days and Mondays 105

9 The Unseen Enemy 119

Part 3 Stepping into Solutions

10 Stepping into a Needed Recovery 139

11 Stepping into a God Encounter 157

12 Stepping into a True Identity 173

13 Stepping into a New Assignment 189

14 Stepping into Relational Strength 203

Acknowledgments 217

Appendix A Stepping into the Truth of God's Word 219

Appendix B Spiritual Warfare Prayers 223

Appendix C Praying for Loved Ones Who Are Depressed 227

Appendix D Suicide Prevention 231

Notes 233

About the Author 239

Editorial Reviews

03/29/2021

Hodges (The Daniel Dilemma), senior pastor of the Church of the Highlands in Alabama , delivers insight, encouragement, and advice to Christians wrestling with depression. Hoping to reduce the stigma surrounding depression, he examines the life of Elijah and also shares his own struggles from when he felt so depressed he wanted to die. Hodges was tempted to run from his calling as a pastor, but when he acknowledged that he needed help, he writes, God didn’t abandon or condemn him, just as God met Elijah in the cave of his depression. Hodges emphasizes the need for churches to “normalize the battles of depression” and provides direction for compassionate responses—as well as what not to say to those dealing with depression. He approaches mental health holistically, identifying biological, social, and emotional triggers while also exploring spiritual aspects, and finding correlations between depression and lifestyle choices such as lack of sleep, poor diet, and overwork. His suggestions for maintaining balance include taking a “weekly inventory” to see “patterns and themes” that “are affecting emotions positively” or negatively, investing time in relationships, and concentrating on God’s message and plan for one’s life. Hodges’s transformative guide will help Christians struggling with depression to create a more purposeful life. (May)

Publishers Weekly