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When the darkness will not lift

Going under

WHEN THE DARKNESS WILL NOT LIFT
Doing what we can while we wait for God - and joy
By John Piper
Inter-Varsity Press. 80 pages. £4.99
ISBN 978-1-84474-184-7

Many Christians experience periods of profound darkness and despair in their lives, feeling far from God, with any help out of reach. Much has been written on this issue, but this small book would be a good place to start. It will surely be valuable to those who are struggling, and also for those who wish to understand how to help others.

Piper’s aim is ‘to give some guidance and hope to those for whom joy seems to stay out of reach’, and he does so with biblical, practical wisdom. Piper assures that all Christians have within them the seeds of true joy, but in times of blackness need to fight for it.

The book re-emphasises the basis for our joy: our sure salvation through Christ alone. It compassionately discusses some physical aspects of depression, including the issue of medication. It deals with assurance of faith, the benefits of practical action, unconfessed sin and checks against self-absorption. There is an uplifting account of John Newton’s care of his suicidal friend, the hymn-writer and poet, William Cowper.

One helpful aspect of this book is the inclusion of some Puritan and other past writings. Perhaps the wise and relevant examples used here may encourage us to re-read some of Baxter. We cannot always see the reasons for our sufferings. But this book points us back to our faithful God who knows why, and in his perfect timing, graciously lifts that darkness.

Sarah Fuller
lives in Mirfield where her husband is pastor of the Evangelical Church