Caring for Someone Battling Anxiety and Depression

What’s the best way a gospel-preaching church can help its members who struggle with depression and anxiety?
Pastor and author Paul Tripp sat down with David Powlison, TGC Council member and executive director of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF), to answer this question. They agreed that the two key qualities most needed when ministering to a Christian suffering from anxiety or depression are humility and patience. We should not focus solely on “fixing” people, but on helping them draw near to God as long as the struggle continues. Tripp counsels, “I want the person to remember that God is near, that he is present, that his grace reaches to the depth of those struggles-rather than if you do this, this, and this, you can become unanxious.”

[@janegrayson8718]

Feeling the weakness, sitting in our weakness and acknowledging our weakness is where God shows us his power.

[@yvettesterling1837]

As a Christian with anxiety, this was a comforting video and much needed.❤️

[@angelamccourt4394]

Not a "problem to fix" but a "person to patiently point" to the ever loving mercy and faithfulness of God. "He is near"

[@scottbaldridge165]

These issues are "Pain" come to dwell with us! This is a unrelenting Struggle for many in the Church !The fear of feeling the gnawing nausea in the morning when anxious depression places a cold steal blanket on oneself? I The issue is when a Christian weighs the the option to take ones life! This discussion is really insightful! Is God really there in these troubled times....Jesus have mercy upon us!!!?

[@whattookUsolong]

This conversation is so very important. I used to go to a church that saw me as "needing to be fixed, and not good enough" the church thought I shouldn't still be experiencing anxiety anymore.

[@noirangel6416]

Im struggling with someone close to me who is suffering from depression & doubt. Im scared their faith in God is dwindling, and looking at help from the world instead. And im scarred they'll move too far from me to help. This really helped me have a better faith that God will help both of us. Thank you.

[@JUnderwoodViolin]

Miss our dear brother, Mr. Powlison.

[@lauradimama9794]

God is so kind and faithful and powerful. He has shown me such patience and grown my faith through these struggles.

[@peterdsharris]

Two very mature and wise men

[@jaredbradley6181]

Many churches need to hear this.

[@angeboyer1605]

wow, so insightful & confirming! He is near which means we CAN let go of anxiety in prayer, i never saw the connection between phil 4 vs.5&6 before

[@letscarryit]

Man I love these dear brothers . Rest in Christ brother David P.

[@johntobey1558]

David P. Never sold out to 3rd waive feminism.

[@soonergomer]

The goal is to be planted and rooted more in God, that’s good stuff! Too often we think the goal is to get rid of anxiety and depression but you both are so right, the Lord is near, that should be a encouragement.

[@valeriewells5676]

Such a great loss, our brother Powlison. A very good talk regarding this human problem!!

[@mattbrown1888]

Thank you Paul and David

[@mozdickson]

Life is suffering. The more the world (media, pop culture, some churches..) pushes success and satisfaction as defaults, the more depressed and suicidal will the population become. Sadly, materialism is fuelled this way, and GDP rules

[@merihandaniel5201]

thank you for sharing this talk. i needed this in my life

[@Nick-od3vd]

So very helpful-thank you❤️

[@aalbergaria03]

Psalm 25 so good, thank you!

[@holayou2241]

It certainly isn’t by making fun of them, diminishing their pain and suggesting they’re just playing victim and feeling sorry for themselves…. Which is what I personally got from someone who was very dearly to me and to whom I opened up about SOME of what I’ve been going through. Never again will I trust this person for anything

[@SoulDeepZim]

Beautiful conversation ❤️

[@DavidPaul_ISAIAH41.10]

I have had Depression all my life mostly and Anxiety and now 😢 I Get intrusive negative thoughts to people idk or family or kids or worst of all towards Him 😢 I feel like I have a repubate mind. And I pray not. I’m Married I have kids and Amazing wife who is constantly praying over my thoughts tears attacks. 😢 I can’t focus in my bible thoughts jump out. WHY! I try to focus but scripture scares me now. I used to Love it. I’ve been filled with Calvinism and Universalism and I pray that when Paul says predestined I’m part of it.

[@rodikyriakou6044]

😧👍🌈🙏💔💪✊💝👑!! Holy Bible and Prayer gives me strenght.

[@Jkrross-tv8su]

patience vs struggle

[@mariejess7281]

Wow. If these gentlemen could only be the voices in our local churches, perhaps each of our experiences might also change. THIS short clip is something that finally reminded me of Yahweh's love. After rejection from 3 churches, one during DV and two following; I have not been able to muster it up to 'try again.' I cannot say whether those churches knew the impact of their words & expectations; but I do believe that those He has called into ministry have simultaneously been called to a greater responsibility, and so NEED to know the impact. I don't dare spend time to fathom how much different my & my children's experiences would be today; had a single fellow believer loved me where I was... and reminded me of who He is. My Creator nonetheless brings His changes in me, with or without others. Should I one of these days find myself able to 'rise again,' may I have a heart like these two and remember what THIS experience is like.. 💜

[@naamhaisiddhu]

💚

[@cobyleebrooks]

Powlison is so good. I wonder what he would say about “how” God meets us in our struggle. I’m sure it’s up to Gods own choosing “what” he will do for us (other than remind us what he has already done), but will he do other things other than just be present? are we aloud to ask him for other things? like heal with miracles? or speak in a special revelation for something? (gifts). to heal the loneliness for good? is there a mystical portion to this relationship with God? or is it just intellectual/emotional? i feel like he’s talking about a topical ointment (which isn’t a bad thing). you apply and reapply when needed, but can it heal for good? maybe that depends on my memory being good enough to not forget about him in anxiety and depression? but do y’all know what i mean? or am i missing something?

[@johntobey1558]

He became Episcopalian, he may have been a continuationist.

[@sandrah2758]

Diagnosis and objectification🤔💐

[@usa2342]

Check out doctor Barbara O’Neill on healing depression on KZbin. AaahhMazing lecture!

[@jenniferwong3225]

我患了一生嚴重皮膚病的人;必須撕德的衣服披頭散髮，只因我在始終不潔淨。我必須住在營外跟人隔離。（利13：45-46）

[@stevenbryson9999]

M

[@georginarandolphgirl66]

And also there are medical conditions that contribute to depression and anxiety and those should ruled out by medical test. There is medical help available as well and people shouldn't be made to feel worst because they have a medical illness that needs medical intervention. God also helps people by doctors, therapist etc Some churches give off this facade that Christian's have joy and peace but in reality that's not the case. We can have comfort knowing that Jesus saved us and God loves us but you would think that God would take away our fears since we are his children. And when someone is saved and has the Holy Spirit inside us then how can we be tempted by the enemy; evil cannot reside in holiness and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit to correct us, comfort us and petition God on our behalf. I will never understand the point of existence.

[@rocio8851]

If you are suffering of anxiety probably God predestined you to have anxiety. You can do nothing unless God determines you to be freed.

[@GRINGOMUSIC432]

Not sure I believe that...

[@namitakrishnan6672]

RUBBISH

[@Xelenteontae_]

Stupidity and heresy.

[@cryptolew8885]

"A gospel that is huge enough to embrace all of life...there is no human difficulty not addressed and embraced by the gospel." Is this what Jesus teaches, really? Jay Adams was also loving and sincere, but perpetuated the same fallacy. God, and his truth, through Jesus Christ is enough to embrace all of life. This is why Augustine encourages pastors to embrace truth, whether it is found, in and beyond the scriptures. If the test of truth is whether something is found or simply aligns with the Scriptures, then we do not hold the Scriptures themselves to be worthy of the test of truth. Note very carefully a critical difference: Paul Tripp does not believe that the Bible is true; he believes that the Bible determines truth. We can agree that the Bible is inerrant and trustworthy but the pernicious move is to make the Bible into something that it is not. Augustine, Wesley, and Calvin, all knew the beauty of both special revelation and general revelation on the basis of truth. Their God includes the richness of the gospel and all of creation.

[@johntobey1558]

Thus is why both of these men were afraid of Clinical Psychology as synchronistic. They did not understand that, "all truth is God's truth." Rigid black and white thinking they hindered theor perception of their counseling clients at CCEF in Glenside, Pa.

[@90210Coffee]

Needless to say-> NEITHER of you 2 have EVER experienced the kind of Depression that you are trying to talk about. -->>_ F-_

[@whatah1331]

Remember kids horizontal cut for attention vertical for the real thing

[@MattLopez]

What Ah? Wow dude...