When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy [Paperback]

John Piper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 14, 2006

"It is utterly crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise,strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength tohold him."
John Piper

Even the most faithful, focused Christians can encounter periodsof depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay justout of reach. It can happen because of sin, satanic assault,distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes.In When the Darkness Will Not Lift, John Piper aims togive some comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritualdarkness.

Readers will gain insight into the physical side of depressionand spiritual darkness, what it means to wait on the Lord in a timeof darkness, how unconfessed sin can clog our joy, and how tominister to others who are living without light. Piper usesreal-life examples and sensitive narrative to show readers abundantreason to hope that God will pull them out of the pit of despairand into the light once again.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (December 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581348762
• ISBN-13: 978-1581348767
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Depression
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Faith
  • #56 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Depression

More About the Author

John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books, including Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, What Jesus Demands from the World, and Don't Waste Your Life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate and insightful, March 19, 2007

By 

Christian Book Previews "Christian Book Previews" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy (Paperback)

John Piper has once again blessed the Body of Christ with his latest book, When the Darkness Will Not Lift. A small volume, portions of which are drawn from other of his larger works, it is its succinctness, I think, which enhances its impact.

The Introduction lays the foundation for what follows by discussing the nature and essence of spiritual darkness. Piper then moves into an eminently helpful treatment of justification, how it "severs [the] root of misery;" sanctification, and how confusing the two will kill joy in the believer.

The rest of the book is a tightly-packed, compassionate, insightful, practical, biblical tool for helping those who "wait for joy." Piper touches on the physical/medical aspect of spiritual darkness, "the ground of assurance when we cannot see our faith," "when a child of God is persuaded that he is not," doing our duty in the midst of darkness, the place of thanksgiving, unconfessed sin, the role of Satan, and the danger of self-absorption. Don't be fooled; at a mere 79 pages, this is not a fast read. You will want to go slowly and drink deeply, and also to benefit from the other sources noted. - Pamela Glass, Christian Book [...]

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging, but too short, March 1, 2007

By 

Daniel L Edelen (Mt. Orab, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy (Paperback)

John Piper's little tome _When the Darkness Will Not Lift_ addresses the the scourge of our age, depression, from a Christian perspective. In it, he examines what solace a sufferer can find in the reality of Christ.

A scant 68 pages, Piper wades right into the subject, giving us six chapters of advice covering the following:

1. Understanding the physical aspects of depression and the wise use of medication
2. Knowing God has not abandoned us
3. Taking action through duty, even when we feel no joy
4. Confessing our sins
5. Looking beyond our own needs
6. Loving those shrouded in depression

Piper summons the wisdom of the Scriptures, well-known doctors of the Faith, and his own experiences as a pastor to provide a good word to the hurting. His reminders of who we are in Christ will help even the darkest souls.

A very needed book from an excellent author, but though helpful, it's simply too short. Piper attempts to alleviates this lack by including a bibliography of other, more thorough, works on the topic (I particularly recommend D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's _Spiritual Depression--Its Causes and Its Cure_), but it's a cheap fix. Surely Dr. Piper has a more through treatment of this topic in him. He's written excellent words on the issue of Christians who commit suicide, so I know he's up to the task of a more fulfilling book.

Great for what it is, but readers will be left craving more.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BREAK LOOSE FROM THE BONDS OF DEPRESSION, March 7, 2007

By 

Heather Ivester (Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy (Paperback)

Piper's book, which is an expansion of a chapter in When I Don't Desire God, offers comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness.

The six chapters explore topics such as the physical causes for melancholy, waiting in darkness, fighting for joy, how confession of sin leads to freedom, and how to break loose from the bonds of self-absorption.

This book is helpful for anyone who has suffered from depression - and it's a good resource to have on hand to offer those needing encouragement. You can read this entire book in a pdf format from Piper's ministry website, Desiring God.

--Christian Women Online Book Buzz