Have you ever heard of spiritual depression? 

Particularly when our bodies suffer from chronic illness or ongoing fatigue and stress, we can become prone to what Martin Lloyd-Jones describes as “spiritual depression” or joyless unhappiness, a temptation of Satan for a believer. 

My harp on yonder willow lies,

Silent, neglected, and unstrung;

My cheerful songs are turned to sighs;

Sad is my heart and mute my tongue.

“We Hanged Our Harps Upon the Willows,” Kelly, T., p.d. Sing to the tune of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

Physical suffering can bring continual fixation on our “self” with “self-love, self-concern, self-protection…self-interest…There is only one way to get rid of self, and that is that you should become so absorbed in someone or something else that you have no time to think about yourself.”¹

Symptoms of spiritual depression

Interestingly, scientific researchers have discovered that the neural circuits in the brain’s thinking and emotional areas are activated when we’re experiencing spiritual depression’s self-focused “pride, guilt, and shame.”² We quickly become overly introspective, judging ourselves “instead of leaving judgment to God”³ or continually talking about our troubles with others, forgetting the gospel’s realities about our reconciliation with our heavenly loving Father. 

Once I could sound the note of praise,

As loud as others I could sing;

But retrospect of former days

No help in present grief will bring.

Healing for spiritual depression

Lloyd-Jones’ solution is to talk to ourselves with the gospel, specifically suggesting songs that echo the gospel’s truths. This isn’t grief over loss; it’s grief in self-conviction…spiritual depression. 

But why should I give way to grief?

I see my remedy at hand;

Does not the gospel bring relief

To such as self-convicted stand?

Lloyd-Jones suggests, “Look at nothing and nobody but look entirely to Christ and say:

‘My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,

I dare not trust my sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.’“⁴

A praise interruption of gospel-truth as we gaze upon Jesus

Lord Jesus,

It may be through tears of doubt, tears of fear that the gospel’s good news can’t possibly be true. Not for us. For how could suffering be so strong in the life of a believer? What if it’s our sin causing this joyless anguish? Remind me what is true!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10 ESV).

Yes, ’tis a faithful, cheering word,

That Jesus came to save the lost…

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Ps. 103:12 ESV).

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23 ESV).

This truth with richest grace is stored,

And to the vilest yields the most.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV).

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (Jn. 1:16 ESV).

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, 

Who like me His praise should sing?

(“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven,” Lyte, H. F., 1834)

King of heaven, our King Jesus, strengthen each of us…

“with all power, according to [Your] glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified [us] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:11-12 ESV).

Because, in Your grace upon grace, this is true for us if we’ve trusted in You for salvation. Give us songs of praise and thanksgiving to You, for this great gift of being Yours, now in our suffering and forever when our suffering is over, seeing You face to face in glory. In and through these healing songs, lift our hearts into Your joy. Heal our spiritual depression as we focus on You, Jesus. In Your healing name, amen.  

A gospel-centered playlist gift to focus us on Jesus in our spiritual depression

A subscriber to Singing Christ’s Hope shared with me how this happened with her:

“My favorite praise song came streaming through the speakers, and I felt my spirits lift. The day was warm so I rolled down the windows and opened the sunroof, letting the sun invade the car. The music continued, and I began to sing along. With each familiar note, more of the burden slipped away. The music ended and another familiar tune began. Song after song, God used the music to renew my spirit and heal me from the exhaustion.”

Every week, I pray this Scripture for each of us:

Is this His cure for spiritual depression, during our suffering? I agree with Dr. Lloyd-Jones. I think so! Sister in Christ, I’m praying that the music helps you too, for it has been His healing gift to me for over 30 years. This week’s playlist gift is filled with songs that connect with this writing. May each song be His tender and compassionate gospel gift to you as you sing the lyrics and He fills you “with all joy and peace in believing,” abounding in our hope in Christ!

If this would bless you, sign up here, and it will come to your email with my love and prayers.

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To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, or Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.

1. Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1965). Spiritual depression: Its causes and cures. William B. Eerdmans. pp. 102-103. ↩︎
2. Korb, A. (2015). The upward spiral: Using neuroscience to reverse the course of depression, one small change at a time.New Harbinger Publications. p. 158. ↩︎
3. Lloyd-Jones, p. 87 ↩︎
4. “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” Mote. E., 1834 in Lloyd-Jones, p. 35. ↩︎