When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend: Reflections On Life And Ministry With Depression

Written by Mark Meynell

Narrated by Mark Meynell

'I’m looking for the words and writing for those who can’t imagine the words.'

Mark Meynell articulates a heart pain that most of us simply couldn't express. He connects strongly and immediately with fellow cave-dwellers.

'All who read this will feel deeply indebted to Mark, and to God.' Roger Carswell

'Mark invites fellow cave-dwellers and those who love us to walk (or collapse) with him on the road . . . For the first time in a long while, we rest.' Zack Eswine

'Moving and fascinating.' Sean Fletcher

'Fine writing, personal honesty, intellectual analysis, theological incisiveness and simple open-endedness... A must-buy and a must-read.' Julian Hardyman

'Written straight from the heart of pain - yet brimful of hope and courage.' Rachel Kelly

'We are pointed to a Saviour who brings us purpose, grace and hope.' Emma Scrivener

'Practical wisdom and hope . . . without being trite.' Derek Tidball

'Profound, unusual and very personal... demonstrates the extraordinary relevance and power of the Bible in helping us to connect our often mysterious and confusing experiences to God's bigger story. Mark's creative appendix of music, books, poetry, websites and blogs, which have helped him survive his "cave", is invaluable.' Richard Winter

Contents
1 The mask
2 The volcano
3 The cave
4 The weight
5 The invisibility cloak
6 The closing
7 The way
8 The fellow-traveller
9 The gift
Appendix 1 Managing the symptoms
Appendix 2 Unexpected friends in the cave
Appendix 3 Some words from inside the cave

• Language: English
• Publisher: IVP
• Release date: May 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781783598991

Mark Meynell

Mark Meynell is a writer and teacher, as well as an associate director (Europe) for Langham Partnership, having spent nine years on the senior leadership team of All Souls, Langham Place, in London, UK. Previously he was the academic dean and then acting principal of Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST) in Kampala, Uganda. Married to Rachel, with their two children, Joshua and Zanna, Mark lives in central London, where he is a committed culture-vulture and muso who loves crossing borders and building bridges.