Encouragement for the Depressed

By Charles Spurgeon and Randy Alcorn

For those who are struggling in their daily walk with God, or living in the dark of night waiting for the light of day, there is hope. Encouragement for the Depressed, by esteemed 19th-century pastor Charles Spurgeon, is a gracious reminder that little faith is still saving faith. Spurgeon himself was not unfamiliar with depression, having dealt with it for most of his life. With personal experience and pastoral care, Spurgeon encourages both the new believer struggling to grasp the tenets of the faith and the experienced Christian struggling to enjoy the truths they once cherished to hold fast, for God is faithful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crossway Books
• Release date: Oct 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781433570667

Charles Spurgeon

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), nació en Inglaterra, y fue un predicador bautista que se mantuvo muy influyente entre cristianos de diferentes denominaciones, los cuales todavía lo conocen como «El príncipe de los predicadores». El predicó su primer sermón en 1851 a los dieciséis años y paso a ser pastor de la iglesia en Waterbeach en 1852. Publicó más de 1.900 sermones y predicó a 10.000,000 de personas durante su vida. Además, Spurgeon fue autor prolífico de una variedad de obras, incluyendo una autobiografía, un comentario bíblico, libros acerca de la oración, un devocional, una revista, poesía, himnos y más. Muchos de sus sermones fueron escritos mientras él los predicaba y luego fueron traducidos a varios idiomas. Sin duda, ningún otro autor, cristiano o de otra clase, tiene más material impreso que C.H. Spurgeon.

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Encouragement for the Depressed

The Crossway Short Classics Series

The Emotional Life of Our Lord

B. B. Warfield

Encouragement for the Depressed

Charles Spurgeon

The Expulsive Power of a New Affection

Thomas Chalmers

Fighting for Holiness

J. C. Ryle

Heaven Is a World of Love

Jonathan Edwards

The Life of God in the Soul of Man

Henry Scougal

The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way and No Little People

Francis A. Schaeffer

Encouragement for the Depressed

Charles Spurgeon

Encouragement for the Depressed

Copyright © 2020 by Crossway

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Jordan Singer

Cover image: Single Stem wallpaper design, William Morris (1834–1896), Bridgeman Images

First printing 2020

Printed in China

Scripture quotations in the foreword are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All other Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-7063-6

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-7066-7

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-7064-3

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-7065-0

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Spurgeon, C. H. (Charles Haddon), 1834–1892, author. 

Title: Encouragement for the depressed / Charles Spurgeon. 

Description: Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2020. | Series: The Crossway short classics series | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020005166 (print) | LCCN 2020005167 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433570636 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781433570643 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433570650 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433570667 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Depressed persons—Religious life. | Depression, Mental—Religious aspects—Christianity. | Depression, Mental—Biblical teaching.

Classification: LCC BV4910.34 .S695 2020 (print) | LCC BV4910.34 (ebook) | DDC 248.8/6—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020005166

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020005167

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2022-10-06 10:27:57 AM

Contents

Foreword by Randy Alcorn

Series Preface

Biography of Charles Spurgeon

Encouragement for the Depressed

The Minister’s Fainting Fits

Scripture Index

Foreword

Hardly anyone outside of Scripture speaks to me like Charles Spurgeon does. He had incredible depth and biblical insight, and his sermons and writings, full of grace and truth and sheer eloquence, always draw me to Jesus.

Spurgeon preached to approximately ten million people in his lifetime, often speaking ten times a week. His 3,561 sermons are bound in sixty-three volumes, and in addition he wrote many books.

Wonderful as those accomplishments were, they put demands on his life that no doubt contributed to his battles with depression—not least of all that he often worked eighteen hours a day!

Spurgeon took great solace in Scripture, especially in the Psalms he loved so much, as evidenced in his massive commentary set The Treasury of David. God’s words, as Spurgeon well knew, are far more valuable than anyone else’s. God promises that his word shall not return to [him] empty, but it shall accomplish that which [he purposes], and shall succeed in the thing for which [he] sent it (Isa. 55:11 ESV). God does not make that promise about your words or my words or even Spurgeon’s words, but only his word. In the face of great criticism, Spurgeon took great pains to conform his preaching and writing to Scripture. We need to hear Spurgeon’s voice because he was faithful to speak God’s word, and today there aren’t nearly enough voices like his.

Spurgeon also serves as a reminder that people of great trust in God

Reviews for Encouragement for the Depressed

[Alexis Christenson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderfully uplifting to anyone who is feeling laid low, especially without reason. Rejoice in the emptying of oneself, and the filling with Christ.
Spurgeon has such a poetic way with words that helps one to remember not all is lost when it seems that all is lost. God is with you.