This is indeed a spiritual classic. For a book to gain the status as a classic, it must withstand the test of time with its relevance; it must speak to people of all ages. Twenty one chapters to analyse and treat the phenomenon Dr Lloyd-Jones called Spiritual Depression, this is one thorough dissection of our everyday issues, which we may or may not even identify in ourselves until we read this book. It was a good observation of Dr Lloyd-Jones and today, I think many suffer from the same condition, which is not always systematically addressed.

This book fills the gap if our churches do not pick this up and equip us to confront it. It is a tool to help us diagnose ourselves if we suffer in any way from the symptoms. You may not think that you are not spiritually depressed, but really the book is about the obstacles to leading a Christ-filled life and how to overcome them in order that we can untie God's hands and release the full blessing of Christ in our life. I believe many Christians, me included, fall short of a Christ-filled life, partly because we do not know what it should be like in the first place. After the elation of our conversion, we could experience a period (sometimes a long one) of doldrums, which inexperienced Christians with little knowledge could easily take it as the norm or the end of the road. This book is therefore important because it tells us clearly what possible difficulties we may face and the biblical cures to them.

I like in particular how grounded in the Bible the treatment is. It is a subject which is very personal and very easily we can get all sentimental and sympathetic. But when our mind is set on the Bible from the outset, it opens up a new perspective which we can't see before. This is why the Bible is amazing, and Dr Lloyd-Jones makes it clear. Another thing that is brought out in his treatment of the subject is the importance of the doctrine. Doctrines are our fundamental. When we interpret the Bible on a subject so personal, it is easy to see what we wish to see. Checking our understanding against the doctrine is therefore an important safeguard in ensuring we see God has intended for us to see in His word. Again this step could open up a completely new horizon which we may not have seen before. This is how we gain wisdom from God, and not being restricted by our worldly view. Therefore one thing we must do as Christian is to learn, not just getting familiar with the Bible but spending time to learn the doctrine - I am absolutely convinced now, and this is what I am going to do; Dr Lloyd-Jones prescribes it:

"It is the doctrine that hurts, it is the doctrine that focuses things. It is one thing to look at pictures and to be interested in words and shades of meaning. That does not disturb, that does not focus attention on sin, nor call for decision. We can sit back and enjoy that; but doctrine speaks to us and insists upon a decision. This is truth, and it examines us and tries us and forces us to examine ourselves." (p. 45)

"...The great antidote to spiritual depression is the knowledge of Biblical doctrine, Christian doctrine... The antidote to depression is to have a knowledge of Him, and you get that in His Word. You must take the trouble to learn it. It is difficult work, but you have to study it and give yourself to it. The tragedy of the hour, it seems to me, is that people are far too dependent for their happiness upon meetings... Their knowledge of the Truth is defective... (And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32)" (p. 156-157). I am afraid that the majority of us do not bother to learn let alone making an effort to learn the doctrine. A lot of us rely too much on being fed rather seeking to learn.

This book is a collection of his sermons on the subject. He speaks with a deep concern as a pastor for the welfare of his flock, which I find very touching. He so wishes to be a conduit to bring people to see the richness and fullness of being in Christ. From this heart is how he can speak to us individually because he can see our problems and he thinks deeply to help us get over it, like a true doctor would do. This is reflected by the fact that he does not only tell us what the Bible says but spends time to tell us what the Bible doesn't say and why. The former is usually what we get from preaching, while the latter goes directly into identifying common errors, explaining them and why they are wrong. It is through these sections on what the Bible doesn't say that I find Dr Lloyd-Jones speaking directly to me and I am grateful for his corrections.

Dr Lloyd-Jones was a medical doctor by profession. His treatment therefore was very systematic and logical. In one chapter, he asks us to preach to ourselves. In another he asks us to use our reason. I am like that as a person, so his book really speaks to me. But I have also met people who are totally irrational, illogical and absolutely stubborn in their ways. Appealing to their reason has never brought any impact. I wonder therefore if the treatment will fail on some kind of people? Granted so far these people I have met are non-Christians. I wonder if being converted would have an impact of regaining our reason and a sound mind? Perhaps irrational, illogical and stubborn people are only people of hardened hearts with the devil blinding their eyes, and God has His way to chisel away the callouses of our hearts, and prepare us ready for the treatment as prescribed in this book.

This book is so worthy that I will surely read it through again and make study notes from it. May you be blessed by it too.

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Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures