Will Medicine Stop the Pain?: Finding God's Healing for Depression, Anxiety, and Other Troubling Emotions

Reviewer's Grade: 9 out of 10 (only the Bible gets a 10) Level of Difficulty: 2.5 out of 5 The book is ultimately meant for everyone. Clean, lucid prose. Carefully constructed outline. Informative appendices. And those insightful, makes- things-click-in-your-brain diagrams that biblical counselors are so good at! Target Audience: Women, specifically women on medication for emotional pain, thinking about getting on medication, or counseling women who are in either of the above situations "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain) The premise of this book is that God and His Word are sufficient for enduring with true peace through any emotional pain. Simple enough. Granted this would cover most biblical counseling books out there. However, when a book written by NANC counselors specifically on the subject of suffering and psychiatric medications comes out, it's well worth a read. Thankfully, the book delivers a powerful dose of biblical argumentation, a theological superstructure that holds everything together, a keen personal awareness of pain in all its forms, and penetrating yet warm applications that stir the heart toward faith and obedience in Christ. Co-written by a medical doctor, this book offers solid basic insight into how theology and medicine are related. It takes us into the physiology of fear and depression (cf. "neuroplasticity" on p. 125), but always rooted in the presupposition that what goes on in the heart effects the outer man. The authors land squarely on the side that habitual training of the mind in the Word will lead to right thoughts, feelings, and choices, which in turn lead to changes in physiology (36-37). This is not to say that meditating on Scripture will heal organic diseases. But when dealing with painful emotions that become full-blown panic, depression, and the like, the authors are dead-on target when they write, "if we do not see ourselves as being able to solve our problems through the grace and power of God, we have missed one of the main themes in the Bible: God enables His people to live victoriously even under very difficult circumstances (36)." The same truth just stated holds true for those suffering emotional pain stemming from physical illness or some other physical debility. Painful feelings are "God's gift to us to tell us that something is wrong, that something needs fixing" (101). This was, on a personal note, the most exciting insight gained from the book. The book reminds us emphatically that God will withhold earthly delights in order to draw our hearts to the one True delight: Jesus Christ. Such a focus on our Lord and on the gospel permeates the book and shows us the practical significance of the gospel for every sphere of human life. Although the book was written specifically for women (includes feminine topics in Chapter 7--nothing risque),

I opened this book with the wild hope that is could actually help me out of the black hole that fear had trapped me in. What I found was exactly what I needed. I found my life accurately yet sensitively described in the pages of the chapter on anxiety. The authors make clear the relationship between the mind and the body and how they affect each other, clarifying for me why I suffered mentally and physically the way I did. They go on to show the reader how they can finally be free of such agony. The authors are careful to exhort biblically, using God's word to confront, correct, and heal. I found the earlier chapters most helpful for my own struggles. The later chapters will be helpful if I ever find myself in any of the physical conditions which they address, or if I am in a position to counsel someone else in such a condition. It's no easy thing to battle depression, anxiety, or other such emotions, and the authors never present it that way. They clearly understand the pain and the struggle, and they are loving and gentle in their approach. I highly recommend this book to both women and men who struggle this way. I have purchased several copies already and am giving them out to people as I have opportunity.

This easy to read book is a practical guide to a godly way of looking at pain, meds, and our hearts. It's pages are filled with hope and grace for those who suffer from troubling emotions. Full of diagrams, testimonies, and thought provoking questions; this book is a must read for understanding what the Bible says about your pain and the pain of those you love

This is a long awaited book by two women who know the problems we face with emotional pain and are thoroughly equipt to address this issue in an understanding and knowledgable way both from the scriptures and medically. I laud Moody Press for making it available! It offers real hope and definitive answers to those who suffer. It is an incredible resource that I will be referring to myself and sharing with many others. I can't recommend it highly enough! I agree with Dr. Newheiser and give it 5 stars.

The authors address issues which concern many Christians: Are my emotional problems (depression, anxiety, or moodiness) a disease of the body or a problem of the soul? What can I do to feel better? They begin by addressing the mind-body question, explaining that we are not merely physical creatures, but that we also are spiritual beings. The authors gently challenge their readers to consider the spiritual causes of their emotional problems. Spiritual issues cannot be addressed merely by material means (such as medications). They then deal with the problem of pain, providing compassionate biblical answers. The heart of the book is devoted to practically addressing the specific issues of depression, anxiety, and moodiness. Finally, they address cognitive and perceptual problems which have physical causes, such as brain injuries and dementia. In every situation there is hope in Christ! Testimonies of those who have found biblical help for their emotional pain are intersperced throughout the book and further enhance the authors' message. The authors very carefully address the use of psychotropic drugs. Dr. Hendrickson speaks from the perspective of a physician as she explains how commonly prescribed medications work, and what their side effects may be. Her viewpoint is enhanced by her personal experiences about which she is refreshingly transparent. While the authors focus on addressing emotional problems through biblical/spiritual means, they do not condemn those who have used psychotropic drugs. They also repeatedly warn readers not to go off of medication without a doctor's supervision. As a biblical counselor, I have never read a more practical and useable book. I anticipate giving this book to many of my counselees. While it is addressed primarily to women, many men will find great benefit in reading it.