Losing God: Clinging to Faith Through Doubt and Depression

by Matt Rogers

Book Overview

Recounting his own history, Matt Rogers explores the question of how, in a world of suffering, we can call God good. This challenging question can manifest itself as a conspiracy of doubt and depression, so that our emotions and our intellect come under attack. Will God deliver us through this distressing journey?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830836209
• ISBN13: 9780830836208
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: IVP
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Honest and Compelling Look at Depression and Doubt

This is the first book I've read that nearly exactly chronicles my own struggle with doubt and depression, a struggle which led me to eventually attempt suicide. Several times I found myself thinking that Matt had just written things that I'd thought too but had been ashamed to admit. Maybe if I'd had this book seven years ago, I would've realized that I was not alone and that there would be a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. This kind of book helps make having doubts and dealing with depression not taboo subjects in the church. Many of our churches or traditions have tried to make such doubts and fears illegitimate or, at least, utterly scandalous--denying that they are part of a Christian's life and stuffing them down inside when they pop up. Instead, Matt addresses them directly, allowing the light of Christ's gracious love and healing presence to shine into the dark places. I don't know of any other book that addresses this struggle in the first-person, which I think is this book's strength. There are many books that deal with the sovereignty of God, but they're usually four-views books--which are helpful, but this book would be a great felt-need addition to the library or bedside of a person who is wrestling with the theology of providence. This book may also appeal to pastors and campus staff workers who shepherd people with similar struggles. For another great book that deals solely with depression, see Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded?: Helping (Not Hurting Those With Emotional Difficulties) by Dwight Carlson, M.D.

A Moving Memoir of Depression and Doubt

I've read lots of personal memorials about faith journeys, but I can honestly say that Losing God be Matt Rogers is one of the better recent ones I've had the chance to review. In recounting his struggles with both clinical depression and profound doubt, Rogers is painfully honest, insightfully introspective, and very helpful. There are several reasons this book particularly hit me. First, the author and I shared very similar worlds. The evangelical over-spiritualization of problems, the campus ministry atmosphere, even Rogers' struggles with Calvinism, are all things which have also been a part of my life in the last 5-6 years. Although we might be in slightly different places in relation to some of these thoughts, the amount of overlap meant that I sould really resonate with the human being who was behind this book. In addition, I've seen firsthand the deep connection between psychological struggles and spiritual darkness. A few years ago, my mother was hit with a series of panic attacks and a mental breakdown which lasted for almost a year. As I was close to these events, I was left with a deep appreciation for how much mental troubles can overlap with a faith crisis. I think Matt has a lot to offer here. In particular, I think this book could be enormously helpful for people in the midst of depression or other similar conditions. The author writes pastorally, recounting his own hurts while at the same time trying to encourage others in the midst of similar struggles. On a broader level, I also want to urge young, Reformed types to read this book. It is a sobering reminder that doctrines, even true doctrines, need to be taught and applied with care and wisdom. I could easily see myself being the guy who sat down with Matt Rogers and let my concern for certain doctrines I believed to be true, beating down his questions and leaving him in a broken, hopeless place. I believe doctrines like predestination and election, but to think that they are the tools we are to use in every (or even most) situations when talking about Christianity has the potential to be enormously destructive. Part of speaking the truth in love must be that we exercise a prudence in what truths are appropriate for a given situation and which need to be left for some other time. This is a hard book, but not one without hope. In his mercy, God brought Matt Rogers out the other side of his struggles with a humility and grace which is rare among Christians, especially young ones. It's hard in the way the gospel should be, and walking in the shoes of those who have experienced this struggle is always a blessing and thought-provoking experience.

Good book and quick read

This book is a quick read and a good one. Matt's ability to turn a phrase engaged me over and over throughout the work. His word choice helped me in simple terms understand some of what he was feeling during that "long dark night" of his soul. Perhaps I can relate because I've heard the pat answers to life's difficult questions. I was also struck with the fact that I was also at Urbana 1996 and experienced some of the same (and many different) emotions about the event and the place (Urbana is a nice campus and a fun town too!). I connected with this book in the way a good author would (and does) reach out and grab hold of his reader. Matt did that with gentleness, reverence, and compassion. I appreciate his heart and the desire that his story would not be for naught. I hope that many might find encouragement and comfort in this book's pages and that Matt might become a mentor to help guide them to the One who can be with us in the midst of the difficulties of our world (and its joys too).

Confronting darkness

This is the only book I have read that is unflinchingly real about spiritual darkness. Without attempting to answer every question or smooth away all doubts, Matt Rogers's four year journey through depression convinces us of a rising hope that, as Madeline L'Engle wrote, "the ultimate end of the story, no matter how many aeons it takes, is going to be all right." Losing God does not oversimplify depression by treating it as an exclusively physical OR spiritual condition. Matt Rogers addresses the interplay of both factors and how healing comes through the restoration of healthy brain chemistry and embracing the mystery of a God who is bigger than our emotions. As one who has struggled with doubts over my salvation and a tendency to let emotions rule me, I deeply resonated with Matt's realization that "Emotions are a gift, but I learned in the dark that we must be careful of the conclusions we let them draw for us." To anyone who thinks Christianity is about easy answers and glib optimism--read this book. Matt confronts the fears many people seek to hide, and his honesty is the sign of ultimate hope.

I read this book in a few hours

As one who has walked/crawled through the dark in the past, confused by doubt and overcome by depression, I must say Matt writes the book that hits the nail right on the head. He is honest about his struggles and steers clear of claiming a quick fix solution or cliche response. Even for those who have never struggled with depression or deep rooted doubt, this book will give a glimpse of what it is like and insight on how to walk along side a brother or sister who is struggling. It was a great book, I would recommend it to anyone who has been there and seen it through; is there currently and looking for answers or reasons or just wants to know someone else has been in a similiar situation; and to anyone going into ministry. Basically - read this book!