Walking On Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning by Tommy Nelson and Steve Leavitt

Today more people than ever are suffering from emotional distress. Whether they are dealing with depression, anxiety, obsessiveness, fear, worry, or stress, their lives are limited and compromised by the ill-effects. People who suffer from emotional distress often feel isolated and unloved, either by God or by others, and often believe that there is no hope and no way out.

There is good news, however! A truly biblical approach to healing emotional distress focuses on a holistic cure that integrates the mind, body, and spirit. Even when we feel truly alone, God is holding us in His hand. Even when we feel truly hopeless, God offers comfort and purpose. And even when we feel like we will never escape the pit of emotional distress, God sets our feet on firm ground and promises to never let us go. No matter what we have been through or what we are going through now, God can bring critically needed healing and transformation into our lives when we adjust what the authors refer to as “stinkin’ thinkin’.”

My review:
I used to be under the misconeption that Christians didn't suffer from depression until I had to deal with it myself. I have read a few books on the subject since then, and this is one that I would highly recommend to anyone dealing with it or wanting to understand it better.

The authors deal with what causes it, what is happening to your body, the problem with perfectionism, how Biblical thinking is crucial to recovery, when you should consider medication, and more. This isn't a long book. It is only 158 pages, but the authors cover the subject of dealing with depression and anxiety very thoroughly in those pages. It is refreshing to get a Biblical and professional view in the same book. It was a helpful, ye interesting read.

About the authors:

Steve Leavitt is a Christian counselor who understands grief. His compassion for the hurting grew when he lost his first wife to cancer in 1997. With an MA in biblical counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary, he is an ordained minister who has been ministering and counseling for over 25 years. During that time he has written and spoken to thousands of people on the issues of marriage, raising a family, growing strong teens, and grief. Steve hosts a live call-in counseling show on KSLR out of San Antonio, Texas. He has an extensive published teaching CD ministry on the subjects of marriage, parenting, the church, and biblical solutions to depression, anxiety, fear, worry, and obsessive compulsive issue. Steve lives in New Braunfels, Texas, with his wife, Marty, and four growing children.

 

Since 1977, Tommy Nelson has been the Pastor of Denton Bible Church, located in Denton, Texas. He has been featured on Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, Josh McDowell, For Faith and Family, and other national broadcasts. He has a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.

 

Tommy has been married to Teresa Nelson for more than 25 years. They have two adult sons, Benjamin and John.

Walking On Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning is available from Tyndale House Publishers.

Thanks to Tyndale for the review copy.