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In this edition of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I am thrilled to be joined once again by my dad, Dr. Mike Gray, to have a cathartic conversation regarding my mom’s incredible season of turmoil and battle with depression. Our objective was to speak openly and honestly about depression and suffering, especially as it relates to the ministerial context. The firsthand and second-hand suffering that depression brings about is almost impossible to rationalize and contextualize, and even harder still to articulate. This dialogue between my dad and I provides a wonderful space for the both of us to think out loud and give voice to the hope we both found in a seemingly hopeless place. I earnestly pray you find some benefit and encouragement through this episode. If you or someone you know is enduring circumstances similar to those we describe in this show, please feel free to reach out to my dad or myself — while we may not be able to share expertise, we can share our experience(s). We can lend a sympathetic ear to your plight. God bless you.

Resources.

Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, Paul Tripp 

“Exultant Joy in Our Living Hope,” sermon by Dr. Mike Gray 

“The smile of God in the storms of life,” sermon by yours truly 

“No more tears left to cry: the night of weeping,” article by yours truly 

“God loves dark comedies,” article by yours truly 

Stonington Baptist Church sermons

Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Brad J. Gray

Sponsor.

Fresh Roasted Coffee: a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount off your next order.

Buy Some Coffee!

Notes.

Mike Gray is the senior pastor of Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Taylors, South Carolina, where he has been serving the Lord faithfully for over 20 years with his wife and family. He holds Doctor of Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary. And his sole devotion remains knowing Christ and making him known. If you would like to connect with Dr. Gray to chat about pastoral ministry, especially along the lines of pastoral depression, feel free to do so by sending him an email.

Credits.

Ad music: “Coffee Stains” by Finley, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Intro music: André Previn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Telarc, 2006.