What is the only thing more overwhelming than being asked to lift an unbearable load? Being asked to move while carrying an unbearable load. That is what many people feel is being asked of them when they begin a journey like this one. When you’re emotionally taxed beyond your max, then even the most practical and compassionate advice either feels like it comes from an enemy (someone against you) or a stranger (someone who “just doesn’t understand”).

There is no way around this obstacle, so let me begin by acknowledging the level of faith and courage represented in your willingness to read these words. To you it may feel like doubt and fear, but your willingness to engage this material is noble and virtuous. I wish, and I’m sure you do too, that we could just rename your depression-anxiety as something positive and it would go away, become a blessing, or become an indicator of some unseen virtue.

Those options do exist. Over the course of this study your depression-anxiety may…

• … diminish to a point that it does not interfere with your day-to-day life.
• … become the context for you to learn about God or care for others in new ways.
• … reveal aspects of your character which you wrongly viewed as meriting shame instead of honor.

But we don’t know that now and there is little value in trying to predict in how God will work in your experience at this point in the journey. Likely those things seem far away; as if they belong in a fairy tale. If so, focusing on them will serve as a discouragement rather than an encouragement in the early stages of your journey.

Instead, let’s ask a less ambitious questions; not, “Where are we going and what are all the steps and challenges to getting there?” but, “What is the next step and how do I prepare myself to take one step in the direction of hope?” At any moment we can take one step towards hope. If you are already feeling overwhelmed, it may do you little good to think about more than that.

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