Jenny Swindall - Freedom from Depression: Emotional Healing Through Spiritual Health and Wholeness

Jennys passion to help those who suffer from depression emerges from her personal journey. Her response springs from the Word of God. This book is Word-filled, balanced, and filled with warmth and encouragement. I am excited to see this new and powerful tool available.

LARRY STOCKSTILL
BETHANY WORLD PRAYER CENTER
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

It is so refreshing to finally see a book that focuses on a real cure for depression and anxiety. Jennys heartfelt book is full of valuable tools and insights to help hurting souls find freedom in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As a professional counselor and someone who has struggled with depression, I have been waiting for a resource that walks you step by step through a journey of healing and wholeness as Jennys book so eloquently does. Jennys personal struggle gives you a sense that she is walking alongside you as you heal. I am elated that she has chosen to write this book.

BONNIE P. ROBERTS, LPC
WELLSPRING CHRISTIAN CLINIC
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Jenny is a dear friend and an amazing woman after Gods own heart. This is not just a book but also a reflection of her own journey to spiritual and emotional healing. We have walked the steps in this book with women in a small group setting, and we have seen God move to heal soul wounds and change lives. I highly recommend this book, as it focuses on the only way to find true healingby seeking God, our Creator and Healer.

TONYA NASH, LPC, RPT
COUNSELOR SUPERVISOR, HILLCREST HOSPITAL
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

This factual, God-inspired, life-changing book is an affirmation of hope and comfort for anyone who suffers from the emotional pain of depression. It reminds us that God will not only see us through lifes challenges, but as we embrace the truths within these pages, He will also lovingly restore hope and joy to our lives.

MARILYN SAMPSON
PRAYING WITH PASSION MINISTRIES
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

MOST CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

FREEDOM FROM DEPRESSION by Jenny Swindall
Published by Charisma House
Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group
600 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ASV are from the American Standard Bible.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked nlt are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189.
All rights reserved.

Copyright 2013 by Jenny Swindall
All rights reserved

Cover design by Justin Evans
Design Director: Bill Johnson

Visit the authors website at www.jennyswindall.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
An application to register this book for cataloging has been submitted to the Library of Congress.
International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62136-228-9
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62136-229-6

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

AUTHORS NOTE: Some names, places, and identifying details with regard to stories in this book have been changed to help protect the privacy of individuals who may have had similar experiences. The illustrations may consist of composites of a number of people with similar issues and names and circumstances changed to protect their confidentiality. Any similarity between the names and stories of individuals described in this book to individuals known to readers is purely coincidental.

This book is dedicated to my little brother, Brian Christopher Evans, who took his own life on April 26, 2011, at age twenty-nine. Brian was a brilliant, loving man who found the Lord in 2008 after realizing that he needed Jesus in his life. My mom had the glorious privilege of walking Brian through the sinners prayer. Within these pages are all the things I wish I could have shared with him before he left this earth. After Brian went to heaven, I began writing late into the nights, compelled forward by my broken heart. I have typed through streams of tears and have leaned on Jesus to create this book. I pray that out of my pain and triumph you may find the freedom and love you are searching for in the arms of Jesus. Brian would have been so very proud of me. One day he and I will embrace again, and our joy will be complete.

Brian, this is for you. I love you.

Contents

L ET ME BEGIN by first giving thanks to Jesus for setting me free from the depths of depression and anxiety so that I could share the way of freedom with others. Jesus is my best friend, and it is an honor that He would allow me to serve Him in this way.

To my husband, Kevin, thank you for your boundless love and for being a man who adores Jesus. You are a treasured gift, and I am thankful for you each and every day.

Thank you to my parents, who told me that anything is possible, no matter what crazy idea I came up with next. Dad, you make me feel like a princess every day, and Mom, your advice guides my life in more ways than you know.

To my little brother, Michael, you are becoming such a wonderful man, and I am so proud of all you have accomplished.

To Maureen Eha and the entire Charisma House family, I will always be so very thankful that you would take a chance on this first-time author. And to my editor, Adrienne Gaines, and everyone who worked on this bookits as if you knew my thoughts and were able to articulate them better than me sometimes! You made this project sing.

Finally, to my brother, Brian, whose home is in heaven nowI have planted your life as a seed in the kingdom garden, and I expect the blossoms of your life and our story to bloom throughout the earth every time I write, minister, and love others in the name of Jesus. I am thankful that we had you here for twenty-nine years, but I look forward to sharing eternity with you.

I N THE COMING pages you will find a resource that I hope will encourage and bring freedom to those who are hurting from depression. This is not a self-help book; it is more like a Jesus-help book, because it was written for people who are desperate to find a way out of depression and who know that the Lord is their hope for freedom. If youve suffered from depression in the past or have a friend struggling with depression, this book is for you too. And while women especially may relate to my journey through depression, this is a guide for anyone looking for a path to lasting healing and wholeness.