I actually had the courage to finally sit down and rewrite my thoughts (after my computer ate the original) about this great book by Sue McRoberts.  I highly recommend this book to everyone – the women suffering, the struggling spouse, friends, family, and the church family.  It is an excellent resource. 

I wanted to share with all of you my thoughts on this wonderful book, The Lifter of My Head:  How God Sustained Me During Postpartum Depression by Sue McRoberts, one of the first of its kind in the known Christian publishing world (see also Why I Jumped by Tina Zahn and Wanda Dyson - also a very powerful testimony).  Christian books about this topic have been desperately needed for such a long time, particularly as tragedies stemming from various postpartum mood disorders pervade the media more and more each day.  I often have to close my eyes to the news stories just to keep the sadness from utterly tearing my heart apart. 

Sue tells the story of her journey through PPD by interweaving it with the voice of wisdom, the voice of knowledge, the voice of encouragement and the voice of God through His Word.  In the midst of my own bout with postpartum depression, I remember reading about the need to focus on Scripture itself, as opposed to a devotional reading, in the midst of any kind of depression.  Not a book about Scripture, or a book about some aspect of Christian life (although those books do have their value), but Scripture itself, for this is the food of life, the Word of God, a living breathing ointment for our hurting souls and the nourishing infant’s milk we need when we need it the most.  That is one of the most inspiring and true aspects of this book and I rejoiced as I read it.  Sue shares so much Scripture that clearly tells us exactly where God is when we hurt – always by our side and usually carrying us.

What I often consider a sign of a great book such as this is the ability to apply the wisdom to any number of life circumstances.  For example, reading a book about infertility and loss (Hannah’s Hope by Jennifer Saake) after already giving birth to my son taught me so much about the journey I was now on, despite the fact that my infertile days had come to a close.  The same can be said of Sue’s book.  I learned so much that can be so applicable to any dark valley that one may go through.  Lean on Scripture and hold on with all your strength, even if by your very fingertips.  I also learned much about friendships, again crying as I recalled how Christ worked through the many types of friends as He carried me through my depression.

Sue talks about how each PPD journey is so unique and I could not agree more.  They are as unique as fingerprints, yet the same in intensity.  Even so, I found myself identifying with so many of Sue’s feelings and reflections on her experience and I again felt that I had never been alone through postpartum depression.  I had tears running down my face as I read and remembered, but Sue is always quick to remind the reader of the resulting growth that comes from walking through a dark valley such as postpartum depression.  I can personally attest to the joy and growth and God’s work in the life of a believer who has gone through such a thing – I would not trade my experience for anything and I now have a burning passion to help women just like myself and Sue, and thus the formation of Out of the Valley Ministries! 

I was greatly encouraged by this book and inspired by Sue’s story and I am praising God for her victory over this horrible illness.  It is a story of encouragement and most of all, a story of hope.  There is always hope.  Let not the tragedies that we hear about daily on the news be the sum total of our thoughts and knowledge about postpartum mood disorders.  Instead, let there be the hope of survival and the sharing of knowledge as we dispel myths and rumors about PPD through opening our hearts and sharing our stories just like this.  Millions of women have survived postpartum mood disorders.  Sue did.  I did.  You can, too.  But this is impossible without your medical professional, possibly medications and talk therapy, and most of all – not without the Lifter of our heads.  He’ll carry you through.

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