Just the idea of Christian depression seemed so contradictory, at first...
Christian depression just doesn't seem to fit in very well with this verse: "I have written to you...young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one." I John 2:14
Young people have seemingly unlimited energy and optimism, how could Christian depression ever be a problem? With all that strength and word of God, who could be depressed?
Who would ever imagine, that in the midst of such strength and zealous activity, stress and depression often lurk in the murky fringes of church life. Not only that, it is not at all uncommon for youth leaders to suffer from the common depression symptoms.
Things left to themselves tend to decay
When the depression symptoms continue for more than a few weeks, you need to take action. Ignoring the problem will not help. A common misunderstanding is that Christians are inferior or unfaithful followers if they feel depressed.
The black hole of condemnation is very deep and dark. It can take years to work out the underlying causes. Christian depression is more common than most people realize. Scripture verses may be used, correctly or incorrectly, to give "guidance", this is not the intention of this essay.
The subject of Christian depression and stress is a very personal one for the author, having been both a victim of it and a cause of it as well. It is our hope to shed some light on this important topic that seems to be largely ignored, but affects many believers.
Black and white thinking
Black and white thinking, in this case, is the practice of placing people into neat little groups, or categories. For example: believers and unbelievers; the bride of Christ and the harlot; Christians and "the world"; us and them; the first-fruits and the second-fruits; zealous and lukewarm; modest and worldly; saved and unsaved; and so on. An enormous amount of stress comes from this manner of viewing people and the world.
This type of thinking is common among fundamentalist groups, not to mention cults. The polarizing effect divides families and friends. Those who are doing the categorizing are, of course, the right ones. Everyone else is to be pitied or despised, or converted. Those who grow up under such teachings and fail to live up to the expectations are prime candidates for Christian depression.
A great deal of Christian depression stems from this way of thinking. Suppose you are musical or artistic, what are you ever going to do with all that natural ability if your church teaches that such activities are sinful, or soulish? Soulish means that it is an expression of your human soul, which is even more dangerous to holiness than being carnal.
Sure, such an artistic person may play church music, or do "Christian" artwork, but soon that becomes so limiting and quenching. Of course, you could always listen to music and play it in secret, but that brings on the condemnation. For those who are not artistic, this is not a serious problem, and very often such people are the leaders. They don't feel the inner stress, and therefore are often harsh in their criticism, leading to even more Christian depression.
This can be particularly damaging to children. They are developing their own distinct personalities and need space to grow. An especially crass example of forcing church doctrine on "different" children is the old practice of beating the left hand of left-handed children by nuns in schools. It's hard to imagine, but this was common until quite recently. The stress imposed on these children is incredible. At times, the entire learning process just ceased.
Jesus came to take away your sins, not your mind!
A great deal of courage is required to live according to your conscience, especially if it is contrary to your church's doctrine. To do less is cowardice and will keep you in the wringer of a guilty conscience, with the result in feelings that can lead to Christian depression.
A prominent church leader was lauded at his 50th birthday celebration for his ability to be spiritual on a trip across Canada. It seems he managed to keep from looking at the scenery and marveling at God's creation for several days' trip. He was so holy that he read scriptures and discussed doctrine the entire time!
On the other hand, another passenger in the car was constantly amazed at the beautiful rivers, rolling hills, huge sky and wild animals he saw on the same trip. Needless to say, nobody mentioned this at his birthday! He thought it was absurd to deny oneself in such an artificial and useless manner as the other passenger. It took some courage to speak up in the face of such older, esteemed brothers.
There are many such things taking place everyday in churches everywhere, but not much is mentioned about it. For example: being willingly ignorant of elections, the news, current events, and community events and so on. About the only time such zealous believers get involved is when they can benefit from it. To speak out takes courage, to silently go along, against your better judgment can easily contribute to Christian depression and stress.
If you talk about current events, it had better follow "party lines." If you are involved in community events, you might be contaminated by all those unbelievers. You are "unequally yoked."
This type of thinking is especially dangerous for children and young people. They are usually in public school and are exposed to everything imaginable. Unless they are taught how to interact in a healthy way with those who disagree or are different, they can easily fall prey to Christian depression.
This book was written just for parents who have stressful situations at home. It is the product of many years experience, including Christian depression. It is called: "The Secrets Inside."
Children and the "End Times"
Many children have suffered unnecessarily from the unwitting ignorance of their parents or church leaders. Children take everything literally and parents need to be extra careful when discussing such topics as the end times with children.
As children and young people hear the message about Armageddon and the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of God, etc., they are imagining everything literally. This can lead them several conclusions. Christian depression often has its roots in childhood.
" We are the only ones who know this and are special, God's favorite people.
" Everyone else is going to burn up in the wrath of God.
" If I do everything "right" I will be saved.
" If I don't do everything "right", I will be burned with the ungodly. Or maybe I'll go through the "Great Tribulation" and become a sort of second class heavenly citizen.
These beliefs can vary from group to group, but the potential damaging effects are still the same. Stress, depression, and false guilt can plague a person for many years.
Suppose your neighbor is Christian from another denomination and now his entire family, including your son's friend, will perish in fire. How does that impact the mind of a child?
How can the other 99.9999 along in the faith, I'm going to hell, what's the use of trying to be good?" The ditches of life abound with such cast off lives.
Christian depression carries a stigma of weakness and unfaithfulness. As you can see, it very often is the result of poor judgment on the part of the parents or the teachers.
Talk about fire and dire warnings, just look at this!
"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." Luke 17:2
On the other hand, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 1:4
www.stress-familyhealth.net
Father of eight lively children, formerly a youth
pastor in Christian church,well travelled in
Europe and South America. Has a passion for
helping families deal with the stress of modern
life.
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Sage Steele joins Riley Gaines for a wide-ranging conversation on sports, culture, politics, motherhood, and faith.
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They begin with the NFL’s Pride Month messaging and the difference between league-level statements and individual team posts. Riley and Sage discuss whether corporate sports are backing away from political messaging, why locker rooms used to feel like one of the few places where differences did not matter, and why fans may be tired of being lectured by sports leagues.
The conversation turns to Jackson Dart, backlash from left-leaning sports media, and why Sage believes courage from young athletes can encourage others to speak up. Riley and Sage also discuss parenting, discipline, online criticism, the “unfollow” culture, and how conviction matters even when people disagree.
Later, Riley and Sage react to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s executive order on menopause and workplace accommodations, the rise of Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles politics, Karen Bass, homelessness, crime, wildfires, and what voters may want from outsider candidates.
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Congress had itself a day yesterday, and, if Democrats think this makes them look good, they are sorely mistaken. Bessant, Rubio, Mullin and so much more, we give you a rundown of D.C. happenings. Victoria’s Secret is booming, hitting the highest stock value the company has ever had. Let’s see if we can put our finger on how this might have happened. Ashley St. Clair is not a person you should be taking advice from, but that doesn’t mean she’s not offering. Let’s hear what she has to say.
Bryan Weston's journey into buying and selling sports gear started in a relatable way —as a dad trying to keep up with his son's evolving baseball needs.
With eight years of gear taking up space and a growing teenager constantly changing positions on the field, Bryan stumbled upon SidelineSwap while looking for a new glove. What started as a simple purchase quickly turned into a side hustle and passion that would connect him with athletes across the globe.
Throughout his son’s journey from t-ball to high school baseball, Bryan realized he had accumulated a stockpile of equipment—gloves, bats, cleats, and more. "I didn't want to throw it all away...and I'm kind of a hoarder anyway," Bryan admits. "So, I kept the gear sentimental to my son and listed the rest on SidelineSwap.”
Photo above contains “three gloves and three bats that my son Grady has used from Little League until now. He played in the Babe Ruth 14U World Series last summer and the memento included in the blue glove is a game ball and his Player of the Game Award from their first game, a win over Aruba.” Gloves include: 9 1/2” Rawlings Heart of the Hide inside of an 11.75” Nokona, inside of a Rawlings Pro Preferred 12.25”. Bats include: 29” DeMarini Glitch, a 30” Warstic Bonesaber, and Grady’s current bat, a 32” Combat Spec A1.
"I'm really kind of hooked on gloves."
What started as a means to offload extra gear quickly became an obsession. Bryan was drawn to the craftsmanship of baseball gloves. He began curating a personal collection, some of which he keeps for himself and others he resells for a profit.
"I would buy my son a glove, let him use it for a few weeks, and then sell it—sometimes even making money off the deal," Bryan recalls. "He loves it because he constantly gets new gloves to try out."
And as Bryan explains, it takes a while to break in a new glove; buying a used one allows his son to go straight to the field and play with it. Then he can decide to keep it, or sell it and try another.
Bryan and his son Grady showcasing their collection.
"We live in the middle of absolute nowhere."
Living in Del Rio, Texas—far from major sports retailers—SidelineSwap became essential for accessing equipment. "If you want to buy a glove in Del Rio, you must do it online," Bryan explains. "There's nowhere local to get the latest gloves, bats, whatever."
Del Rio lies on the edge of the Tamaulipan mezquital (also called the South Texas brush country), an area larger than the state of Alabama but with a population of less than 35,000. Although remote, this borderland is home to a thriving baseball scene.
Grady at the plate in the 2024 Babe Ruth 14U World Series vs. Aruba. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Salas Photography.
Over time, Bryan became known in his community as the go-to guy for baseball gloves. His son's teammates would turn to him for recommendations, and he would track down the best deals, selling at cost to help young athletes.
"Do you have any pink gloves?"
When Bryan first started buying and selling gloves, his son and teammates were all about bold, colorful designs—pink, blue, and flashy patterns were the hottest trends.
But as his son grew older and entered high school, the trend completely shifted. The once-popular vibrant gloves were no longer considered “cool,” the players began opting for more traditional, single-colored gloves that looked professional and mature.
Still, younger kids in his town often ask him—“Do you have any pink gloves?”—a reminder of how quickly trends change as kids grow up. Bryan laughs when he explains that while he doesn’t stock as many bright gloves anymore, he’ll still track one down if a young player wants it.
It’s all part of keeping up with the ever-changing world of youth sports.
"Don't try to hide any flaws."
One of Bryan's favorite aspects of buying and selling on SidelineSwap is finding hidden gems. Bryan scouts for unique and well-worn gloves, cleans and relaces them when needed, and ensures they're in top condition before listing them for sale.
Just some of the gloves that Bryan has sold from his locker: @GunRoomGloves
"I always make sure to clearly describe any flaws because honesty is key in keeping a good reputation," Bryan says. "And I really appreciate Sideline's built-in protections for both buyers and sellers."
Unlike other resale platforms, SidelineSwap provides a level of security that gives Bryan confidence in every deal. His experience buying gloves elsewhere hasn’t always been as seamless. He once purchased a glove off eBay, only to have it arrive stuffed into a flimsy envelope, completely flattened.
“It took me weeks to get the shape back,” he recalls, frustrated by how poorly it was packaged.
But his worst experience was receiving a glove from a smoker’s home. The moment he opened the box, the overpowering smell of smoke hit him. Despite multiple attempts to clean and air it out, the odor lingered. Eventually, he had to take the glove completely apart, remove the laces, and clean every inch to finally rid it of the smell.
For those looking to start their gear-selling side hustle, Bryan offers a few key tips:
Be honest about the condition of the items. Buyers appreciate transparency, and it prevents unnecessary, costly returns.
Package items properly. Never ship a glove in an envelope. Use a box to maintain the glove's shape.
Ship quickly. Fast shipping leads to better reviews and return customers.
Follow market trends. Kids' preferences for gear colors and styles change, so knowing what's in demand is important.
"I don't plan to quit my day job."
Bryan finds immense joy in this hobby-turned-business. He doesn’t plan on it ever being a full-time thing, and that's okay. Whether restoring a classic glove, helping another parent find affordable gear, or just indulging in his love for baseball equipment, SidelineSwap has provided an unexpected but welcome adventure.
As for his son? "He used to love getting a new glove every couple of weeks, but now he wants to stick with one," Bryan laughs. "We'll see how long that lasts."
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Want to start selling? Here's how Bryan did it.
Like Bryan, thousands of parents and players have turned their gear rooms into cash on SidelineSwap. Here are a few tools Bryan uses to fuel his selling strategy, increase sales, and maintain his reputable standing within the community.
Seller Protection: SidelineSwap ensures that payments are securely processed and held until the buyer confirms receipt of the item in good condition. This system protects sellers from fraudulent claims and chargebacks, providing peace of mind throughout the transaction process.
Advanced Insights: SidelineSwap’s "Insights" feature offers valuable data, such as average sales prices, sales volumes, and sell-through rates for similar items. Bryan can make informed pricing decisions, ensuring his listings are competitive and appealing to buyers.
Messaging System: SidelineSwap's integrated messaging allows direct communication between buyers and sellers. This feature lets Bryan answer questions, provide additional item details, and build trust with buyers, leading to smoother transactions and positive reviews.
Inspired by Bryan’s story? Start selling today on SidelineSwap—turn your extra gear into cash and connect with the next generation of athletes!
Want to help kids find sports they love? Sign up to be a coach or volunteer in a local youth sports program. Learn more ways to support youth sports in the National Youth Sports Strategy: https://bit.ly/2lIHPUc
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