The Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace, and the Gifts of a Dark Place

by Melissa Maimone, Curt Thompson MD (Foreword by)

Overview

“In The Radiant Midnight you will find not merely abstract ideas about the essence of darkness or how to go about facing it. You will also find humor, Wisdom. Honesty. You will find Melissa’s very bone and blood…it is here, then, in reading—rather, perhaps, listening to—her words, that your heart, trapped as it may feel in its own midnight, begins to see the first signs of dawn.” –Curt Thompson, MD, author of Anatomy of the Soul

Grace and Hope for Long Dark Nights

Have you ever suffered with depression, sadness, or the feeling that you just can't seem to get it together? Do you wonder if you could ever view your deepest wounds in a different light?
 
Through candid storytelling, biblical truth, honest lament, and unexpected humor, The Radiant Midnight is a bold refusal to simplify the experience of suffering by moving too quickly to try to relieve it. With questions to guide you and practical suggestions to lead you through dark moments, this book takes you on a journey of surrender, suffering, rest, and restoration as it encourages and comforts you in whatever struggle you face.

The message of The Radiant Midnight is fueled by the passionate belief that not only will God lead you out of darkness, He will be fully and beautifully present within it. You can find deep contentment in painful circumstances and discover a profound intimacy with a compassionate, tender God who is with you in every moment—in each hope-filled dawn and every radiant midnight.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736976473
Publisher:	Harvest House Publishers
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,103,693
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Melissa Maimone writes with transparency, humor, and grace about the darkness of depression and the light of down-to-earth, authentic faith. Drawing from her lifelong battle with anxiety and depression, she speaks and writes to women facing similar struggles, offering hope in the midst of deep pain. She lives with her husband and children in Southern California. MelissaMaimone.com

Table of Contents

Foreword Curt Thompson 9

Introduction 13

1 Welcome to Midnight 19

2 Surrender and Salsa 45

3 No Thing Left 65

4 Long Starry Nights 87

5 The Silent God 109

6 Garbo, Loneliness, and the Unwavering Gaze of Grace 131

7 Poking Holes in the Darkness 153

8 Fear Not 175

9 Waiting for the Sun to Rise 197

10 Welcome to Daylight 217

Resources 231

Notes 233

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“There is that wisdom tradition that runs through our greatest stories that goes something like this: The thing you need the most can be found in the place you least want to look. The knights of the round table begin their quest for the holy grail by stepping into the part of the forest that looks darkest to them. The hero descends into the underworld to find the treasure guarded by the dragon. Luke Skywalker confronts his shadow self in a dark cave in Dagobah. The dark places hold the treasures of truth and wisdom that will lead us where we need to go.

“But it’s scary to go it alone and without a compass. So Melissa offers herself as a fearless tour guide into the unknown and gives us this compassionate book about her own journey into the dark to serve as handrails for those of us who find ourselves, willingly or not, descending into the underworlds of depression, pain, anxiety, and beyond to find the riches they hide.

“Henri Nouwen has said that a spiritual leader is one who walks into the darkness first in order to lead others through it. In this book, Melissa has demonstrated strong, loving, and trustworthy leadership.”
—Jason Gray, singer and songwriter

“Melissa’s voice and story are precious gifts to the church because they bear witness to the reality that the Christian narrative doesn’t always follow the path of celebration and triumph. For those of us whose lives are more a testament to darkness, suffering and survival, we too need to be reminded that our stories also belong to those of the family of God. The Radiant Midnight does this beautifully and honestly, offering compassionate and challenging insights along the way.”
—David C. Wang, ThM, PhD, associate professor of psychology, Biola University; pastor of spiritual formation, One Life City Church

“As a woman who has experienced a good bit of her life in the midnight hours, I’m grateful for another voice that tenderly and candidly calls attention to a subject many Christians have ignored. Melissa doesn’t just set the subject in front of you, but she digs deep and encourages you to push harder against the darkness than you may have ever dared to do. She combines Scripture, research, and her personal struggles in a way that will leave you with a new understanding of the heart of God for his children. Many of us (including myself) have felt unqualified for ministry because of our struggles with this invisible ache, and The Radiant Midnight reminds us of the glorious light that’s worth fighting for.”
—Angie Smith, bestselling author of Seamless, Chasing God, and What Women Fear

“I so appreciate Melissa Maimone’s honesty and unique perspective on battling depression and anxiety. She skillfully weaves King David’s life and words with her own, giving the reader space to battle fear, worry, and heavy sadness—yet with hope. If you’re facing your own midnight, find solace and light in these hard-won words.”
—Mary DeMuth, author of Healing Every Day

“Radiant Midnight is an oxymoron—a combination of two contradictory terms that invite a curious mind to explore the wisdom that might hold them together. In this way, ‘radiant midnight’ now establishes its place in a lexicon that has illuminated other impossible truths like ‘sweet sorrow,’ ‘wounded healer,’ or ‘terrible goodness.’ Through her achingly personal journey, Melissa sets the night on fire with the radiance of unrelenting love, revealing what we can never see or feel when we are in the dark—God is already there.”
—Nicole Johnson, author of Creating Calm in the Center of Crazy and Fresh Brewed Life; founder of Seasons Weekends

“Melissa’s vulnerability, humor, and depth make her one of our favorite voices to hear on some of life’s harder topics. Her story and wisdom have helped illuminate the treasure to be found in our own dark places.”
—Katherine and Jay Wolf, coauthors and cofounders of Hope Heals

“Melissa entered my world during a period of intense suffering and I cannot believe it was by chance. I struggled to find comfort, meaning, and hope amidst the darkness—and Melissa’s words offered just that. Mercifully, she doesn’t hand out Band-Aids or tidy answers. Rather, she invites us to listen for the story of redemption that God is writing for each of us, even as we wait for the light.”
—Jen Wise, author of The Bright Life

“Melissa’s attempt to put her experience into words is both a gift and treasure for any reader. This gem is heartfelt, honest and left me with the sense I just had a conversation with a friend over a cup of coffee. Her vulnerability reveals a bold, courageous woman whose aim is to ensure that you, the reader, feel certain you do not have to walk your journey alone.”
—Andrea Tomassi

“Melissa spoke to my soul! Like a good therapist, she sits with you in your pain and teaches you how to sit with your own darkness. Melissa’s book speaks to anyone who struggles with any type of darkness in their life—and that would be all of us! She so accurately and vulnerably portrays the shame of the shadow that most of us feel but can never put into words. But instead of condemnation, Melissa gives a wonderful combination of humor, heart, and hope in your darkest of times.”
—Dr. Zoe Shaw, host of The Dr. Zoe Show podcast

“If you are suffering, this book is a safe space. Melissa isn’t here to fix you or your feelings. Rather, she masterfully weaves Scripture, personal stories, and profound insights to offer you eternal hope that is both raw and real. As one who currently sits in the long, dark days of a Midnight season, The Radiant Midnight stirred my resolve to learn to sit and learn God’s lessons rather than try to speed through the pain. As I wiped away many tears while reading, I gave thanks that Melissa is a Jesus-loving sister who understands the dark, painful, and scary seasons that we all face in life.”
—Barb Roose, author of Winning the Worry Battle

Editorial Reviews

There is that wisdom tradition that runs through our greatest stories that goes something like this: The thing you need the most can be found in the place you least want to look. The knights of the round table begin their quest for the holy grail by stepping into the part of the forest that looks darkest to them. The hero descends into the underworld to find the treasure guarded by the dragon. Luke Skywalker confronts his shadow self in a dark cave in Dagobah. The dark places hold the treasures of truth and wisdom that will lead us where we need to go.

“But it’s scary to go it alone and without a compass. So Melissa offers herself as a fearless tour guide into the unknown and gives us this compassionate book about her own journey into the dark to serve as handrails for those of us who find ourselves, willingly or not, descending into the underworlds of depression, pain, anxiety, and beyond to find the riches they hide.

“Henri Nouwen has said that a spiritual leader is one who walks into the darkness first in order to lead others through it. In this book, Melissa has demonstrated strong, loving, and trustworthy leadership.”
—Jason Gray, singer and songwriter

“Melissa’s voice and story are precious gifts to the church because they bear witness to the reality that the Christian narrative doesn’t always follow the path of celebration and triumph. For those of us whose lives are more a testament to darkness, suffering and survival, we too need to be reminded that our stories also belong to those of the family of God. The Radiant Midnight does this beautifully and honestly, offering compassionate and challenging insights along the way.”
—David C. Wang, ThM, PhD, associate professor of psychology, Biola University; pastor of spiritual formation, One Life City Church

“As a woman who has experienced a good bit of her life in the midnight hours, I’m grateful for another voice that tenderly and candidly calls attention to a subject many Christians have ignored. Melissa doesn’t just set the subject in front of you, but she digs deep and encourages you to push harder against the darkness than you may have ever dared to do. She combines Scripture, research, and her personal struggles in a way that will leave you with a new understanding of the heart of God for his children. Many of us (including myself) have felt unqualified for ministry because of our struggles with this invisible ache, and The Radiant Midnight reminds us of the glorious light that’s worth fighting for.”
—Angie Smith, bestselling author of Seamless, Chasing God, and What Women Fear

“I so appreciate Melissa Maimone’s honesty and unique perspective on battling depression and anxiety. She skillfully weaves King David’s life and words with her own, giving the reader space to battle fear, worry, and heavy sadness—yet with hope. If you’re facing your own midnight, find solace and light in these hard-won words.”
—Mary DeMuth, author of Healing Every Day

“Radiant Midnight is an oxymoron—a combination of two contradictory terms that invite a curious mind to explore the wisdom that might hold them together. In this way, ‘radiant midnight’ now establishes its place in a lexicon that has illuminated other impossible truths like ‘sweet sorrow,’ ‘wounded healer,’ or ‘terrible goodness.’ Through her achingly personal journey, Melissa sets the night on fire with the radiance of unrelenting love, revealing what we can never see or feel when we are in the dark—God is already there.”
—Nicole Johnson, author of Creating Calm in the Center of Crazy and Fresh Brewed Life; founder of Seasons Weekends

“Melissa’s vulnerability, humor, and depth make her one of our favorite voices to hear on some of life’s harder topics. Her story and wisdom have helped illuminate the treasure to be found in our own dark places.”
—Katherine and Jay Wolf, coauthors and cofounders of Hope Heals

“Melissa entered my world during a period of intense suffering and I cannot believe it was by chance. I struggled to find comfort, meaning, and hope amidst the darkness—and Melissa’s words offered just that. Mercifully, she doesn’t hand out Band-Aids or tidy answers. Rather, she invites us to listen for the story of redemption that God is writing for each of us, even as we wait for the light.”
—Jen Wise, author of The Bright Life

“Melissa spoke to my soul! Like a good therapist, she sits with you in your pain and teaches you how to sit with your own darkness. Melissa’s book speaks to anyone who struggles with any type of darkness in their life—and that would be all of us! She so accurately and vulnerably portrays the shame of the shadow that most of us feel but can never put into words. But instead of condemnation, Melissa gives a wonderful combination of humor, heart, and hope in your darkest of times.”
—Dr. Zoe Shaw, host of The Dr. Zoe Show podcast

From the Publisher