For a long time, I hear a constant, pervasive noise like wind. In time, I begin to hear it more clearly as the chorus of broken spirits in the fog, whispering all at once with the strength they have left. The thousands, and millions, of them all together dulled into rising and falling gales. I open my mouth to speak, but all I can muster is a hoarse whisper.*

The tendency in a great deal of preaching and Christian teaching is to put the onus on the individual Christian - that is, each child of God must will their way out of personal malaise, fueled by their consumption of the Word and devotion to prayer. If the result is not there, they say, then logically, either the consumption or the devotion is suspect. And so sin is in the way, and must be dealt with so our hypothetical child of God can move on. After all, they say, the true Christian has the Spirit within them, and what more could they desire as help for a fulfilled life, than to be filled with that Spirit?

Such teachers are rather begging the question, though, aren't they? Let's say for a moment that they are correct. In our scenario, our Christian has failed to dispel long-term depression or anxiety. But let's also throw in that our Christian has read the Bible daily and spent long sessions in prayer. We've followed the prescription, we think - or have we? Why didn't it work?

What I've learned in many conversations is that most people stop at that point and assume they're just less-than. "Everything I've thought about myself is true," they think - and none of it was good. They don't go back to the preacher to ask what's next. They think they've heard the answer, and something in the pattern of teaching they've heard tells them they'll probably get the same answer again. Maybe different words this time, or a different Bible passage to start with, or a different prayer method - but the same tools to fight with.

I get the feeling that many preachers and teachers look into the fog and assume they'll only find loose and undedicated Christians. But who is really in the fog? A lot more people than they think. There are baby Christians in the fog. There are mature Christians in the fog. There are non-Christians in the fog. And some of these very teachers are in the fog themselves, but just haven't yet stopped trying to will their way out of it.

The fog is not exclusive to Christianity, nor is it limited to the functional hurting. Almost everyone experiences the fog to some extent, at some point in life. Those who visit it with awareness can develop empathy for those who dwell there consistently.

Most who dwell in the fog are not talking about the fog. That shouldn't surprise us - talking about negative existential experience is painful. Our first defense is to hide as soon as we have awareness of it. Personality plays a role here - some of us will hide quietly, and others will hide by getting louder. Some of us hide under our feelings, and some try to drown them out.

Those of us talking about the fog from within it are most probably the functional hurting. We've developed enough coping mechanisms to get us through the day and enjoy various parts of life, all while experiencing ourselves negatively. We are talking because we altruistically want others to know they're not alone - but also because we selfishly want others to know we exist.

The functional hurting have the executive agency needed to continue with life's necessities while existing in that less-than state of being. There is probably a line somewhere in the spectrum of agency, beyond which we wouldn't have the voice and wherewithal to articulate cogently the fog experience. On this side of the line, talking about it is draining.

If you're reading this, and this is your experience: you are not alone. There are many of us, and we have many and varied needs. Some of us will need responsible medication. Some of us will need responsible counseling. All of us need to know that we are valuable. Hurting Christians need to know that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters, even if we feel that when we look in the mirror.

If this is not your experience: I hope it never is. But also, please, deal gently with my brothers and sisters in the fog.

* Adapted from Christ in the Fog, pp 21. “Sound.”