I have been in the church since the womb and vocational ministry since I was 14. I have experienced a myriad of expressions of church, serving in most of those expressions. Now I am in the unique role of denominational work, visiting even more expressions of church.

Despite the moderate or progressive expression, I still hear the echoes of the Prosperity Gospel. It comes in subtle ways, like the citing of James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father,” or Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.”

I guess there is nothing inherently wrong with believing that God wants us to be blessed. But what happens when our lives are met with disappointment, anxiety, and depression?

“My unhappiness did not descend on me like some grand revelation. It has been more like a slow drip of disappointment. I’ve lived with it for almost as long as I can remember, but I wouldn’t call it clinical anxiety or depression,” shared Amanda Held Opelt on the CBF Podcast Conversation.

Amanda is a musician and songwriter, along with writing for various outlets, such as Christianity Today. We sat down with her to discuss her new book, Holy Unhappiness.

“This feeling is something akin to restlessness, like an ever-present anti-climax. It feels like lack, almost as if I am expecting something out of life that has not yet been delivered.”

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Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.