Christ in the Abyss

A Hopeful, Honest Invitation into a Faith That Endures in the Depths.

For those navigating the stormy waters of depression, despair, or mental illness, Christ in the Abyss offers a rare kind of spiritual companionship. In this raw and redemptive book, Jean Neely shares her decades-long journey with mental health challenges and faith, testifying that Christ’s presence isn’t reserved for the healed―but is found in the very heart of our pain. With poetic clarity and unflinching honesty, Neely challenges triumphalist Christian narratives and stigma in the church and offers a vision of grace and hope that holds, even when nothing is resolved. In these pages, you’ll find:

An alternative to “healing-only” faith narratives that makes room for whose emotional suffering remains unresolved, affirming that deep faith is possible even in prolonged struggle. A weaving together of story, Scripture, and cultural critique that expands our imagination for what faith can look like. Reflection questions for readers craving depth over resolution. Christ in the Abyss is a book for anyone who has cried out into the void and wondered if anyone, especially God, is listening. The good news is that God is always present with us, even in the depths.

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. A Note to the Reader
4. Introduction: Facing the Abyss
5. Chapter 1: What We Carry | Exploring Inheritances from Family and Culture
6. Chapter 2: The Shadowy Depths | Navigating Through Struggles with Depression and Faith
7. Chapter 3: Silence in the Deep | Clinging to Hope When God Seems Absent
8. Chapter 4: Tending Our Wounds | Processing Trauma on the Path Toward Healing
9. Chapter 5: Grace in Community | Knitting Nets of Love to Catch You When You Fall
10. Chapter 6: Befriending the Abyss | Finding Home in the Womb of God
11. Chapter 7: Life in the Depths | Learning to Breathe Underwater
12. Acknowledgements
13. Closing Credits