THE sight of an unfailingly cheery vicar or Christian leader may be a cliché, and yet it is arguably a prevailing expectation. How might it be if such a leader were to be open about their weariness, depression, and doubts in the pulpit or prayer group?

Patrick Regan OBE is the founder of the charity XLP, which mentors and supports young people in deprived areas of London. Ultimately, the pressures of remaining a vigorous and tireless role model took a huge toll on him. His previous book, When Faith Gets Shaken, is a reflection on his experience.

This new publication, in an accessible, encouraging, anecdotal, and rather blokey form, goes further. Not only does he seek to discuss his own personal struggles — most especially after lengthy and gruelling surgery — but also includes moving accounts of difficulties that others have faced, from a mother whose son has severe brain damage to a police constable floored by anxiety and depression.

Regan also wishes to breaks taboos. This is particularly powerful, given his Evangelical background. Further, the need to lament and voice fears and confusion with others is placed at the heart of Christian discipleship.

A simple structure in two parts, “Learning to let go” and “Learning to be”, cleverly tackles the difficult and painful work of making sense of darkness and disappointment in the light of a loving God. In the opening chapter, “Letting go of the pretend smile”, Regan admits that simply hiding behind encouraging scriptural quotations has the potential to harm rather than heal. His confession that “sometimes we want God to hit us over the head” in order to recover is powerful. Instead, he has learnt that God is gentler than he once assumed.

Going public about his journey from despair to hope seems to have created a revolutionary “Me Too” moment: he is not the only one. Regan’s latest contribution can but encourage others to resist pretences of resilience openly. Instead, honesty about weakness can transform and strengthen faith in the most unexpected manner.

The Revd Jennie Hogan is a psychotherapist. She is the author of This Is My Body: A story of sickness and health (Canterbury Press, 2017).

Honesty Over Silence: It’s OK not to be OK
Patrick Regan
SPCK £9.99
(978-0-281-08929-1)
Church Times Bookshop £8.99