The title and premise of this book caught my attention, and I just knew I had to read it! Co - authored by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson, "In the Low: Honest Prayers for Dark Seasons" is the perfect book for anyone struggling with depression. The authors assert that "prayer is not about getting God's attention but about awakening to the voice and work of God that is already in our lives . . . We pray because we're human, not because we're religious." The two were inspired by Johann Hari's belief that there are nine causes of depression and anxiety, which are disconnection from meaningful work, other people, meaningful values, childhood trauma, status and respect, the natural world, a hopeful or secure future, and disconnection due to genes or brain changes. McRoberts and Erickson had two questions at the heart of this book: "If being in the Low is part of how I exist, how do I do that?" and "How do I live and feel whole when I am also feeling pressed down, shaken, and run over?"

There were so many thoughtful statements and soul - searching questions in these prayers that I have highlighted and annotated so much of the book! I think my favorite quote is the following: "May I be reminded that my current situation is not my final destination. There's more to my life beyond the fog of today." I will be re-reading this book and recommending it to others. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is a unique prayer guide for anyone navigating depression and anxiety—a struggle I know all too well. I think the title alone spoke to me: In the Low: Honest Prayers for Dark Seasons. Authors Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson team up to bring readers solace through words and images that reminded me of a guided meditation. During my own low season, I needed this book. The authors became companions on my journey. Justin is a songwriter and speaker, while Scott is "a painter, performance artist and creative curate." When promoting this as well as their previous books, they said something that gave me much food for thought:

“We pray because we are human, not because we are religious. Something in our nature points beyond itself; something in us searches for and desires personal connection with God. Although communicating with our Creator through prayer is innate, the effective practice of it often feels just beyond our reach.”

Johann Hari’s book Lost Connections helped Justin and Scott organize their prayer companion. Hari gave nine of the causes of depression. You can read a review I found on this book by Fiona Sturges for The Guardian here. Johann said the nine causes are a disconnection from:

Meaningful Work

Other People

Meaningful Values

Childhood Trauma

 Status and Respect

The Natural World

A Hopeful or Secure Future

Two other causes are disconnection due to genetics and due to brain changes. Justin and Scott tackle seven disconnections and leave eight and nine - the role of genetics and brain changes - to the professionals.

“Ultimately depression is a sign post of some disconnection in a human life, and the process through the depression is a reconnection to that which makes us whole,” they said. In the Low is offered as a spiritual companion for the difficult journey of reconnection in a human life.”

Justin and Scott invite readers to recognize what isn’t working for them right now. Anyone struggling can select a prayer that resonates most with their situation—there’s no need to follow the book in order. Their chapters lead readers to reconnect to -

Where Am Today,

What Happened to Me,

What I Am a Part Of,

What I Value, and

What Is Ahead of Me.

They begin each prayer time with a version of the late Mary Mrozowski’s Welcoming Prayer, designed to prepare one's heart before talking with God. Mary saw this as “a method of how to let go of the activities of your daily life, to let go of emotions, feelings, commentaries, and thoughts that control us.” When we let go, she said, “God, by the (Holy Spirit) that dwells within us, changes them.” More importantly, we ourselves undergo transformation over time, freeing up energy that we could have used for God’s work instead of holding onto our own agendas and safeguarding our illusionary identities." (Soulstream.org, The Welcoming Prayer)

Summary & Analysis

What sets this book apart is its approach to how Justin and Scott view depression and the practice of prayer. In the Low isn’t a Bible study, so much as a prayer companion. Justin and Scott present prayer as a way of tuning in to the presence and activity of God already at work in our lives. They want to flip the script on how we talk about this mental illness. They think much differently than most Christians. To them, I’m not broken when I’m in the Low. I’m experiencing something that is shared by humanity. That reminded me of a verse about temptation in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

Like temptation, times of depression are common to humans. We're "wild and complex," they said. We live in a fallen world in our earthly human tents. It’s “an inhumane world,” they said. Jesus said in John 16:33, “…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Trials and sorrows will come and God will use it for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28-29)

Justin and Scott said we don’t need an explanation for why we feel the way we do. We also don’t have to “do something about what we’ve experienced” in life. They talked about one of my favorite Bible stories: Saul’s road to Damascus in Acts 9:1-31. Saul (Paul in the Greek form) had a divine encounter with Jesus. Christ stopped him in his tracks and asked Saul why he had been persecuting His church. Left blind, Saul had to rely on his men to take him the rest of the way. Those men who walked with Saul through the valley were witnesses to his restoration. In similar fashion, Justin and Scott want to walk with each person in the dark valley.   

I like that they ended their prayer companion with a short story about Rev. Dr. Chad Varah who started the first suicide hotline in the UK. You can read about him in this article from The Guardian. They shared the number 988 Lifeline to call if someone is contemplating suicide. Someone is always on the other end to talk, and they want their prayer companion to act in a similar fashion.

My Thoughts

What struck me about In the Low is that this may be the first prayer book I’ve encountered that speaks to a wide audience. Justin and Scott wrote this and two other prayer companions for everyone—not just those who identify as Christians. Looking at their previous works, such as Prayer: 40 Days of Practice and May It Be So: Forty Days with the Lord’s Prayer, they address "people in every facet of life, including those with no real religious background at all." The authors suggest that “we pray because we are human, not because we are religious.” That left me asking so many questions: Does everyone pray? If so, to whom are they praying if they don't believe in God? The authors' claim prayer is part of what makes us human. "We’re human; therefore, we pray." I'm skeptical. Out of curiosity, I asked Alexa for statistics on prayer among those who aren’t religious. She responded that about one in five adults identifying as “not religious” still pray. Digging a little deeper, I read a 2012 Pew Research survey that reported about one-fifth of religiously unaffiliated adults say they pray daily. A more recent the Pew Research Center from February 2025 said 21 percent of Americans consider themselves ‘spiritual but not religious.’

Still, I do wish the Gospel message made it in here, as well as an explanation about the benefits package that comes with salvation through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit becomes a constant Resident in the believer's heart. And the Trinity then is activated in the believer's prayer life. Plus, Jesus Christ is the best prayer companion "in the Low." The Holy Spirit is available to all, yes, but He indwells the heart of the believer. He’s also how and why I’ve survived the Lows. Knowing I am not alone in this makes a difference. Jesus oversees my care. Two things can be true at the same time. I don't know that I agree everyone prays, while I do agree with Justin and Scott's assessment that as humans, we all “spend time in the Low.”

I see Justin and Scott then as contemporary psalmists, and I will reach for this book like I do the Psalms. Their valleys recalled to my mind ones I’ve walked through. I think they provided a life jacket in book form to a broad audience of people who suffer from depression, and for that I am grateful for this book. This book had me feeling so conflicted, but at the same time I also agreed with the authors while reading their prayers. It's "In the Low" that the soil of my heart is best prepared for talking about spiritual matters. When I've walked in the valley, I reach out to God, I'm receptive, and I'm desperate to hear from Him. I am like the woman with her issue of blood. She touched Jesus’ cloak and believed He would heal her with just that touch. Yes.

“I’m not enough.

Just one touch from You

Is more than enough

For a miracle….”

Justin and Scott's messages were a balm to my heart. I wish this book was available when I was growing up. I heard vastly different messages the first few times battling depression. In my teens and 20s, Christians said I must have sin in my life. That’s why I’m in the Low. How can I call myself a Christian if I am in the Low? Justin and Scott say that being human means I’m going to visit the Low at some point in my life. We spend time in the Low because we're human, not because we're broken, they said.

I don't blame those who thought they were speaking true things to me. They hadn't been in the Low. They didn't know that they were repeating the enemy’s taunts. The interesting thing about that time is this: I never believed them. I hurt more because people thought poorly of me and of my faith in Jesus. But God put people of faith in my path to help me every time, and He also places me now on the same path of people who need to hear they will make it through the Low.

That's what Justin and Scott hope to accomplish with their prayer companion, In the Low. They want people to have a different view of what's happening now and also have a hopeful vision of tomorrow just on the horizon. This book, these authors, will walk alongside their "beloved" in the meantime. We can hold onto the fact that someday we will walk on the other side of this dark place.

This short book will help people who need to hear from those who have been in the Low. Like TobyMac sang in Speak Life, the authors want to "speak life to the deadest, darkest night" of the soul. They "look into the eyes of the brokenhearted" and say to them: you will get through this. May their words and images speak to something deeper for their readers, especially the promise of a hopeful future.

I've been on a slow journey through this book and have so appreciated the honest words and reflections alongside imagery that helps articulate feelings of "the low" when sometimes words are not enough. It's a beautiful work. The authors do a great job of helping the reader understand what this book is (and is not) meant to be while offering a guide for seasons that can run the gambit from a little sad to downright full of despair and hopelessness. They are in no way shaming nor offering solutions but simply suggestions and art to help the reader make sense of their journey.

In the Low by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson is a contemplative, almost liturgical experience that blends poetic reflections with prayerful, deeply symbolic visuals. Each page feels like a moment of stillness—Erickson’s artwork carries the emotional weight of a modern icon, inviting you to pause and breathe. A cracked chalice becomes a meditation on fragility and grace; an empty chair surrounded by stars evokes presence in absence; hands reaching toward a faint light mirror McRoberts’ words about surrender, doubt, and hope. The illustrations don’t explain—they invite. They function like visual prayers, layered with meaning and silence, offering space to sit in mystery rather than resolve it. McRoberts’ prose matches that tone, written like whispered liturgy: honest, raw, and full of small invitations to let go and listen. Together, word and image form a sacred rhythm that feels less like reading a book and more like entering a quiet chapel for reflection. It’s a work meant to be lingered over—page by page, prayer by prayer.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. This is a beautiful book for those struggling and familiar with depression. A must read.

The poetic prayers and sentiments in this book are lovely but anything that doesn't definitively point to Jesus Christ is a waste of time. Certainly this book has the potential to comfort people experiencing "The Low" but the prayers are shadows of gospel truth at best. I would suggest people read the Psalms instead- especially Psalm 42.
In addition, the plethora of clip art art at the end was kind of weird.
Thank you to Netgalley and Baker Books for providing a e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Edit Review

The words and imagery are both breathtaking. "The Low" is a natural extension from the authors' previous collaborations. I'll be coming back to this book.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with depression, if you or someone you know is currently in a tough season of life, or if you or someone you know is simply having a hard day, I’d like to recommend In the Low, the new book by Scott Erickson and Justin McRoberts.

You do not need to be religious to appreciate this book, though you can certainly use it as a tool to guide you in prayer. The only real qualification you need to appreciate this book is to be human. Are you human? Great! Then I invite you to take a moment to sit with the images and words of this book and let your humanness connect to the human mess we all experience from time to time. Being human is hard. We all have hard moments, days, seasons, and lives that sometimes feel impossible to endure.

This book is not a cure; it won’t prevent you from ever feeling low. And that is OK because feeling low is one of the many feelings we are called to experience as humans. However, this book is a wonderful resource to help you embrace, endure, and work through those low moments, dark days, and challenging seasons when life gets you down, and it can serve as a reminder that being “in the low,” as hard as it can feel, is not a forever feeling.

The artwork in this book is stunningly beautiful. There are so many images that will catch your eye, make you think, and touch your heart. And the accompanying words read like poetry—simple yet profound, concise yet rich with meaning. You can read cover to cover, or open to any section or page and be moved by the images and words. The artistry and intentionality of the images and words produced by Scott Erickson and Justin McRoberts make what can be a very lonely, isolating experience feel relatable, reasonable, and, perhaps most importantly, really human.

Part of being human is being sad, disconnected, lost, hopeless, and hurting. And that can be really hard. For some people those feelings are fleeting and momentary. For others they last longer. For some people there may be certain times of the year or triggering events that bring upon the feelings more regularly, and for others it may feel more haphazard and random when those feelings take hold. No matter how you experience being “in the low” in your own life, I sincerely believe this book In the Low can help you and be a book you return to again and again both as a companion to journey with you in the darkness and as a tool to help you see the light in your own personal spiritual journey.

“May I be reminded
that my current situation
is not my final destination.

There’s more to my life
beyond the fog of today.”

In the Low is that reminder — a series of short poems and beautiful illustrations that come alongside you like a friend to remind you that there is more to your life than the low you find yourself in. I appreciate that this book doesn’t make you feel bad for how you are feeling. The authors have clearly spent their own time in the low, and so it feels more like someone holding space for you while also sharing the gift of imagination for what is beyond the fog. I’m glad to have this prayer book to turn to in my own low periods, as well as to recommend and share with others.

In the Low beautifully acknowledges the fact that we experience low moments throughout our lives. Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson have created a beautiful and vulnerable book to meet us in the Low. There are short reflections followed by thoughtful prayers that can be used in these moments. I recommend In the Low to anyone who experiences these low moments and seeks resources, prayers, and solidarity without judgment.

Every time Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson release a new book, sign me up. Their combination of modern, genuine words with rich, engaging images always moves me deeply. Their work helps me explore tender places within myself that I have trouble reaching on my own. In In the Low, I especially appreciate the compassionate, honest, and grace-filled ways they address the truth of depressive experiences.

This is the perfect book to open to a random page to be seen and to be encouraged. Yes, you can read this book in one sitting. But I suspect it will be even more helpful to read it a bit at a time, to return to it and sit with it as it sits with you.

When considering who this book is for, think broadly – from people with a clinical diagnosis or chronic condition to anyone walking through a season of grief, failure, or struggle. Many will find it as beautiful and helpful as I did.

While I’ve shifted much of my library to digital, this is a book I’m glad to own in print. It feels great in your hand, with simple color choices, thick paper, and artistic typefaces. As with their other books, the reflections and illustrations are intentionally designed to companion one another. They are best experienced in print as a two-page spread.

If you’re a pastor, counselor, spiritual director, care minister, support group leader, or small group leader, consider buying several copies so you have them ready to give away as needs arise.

One of the most helpful things we can offer someone going through a hard time is the offer, "Hey, I've been where you are. Let me sit with you a while. And when you're ready, I can show you a way out." That's exactly what Justin and Scott do through this work.

Is it weird to say I was really excited about a book about depression and rough times?

I've been a big fan of Justin's music and storytelling since I saw him perform at my college 22 years ago. I'm assuming I was introduced to Scott's work through their first collaboration, but he's become one of my favorite Instagram follows and I've purchased his art for myself and others. My mom and I both loved their collaborative text and visual prayer books, Prayer and May It Be So.

And I've struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a kid.

Following both of these guys on social media, I've been seeing them talk about this book for a while now. They got me excited, because neither one of them shies away from talking about the hard things in life. I knew the topic was in good hands. I signed up for the launch team and have been able to read an advance digital copy over the last few weeks, but I was anxiously awaiting my physical copy in the mail. The book is larger than I expected, with a gorgeous, embossed hardcover and so many pages full of empathy and hope.

For 20+ years I have stubbornly clung to the results of a study I read about in college. Basically, they asked people "what are the odds of X bad thing happening to a person?" The ones with depression didn't overestimate the bad things; they were more accurate than the non-depressed people, who wildly underestimated the odds of something bad happening. And I'd claim, "See, we are just more realistic about how bad things are. They're the delusional ones, even if they're happier about it."

Hope says,
"It is likely
things are
actually worse than we know them to be.
It is also likely
Goodness is far more enduring,
and far more available,
than we have imagined."

That quote provides the antidote without demanding I try to just "be positive" and pretend things are better than the evidence suggests. It starts by acknowledging that not only can things be bad, but they could also be even worse than we're assessing. BUT - if I accept the idea that things can be worse than I realize, I should logically also accept the idea that there can also be more goodness than I realize.

And that is what I love about this book. It holds out hope without relying on empty, illogical platitudes. It acknowledges that "being in The Low" is a normal part of the human experience - and it is often the "right" response to the brokenness around us. And while both men approach this topic from their experience of Christianity, you do not have to be a Christian to find encouragement here. Through these prayers, reflections, and images, Justin and Scott offer us not just hope that we can get out of The Low, but that there is actually goodness to be found while we're stuck in it.