Chuckle:
"If
you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car
payments!!"
Beautiful
Prayer: "I believe in Your
everlasting love, dear Father, and I accept it. I trust in Your sovereign
control over the circumstances of my life, and I will rest in the knowledge that
Your character is trustworthy and unchanging. Amen." --Kay Arthur.
"Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die"
(Psalm 143:7 NLT). "Why am I discouraged? Why so
sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again. .
."
(Psalm 5:5
NLT).
Are you
suffering from depression, or do you know someone who is? If so, you realize
full well the sense of worthlessness, helplessness, and hopelessness depression
can bring. If you watch television, you are aware of the many commercials
advertising drugs to help people overcome the devastating effects of depression.
Depression seems to be an epidemic in our society and there are many approaches
to treating this disorder.
I recognize
that some suffer depression brought on by physical problems -- chemical
imbalances, etc. Those may require professional help. Obviously, I can't offer
you help in this area, except to encourage you to seek the help you need.
However, I am convinced that many suffer feelings of depression brought on by a
spiritual vacuum in their lives. Claiming to be a Christian will not necessarily
fill that vacuum. Often we see depressed Christians. Why?
A while
back, I read a short sermon in the Religion section of our local newspaper. It
was entitled, "When Your Roots Don't Hit the Water." The message dealt with
depression and the title was derived from John 7:38 NLT: "If you are thirsty, come to me! If you
believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living
water will flow out from within." Here, Jesus uses the term "living
water" to refer to the Holy Spirit who is always available to believers because
he lives within us. It is the Holy Spirit who stands ready to fill every
spiritual need we have if we are willing for Him to do so -- not trying to solve
our problems on our own.
We can
become discouraged, depressed, and worried about what the future may hold. Maybe
you are not well and are fearful that death may not be far away. Maybe you are
feeling guilty because you are not living the way you know God would desire.
Maybe you are feeling deep disappointment and hurt because of a rebellious child
or a wayward spouse. Maybe one of your children is suffering from a physical or
mental disorder and you feel helpless to change the situation. Maybe you have
recently lost a loved one. Any of these circumstances can bring on feelings of
depression and despair. But your Heavenly Father is faithful and will sustain
you. All too often we find ourselves doubting that God is really in control in
our lives and are reluctant to trust him completely to take care of us.
When God is
given first place at the center-court of your life, you can be content and sleep
in peace. This is because the roots of your being are being nourished in the
never-ending living water of life -- the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, when we realize
that not every situation will turn out the way we wish, the best we can hope for
is a sense of God's peace. "Do not
be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4:5-7 NIV). When you feel depressed, read
the Bible's accounts of God's goodness, and meditate on
them.
Love, Jerry & Dotse
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