Wednesday 20 April 2011

On 'The Darkness'

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'There is unquestionably a grave danger of many becoming spiritually paralysed by depression'

Streams in the desert

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

Isaiah 61:3

I love David and I love reading the Psalms. He's one of the Bible characters I relate to because I see a lot of myself in his life and his writings. Christianity is not about perfection but that despite imperfections God still loves us. I do know the feelings that come with being depressed. To be afraid to face a world that seems so full of joy while your own heart seems so full of pain. To not rejoice in the 'day the Lord has made' and all you live for is to go back to bed again and pray for sleep to take you away from reality. But there is hope and there is light. For another beauty of Christianity is the simple truth that light banishes darkness. Jesus is that light. 

It is a process. When Jesus touched the paralysed man, his healing was immediate but he had to pick up his bed and walk. He had to begin to use his legs to go to places. It does take time and a loving friend sometimes. What is a friend if you cannot entrust them with the responsibility to share your burdens with you? It helps to be busy, looking for ways to be a blessing to others. Depression puts the focus on you, service puts the focus on others. Depression is listening and believing 'satanic whispers.' Set your atmosphere aright (preaching to myself right there). The grace of God is sufficient to see you through the darkest moments of life. Weeping may endure for a night....encourage yourself in his word that joy comes in the morning. He is the Lover that is never too busy, never too tired. His love for us is renewed by the day. Lord let your light always shine in my darkness. 

There is a battle to be won, lets receive strength from on high so we can fight the good fight of faith. In Jesus name. Amen.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

'Depression puts the focus on you, service puts the focus on others.'

I simply love this statement. A good cure for depression.

dosh said...

heartwarming and really encouraging :)

Jennifer A. said...

"When Jesus touched the paralysed man, his healing was immediate but he had to pick up his bed and walk. He had to begin to use his legs to go to places." WORD!

Kafo said...

i'm thinking of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 when he prayed the prayer of suicide
(asked God to kill him)

and the problem was in read later on in the chapter was that he thought HE WAS THE ONLY BELIEVER left standing

so yeah
"Depression does put the focus on you"

but i wonder what comes first
the selfish thoughts or the depression
does the selfish thoughts cause the depression or does it work the other way around


happy easter beautifullllll