Have you ever felt helpless? Why? Where were you and what was your situation? Truth is I know we've all felt that way at some point - whether it was something we were directly involved with or on behalf of friend or loved one.
I have felt this way in all three situations and tonight there are things and situations over which I have zero control and it makes me sad, angry, humbled, frustrated and ultimately resigned.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Resigned to the fact that life is not something I can control and no amount of fighting on my part will change that. Resigned to the fact that I AM helpless sometimes and I hate the helplessness! Resigned to the fact that sometimes my best intentions to 'help' in those helpless situations just serve to make them worse. Resigned to the fact that if my friends/loved ones would/could just stop and wait or look to the right direction for help, it would be there with no questions asked and no recriminations for the past. Resigned in my faith.
I have faith that God is in the big middle of whatever that situation is and no matter who is affected or what their current spiritual state, they cannot out run Him. They can try, they can fight, they can bemoan or belittle, but my faith is there and it is as strong as it has ever been.
My faith might need to be big enough for me and them right now, and that's OK because others have done the same for me. How many countless hours have been spent in prayer on my behalf? I won't know that answer until I get to heaven.
Pay it forward. Do this for someone. Do it because they can't (or even won't). Do it for yourself. Do it because you can and it doesn't cost you anything but a contrite heart and time spent in prayer.
Oh, and while you're doing this, remember that God did not save Daniel from the lion's den - He saved him IN the lion's den.
Daniel 6:16
...and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
Daniel 6:22
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Hmmm...wondering if perhaps Daniel spent his time with the lions praying for the ones who had put him in the lions' den? That's a topic for another night, I think.
Sending this out to my friend tonight. I love you and I have been praying for you - I'm praying for you right now.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Christians Are Never Depressed?
Depression. I've been thinking about this subject and what to write seemingly forever.
Christians are never depressed. Christians always have it easy. Everything is always right in the life of a Christian. Blah, blah, blah....
These are blatantly false statements - every single one of them, yet if you are a Christian (or even if you are not) I believe that you will agree with me when I say that if we went by what everyone tells us or portrays to us then we have to believe these false statements. I often wonder when I answer, 'Oh, I'm just fine. How are you?' to someone who has asked, at what point does this become a big fat lie? In my mind, I know that people do not really want to hear how I am when they ask - they want the niceties in passing.
Are we so shallow that we couldn't handle it if someone told the truth for once? Are we so selfish with our time that we couldn't take the extra few minutes to stop and listen to someone who has a burden or hurt and just needs to talk? Are we so very indifferent to the needs of those around us?
Wait...we, the askers, are not the ones feeding everyone a line of 'the world is great' are we? It is we the 'askees' who are putting this stuff out there.
Could it be that we don't want everyone to know that our lives are not perfect? Is it even possible that our pride stops us from telling the whole truth? Do we not have enough trust in fellow believers or in our friends that we could share even just a quick word about where we are and what we stand in need of? Do we cover over the hurts because we think we are the only ones in pain? If we admit to being depressed, are we saying that we do not believe God can handle our problems for us?
I say it's YES to all of the above. Are you ever conflicted when answering 'fine' to someone’s inquiry? Does it make you feel just a little bit schizophrenic to be saying 'fine' when your whole world seems to be coming down around your ears?
Hmmm...are you wondering how I know all these things you are thinking? It's because I have had all those thoughts, and I believe EVERYONE has these thoughts in some way, shape or form. Showing vulnerability to anyone is difficult, even to my spouse. How could I possibly show my weaknesses to the wider world?
The bottom line is I believe that everyone experiences depression in some way. Some of us really get in there and do it up right - all the while smiling to the world like everything is just fine. It is amazing to me how alone one can be, even with a spouse who loves them or with a group of their closest friends. Depression cuts you off emotionally from every one and everything. It pulls you down and keeps you down. It makes you believe that you must be a failure, and because you are not talking to anyone you don't realize that there are others out there, I mean people that you really know and love, who are going through exactly what you are going through.
As a Christian, I've often thought, 'My faith must be weak if I'm this low.' How did I not remember that my Creator made me and knows my weaknesses? How is it that we think that a God who created us does not know that we sometimes face situations we cannot handle? Even the most faithful, even someone who believes the Bible is God's word, even the 'best' Christian can face things that they can't process, can't handle, can't fight.
Depression does not mean you don't have faith - and I don't think it even means that your faith is weak. To me, depression just is. Why does it have to mean something deep about my faith? Why do I have to read into it? It is so sad that so many people suffer silently, would rather die than admit that they could use a little help.
What I hope you take away from this post is the knowledge that you are not alone and the confirmation that depression is not something to be ashamed of, nor is it something to deny or sweep under the rug.
There’s so much more to say but this is all I’ve got words for now.
I would be interested in seeing your comments on this subject. Linking to a broadcast on depression by Dr. David Jeremiah: http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio_player.aspx?id=772
Christians are never depressed. Christians always have it easy. Everything is always right in the life of a Christian. Blah, blah, blah....
These are blatantly false statements - every single one of them, yet if you are a Christian (or even if you are not) I believe that you will agree with me when I say that if we went by what everyone tells us or portrays to us then we have to believe these false statements. I often wonder when I answer, 'Oh, I'm just fine. How are you?' to someone who has asked, at what point does this become a big fat lie? In my mind, I know that people do not really want to hear how I am when they ask - they want the niceties in passing.
Are we so shallow that we couldn't handle it if someone told the truth for once? Are we so selfish with our time that we couldn't take the extra few minutes to stop and listen to someone who has a burden or hurt and just needs to talk? Are we so very indifferent to the needs of those around us?
Wait...we, the askers, are not the ones feeding everyone a line of 'the world is great' are we? It is we the 'askees' who are putting this stuff out there.
Could it be that we don't want everyone to know that our lives are not perfect? Is it even possible that our pride stops us from telling the whole truth? Do we not have enough trust in fellow believers or in our friends that we could share even just a quick word about where we are and what we stand in need of? Do we cover over the hurts because we think we are the only ones in pain? If we admit to being depressed, are we saying that we do not believe God can handle our problems for us?
I say it's YES to all of the above. Are you ever conflicted when answering 'fine' to someone’s inquiry? Does it make you feel just a little bit schizophrenic to be saying 'fine' when your whole world seems to be coming down around your ears?
Hmmm...are you wondering how I know all these things you are thinking? It's because I have had all those thoughts, and I believe EVERYONE has these thoughts in some way, shape or form. Showing vulnerability to anyone is difficult, even to my spouse. How could I possibly show my weaknesses to the wider world?
The bottom line is I believe that everyone experiences depression in some way. Some of us really get in there and do it up right - all the while smiling to the world like everything is just fine. It is amazing to me how alone one can be, even with a spouse who loves them or with a group of their closest friends. Depression cuts you off emotionally from every one and everything. It pulls you down and keeps you down. It makes you believe that you must be a failure, and because you are not talking to anyone you don't realize that there are others out there, I mean people that you really know and love, who are going through exactly what you are going through.
As a Christian, I've often thought, 'My faith must be weak if I'm this low.' How did I not remember that my Creator made me and knows my weaknesses? How is it that we think that a God who created us does not know that we sometimes face situations we cannot handle? Even the most faithful, even someone who believes the Bible is God's word, even the 'best' Christian can face things that they can't process, can't handle, can't fight.
Depression does not mean you don't have faith - and I don't think it even means that your faith is weak. To me, depression just is. Why does it have to mean something deep about my faith? Why do I have to read into it? It is so sad that so many people suffer silently, would rather die than admit that they could use a little help.
What I hope you take away from this post is the knowledge that you are not alone and the confirmation that depression is not something to be ashamed of, nor is it something to deny or sweep under the rug.
There’s so much more to say but this is all I’ve got words for now.
I would be interested in seeing your comments on this subject. Linking to a broadcast on depression by Dr. David Jeremiah: http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio_player.aspx?id=772
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