Depression

Depression. Many have it. Many live their lives with it. Depression deadens our emotions, clouds our thoughts, and saddens the brightness of life. I've endured depression for as long as I can remember. At first, it cursed me. It rose it's ugly cloud and grayed all the color of life. It overcast my thoughts, removed me from friends, from laughter, from solace, and left me lonely, sunken, and tearful.

Yet, in the darkness of my mind the light of Christ burst forth. I returned to His Word and I returned to prayer. I cast off the stigma that depression is a weakness and learned that in reality it is a blessing, a comfort, and a peace. For depression turns my heart to God and I thank God for it. It emboldened my heart to speak forth in weakness that brokenness is better, sorrow is sweeter, and joy is magnified in the midst of gloomy sadness.

I learned that sadness is an emotion; that happiness is fleeting, and that the "joy of the Lord is my strength" (Neh 8:10). I am blessed so highly blessed to have

the rigors of depression coursing through the segments of my mind!

For my God binds up my wound as he heals my heart (Psa. 147:3). My care is upon Him for I trust not these murky shadows of darkened thought.

I fight, I struggle, I'm broken, I'm tormented by fear, by anxiety, by nervousness, by tragic thought, gloomy nights, and overcast mornings. Tears come often, tears come quick and each one bleeds and heals. Oh! The goodness and greatness of God to give me this... so great a gift!

For while others trust in happiness I do not. While others seek the removal of sadness I seek it's peace. While others run from the scourge of correction, I live, yes, I magnify it's fire for I know and I'm convinced with every tear that all things work together for my good (Rom. 8:28). I am killed all the day-long (Psa. 44:22) by depression, by thoughts of weakness, by feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, by irritability, by bouts of anger, and by restlessness.

My heart turns to God who created and fashioned me this way. He will not fail me, he will not turn away, he will not wonder or snicker or avoid. Weeping may last through this night of my life but joy comes in the morning (Psa. 30:5). I seek, I long for, and I hope until the day star rises in my heart and I see Him face to face (2 Pet. 1:19; 1 Cor. 13:12).

A prayer: "Thank you for depression, for sadness, for black and gloomy days. Thank you for these errant emotions that turn my heart to thee. Oh, give me words, give me insight to comfort those with this same blessed affliction. Those who live in the valley, in caves, and darkened places. Those on the edge, those broken and crushed beneath the weighted torment of their own ugly thinking. Gift them your joy that is more than an emotion, more than a thought, but is like a silver lining the frame of a too dark picture. Thank you, for we, we blessed, are wonderfully created with the extra care you've enriched us with--that of depression.

The Armor of God

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17)

The days are evil are they not? You can't turn on the television without filth seemingly pouring forth. You can't examine your own heart under the radiant glare of God's Word and not see the lines of attraction for such filth. We find then evil within us and evil without (Psa. 26:2; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23; Rom. 12:9).

We must then need to "put on" or "take up" the armor of God. To do so will require humility... for in doing so we are acknowledging our need, our lack, and our weakness. Have we yet arrived to a place within our heart that understands our frailty? (Psa. 39:4, 40:17)

"Put on [then] the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts". For "the night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Rom 13:12-14).

Clothe your nakedness, "act like men", stand for righteousness, and shine as lights in these evil days (1 Cor. 16:13; Rev. 3:18).

We don't need a new revelation, a new doctrine, or more tickling of ears... we need to return to the principles of the Gospel of Christ. How can we know the truth unless we've studied? How can righteousness strike forth from our hearts unless we cease from evil and turn to the Gospel of Righteousness? How can we proclaim, relate, and preach the Good News unless it first is shining forth from our lives?

We struggle against spiritual wickedness

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Today, there's a lot of wrestling going on. Some are warring against the political machine in marches, sit-ins, or unfruitful speech. Some are fighting against an ideology, a tradition, or a rule. Others contend with their employers, the slight of another, or within their marriage. Folks are fighting and backbiting against each other all over the place... and the Bible calls that darkness (1 John 2:9).

Christians are not immune. Believers get tangled in the emotional-detours of our day. They get caught up in fighting for a cause, for a name, or they over-extend themselves in their church work. They so want to help others that they cannot say no and by doing so they soon burn themselves out-another victim of the enemies schemes. Others sit and do practically nothing, they either don't care, haven't been taught or are so logged down with depression, fear or guilt that they have not the strength to rise and serve.

Christians, not those in name but those in practice... also have a struggle to contend with... a spiritual battle. Believers in Jesus are born again into a spiritual Kingdom, the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5). Their names are written in the Lamb's book of Life (Rev. 13:8) and they are enlisted as a soldier in the army of Christ. They fight not with weapons of iron, or sharpened tongues, but through trusting and obeying in the Captain of their Salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Captain whispers, 'trust my Word, Live by my Word, and let my words course through the veins of your heart, soul, and mind.' And, 'do you want to hear me, turn to my Word'; 'do you have problems or need peace or rest, then trust in me, return to me, and turn to my Word... open your heart for I am near.'

For by standing in word and deed you stand for Christ and you oppose the evil one, Satan. By following Acts 17:11 and through studying, questioning, and 'contending for the faith that was once delivered' then we stand against his devices. He loves it when we are idle... when we except the status-quo,when the Gospel of self-denial, sacrifice, and "take up your cross andfollow me" is replaced with a lackadaisical message that promotes little of the Fear of the Lord, repentance, or fruit.

So put on the whole armor of God. Live through prayerfulness, watch continually through the lens of God's Word, and practice in your life what the Holy Spirit prompts you to follow in His Word. And when you fail, falter, miss-the-mark, and sin then return to 1 John 1:9--cleanse your robe, wipe that spot from your garment through the blood of Jesus Christ and then study, take counsel, and seek-out how to work-through, overcome, and beat that stumbling-block through faith, grace, mercy, and God's Word. When we take that dead, rotting, beam of wood out of our eye... then we can know how to help those who are suffering; so many... need us to step-up!