The events happening all around us since the beginning of this year have been unexpected and frightening.
Each day, like everyone else, I would check the news to read about Covid-19 and any updates to the self-quarantine, social-distancing, mask-wearing and which stores were open and which were not – and so on and so on….
Our seemingly new world had, and still has, a surrealistic feel to it. Could this really be happening? Could we trust what we were hearing and reading? It was shocking to me how quickly the government became almost Totalitarian in its guidelines, which seemed more like orders to the public.
We were not to question anything. Just obey.
Fear is a strong motivator
Reading about the symptoms of Covid-19 and how I was a person who the “experts” said would most likely not fare well if I caught the dreaded virus – well, that was more than a bit concerning.
I’m 69 with underlying health issues. Asthma and heart problems put me at risk. As I would ponder these things, I realized that I needed to take the fears and anxieties to Jesus.
And Then Came the Riots
As if adding insult to injury, our country was overtaken by ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter after the death of George Floyd. These are not peaceful protests. They are violent with looting and burning and killing. I believe that this has continued for the last couple of months with no end in sight.
Even a portion of Seattle was captured by members of the groups, and police were forbidden to enter. It was a nightmare, especially for those who needed help and could not get it because the police were barred from entering this illegal “city” named CHOP. Thankfully, the mayor of Seattle finally put an end to “CHOP” and brought some semblance of order back to that city.
Holier Than Thou
I’ve always disliked that phrase – it sounds so judgmental. But for the purpose of this article, I am using it.
About a week ago, I asked the brethren on Facebook if any of them were experiencing anxiety or depression – or even mood swings. Suddenly, the comments just rolled down the page as people opened up about their emotions.
The vast majority wrote that they were struggling with so many different feelings. Many said that it was a comfort to hear from brothers and sisters in Christ that they were struggling as well.
But a couple of people said that Covid-19 was actually exciting because of their trust in the Lord. They talked about how they were rejoicing in the midst of the insanity. They went on and on about not understanding why the others were not rejoicing with them.
I could tell that many of the brethren who had confessed their struggles were feeling intimidated – as was I – and it got to a point where I felt led to delete the comments about others not having faith.
Most of us were discussing how our minds were vacillating back and forth between fear and faith. I was mentioning that we are still in these mortal bodies, and as Paul said:
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15).
And Jesus said this to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane:
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
Depression in the Bible
I remembered reading about many people in the Bible who suffered with depression. One of these people who stands out to me was King David. Read this Psalm, which clearly shows the depth of despair David experienced:
Psalms 42
Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses
To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.
“As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
‘Where is your God?’
When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my Rock,
‘Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?’
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
‘Where is your God?’
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 42). (emphasis added)
Brethren, let us have compassion and understanding during these trying times. In Psalm 42, when David says, “They continually say to me ‘Where is your God?’” The people who asked him that were his enemies.
Can you see that when brothers and sisters in Christ ask, “Where is your faith?” instead of helping one another – that can be so counterproductive. Instead of helping, it makes the brother or sister feel worse. Now, they are not just feeling anxious, but they are being accused of not having faith if they are depressed or sad.
Adrian Rogers
I have mentioned in other articles that Adrian Rogers was our favorite preacher. He is with the Lord Jesus and has been since 2005.
Please listen carefully to Pastor Rogers as he talks about Depression and about the Giants of the Faith, such as Charles Spurgeon and others who suffered from depression. But Dr. Rogers also gives us Scripture and godly wisdom to help us out of a depressed state, and back into the arms of our Lord Jesus.
Today, I went on YouTube and typed in Pastor Rogers’ name. The very first video which appeared was this:
How to Get Up When You’re Down
Brethren, let us be patient and kind to one another.
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!!
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