I received this comment on one of my blog posts:
"I know God tells us to be of good cheer, but why is it a constant struggle for me? I feel like I'm drowning in depression from the corrupt world around me, constantly praying for my unsaved husband, finances, and my failing job. I need extra prayer."
Friend, if you are overwhelmed with the darkness right now, I totally understand your struggle. It is a common tactic of the enemy to leave us with the impression that he's winning.
Sometimes just a trip to the mall is enough to send me into a pit.
Jesus wins. Never forget that.
A few years ago I was shopping for shoes with my son when the large screen monitor caught my attention. A music video was playing, and I looked up to watch the young woman who was singing. In just a few minutes, I was overwhelmed with compassion for her, and the tears started flowing. Yep, right there in the shoe store with my teenage son!
As I watched what our culture is celebrating, my heart broke.
I was weeping for the girl on screen and the worldview she was promoting. I was weeping for a generation who will celebrate and embrace the enemy's lies. My son came over and put his arm around me and said, "Um, Mom, we can shop somewhere else." (That was a few years ago, but he still teases me occasionally about my "Music Video Breakdown" in a shoe store.)
I think it is right to weep.
Look at this:
"My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow Your (God's) instruction" (Ps. 119:136).
We should be grieved over sin and corruption. Romans 8:22 describes all of creation as "groaning" under the world's fallen condition. But we need to be careful to balance our grieving with a robust faith in Jesus' power to overcome.
Jesus wins. Never forget that. He is the Victor!
Let the light of His powerful victory stream in when you're overwhelmed by the darkness.
And I think the key to not caving to depression, no matter what the source is, whether it is marital, health, finances, or parenting problems, is maintaining the right perspective. Let the light of His powerful victory stream in when you're overwhelmed by the darkness.
The key to robust faith and not losing heart is the perspective that Hebrews 12:1–4 describes:
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
"For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
"You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin . . ."
When I focus more on the darkness than on Jesus' victory, I will spiral into a pit of depression. I must never forget that He has overcome and He has called (and empowered) us to live as overcomers as well.
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Friends, let's keep pressing into Jesus and watch for the tangible evidences of His power and might!
Where are you praying to see tangible evidences of His power?
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