Jesus warned us that we must live by faith not by sight and that it would not always be comfortable to do so. He said it would get difficult to follow Him. He told us there would be those desperate times when we would feel like we just can't go on. Yes, He knew it would happen to us. After all, it happened to Him. It happened most dramatically that night in the garden before the great ordeal that would lead to the cross. While it may be difficult for us to fully understand how desperate He felt, we can understand that as a result of His pain He understands how we feel when we suffer. He also understands and provides the solution to the darkness we face.
Why do we feel depressed, sad, and even desperate? At the heart of these problems is desire - our deepest yearnings and motivations that are hidden deep within our hearts. Hidden so deep that at times we are not even aware of them. When those desires are sinful desires we respond to life selfishly and give in to self pity. When our deepest desire is God oriented we recognize that while we prefer comfort we really want God's will to be done. That is why in those times of distress we must cry out to God to show us our hearts and reveal to us the darkness or the light that is there.
The Psalmist asks the question, "Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:5) The Psalmist then goes on to speak of the depth of his despair and the need to remember God's faithfulness and to confront honestly the question, "Why?" We may find that we have done something very wrong and must right it. We may find that there is good reason to be down, such as the concern over a friend who does not know Christ. In both scenarios we find that we are still called upon to exercise faith. That faith is shown in our praise of Him even in the midst of trials and in our hope in Him even when we do not see the outcome of our struggle.
Perhaps you are facing a dark time in your life. The Father is calling you to trust Him and pursue the right course. Don't fall into self pity, don't become arrogant with an inflated sense of spiritual warfare. Instead, praise God that He understands, and ask Him to lead you through this. If you have sinned, repent and return to Him; if you have not sinned, have faith that this darkness will pass. Until it does, determine that you will yet sing His praises and walk in obedience to Him (Psalm. 42:5; 1 Peter 4:19; John 16:33; Hebrews 11:1,6).
Rev. Bill Hines, M.A., M.A.R.
For appointments, information or fee schedules contact:
Bill Hines
Covenant Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 121235
Fort Worth, Texas 76121-1235
(817) 738-2660
Locations in:West Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington
Bill serves as adjunct faculty in Bible for LeTourneau University and is a member of:
The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors
The Evangelical Church Alliance and
The Presbyterian Church in America
http://www.fni.com/heritage/
heritage@fni.com
All contents copyright 1996 by D/FW Heritage, all rights reserved.