1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:1-5 (ESV)

Brennan Manning used to tell a joke about two Jewish men and a rabbi.  The first Jewish man walked into temple one day looking distraught.  He walked up to the second man and said, low and sad, “A terrible thing has happened.  My son has become a Christian!”

The second Jew grabbed the first by the arm.  Leaning in close, he said quietly, “Boy, have I got some news for you!  My son is also a Christian.”

“This is awful!” exclaimed the first man.  “Come – we need to talk to the rabbi about this.”

So the two Jewish gentlemen approached the rabbi.  “Teacher, we need your advice.  Our sons have become Christians.”  The rabbi was alarmed.  “Follow me.”

The three men hurried off to the rabbi’s office and closed the door.  Leaning in close to the two men, the rabbi said, “Boy, have I got some news for you!  My son is a Christian as well!  Come, let’s pray to our Lord God and seek His direction on this.”

The three men knelt before God and earnestly prayed about their sons’ conversion to Christianity.  Suddenly from above, they heard the loud, booming voice of the Lord: “Boys, have I got some news for you!…”

Selah.

Advent begins today.  From now until Christmas, we wait for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Not only that, we wait also with great anticipation the return of our Lord Jesus.  It is a time to seek the Lord, to draw near to God knowing He will draw near to us (James 4:8).

Why is it so important to draw near to God?  It is only through Him that we have life in the first place.  He is our creator, our sustainer, our source of all we need.

And, as anyone who has seen a crowd shot on a televised sporting event knows, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

It is ever so amazing that the God of the Universe – the One Who hung the stars and created the heavens and earth and all that live upon it; the One Who formed man from dirt and breathed life into our nostrils; the One Who is three – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – Who were all there at creation (as they always have been); this One True God Who is above all, including our frail abilities to fully grasp Him in His entirety, is also Our Loving Father Who is approachable.

Approachable.

We can go to Him.  We can talk to Him.  Anytime.  Anywhere.

We can have a relationship with Him.  We can trust Him.  We need to trust Him.

And you cannot truly trust a stranger.

The better we know God, the more we love Him, the more we trust Him, the more we grow in Him.

Over the next weeks, we’re going to get to know God better.  We’re going to see what He has to say and learn to trust Him more.

I hope you come along on the advent journey with me because, boy, has He got some news for you!

 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

I have to chuckle at some the medicine ads on TV.  In particular, the ant-depressant drug commercials with the little, sad-faced, bummed out cloud that follows behind his depressed victim like a sad, floating basset hound.

Anyone with depression or anxiety will immediately recognize the inaccuracy of this illustration.  These feelings don’t trail benignly behind us.   They surround us, envelope us, blind us.  People dealing with anxiety and / or depression can have a hard time regaining our bearings because we can’t see through the thick fog around us.

I am writing this today for a few reasons.  If you suffer from anxiety, depression, etc… I want to bring you hope in Christ.  Know that you are reading words from a follower of Jesus who is walking this lonely path the same as you.  It is my heart to reach out to you with comfort and joy, hope and peace, a cup of cold water.  Know you are loved deeply.  Know you are not alone.  Know you are in His good hands, whether you feel it or not.

If you do not suffer from anxiety, depression, etc… I want to bring you hope in Christ as well.  We who carry this particular thorn in our sides know it can be difficult for you to understand where we are.

Trust me.  We know.

The lack of understanding of what we’re facing is painfully obvious.  The reactions are astounding.  They range from “where is your faith?” to “look at what so and so is going through.  Your life is good, what is your problem?”

Let me dispel some misunderstandings within the church about anxiety and depression, and help you to help those in need of comfort.

1. Not all anxiety and depression is caused by sin

Yes, sin will cause one to be anxious and depressed.  Guilt can be a wrenching emotion.  But, just because a fellow believer is dealing with anxiety and depression, do not automatically assume they are facing / masking some hidden sin or moral failing.

2. Judge not.

There are a lot of causes of anxiety and depression.  Lack of serotonin in the brain will do it.  Diabetics are particularly prone to depression.  A significant loss or life change can do it – even months afterward.  Stress is possibly the biggest factor in anxiety today.  One’s brain can only take so much stress and non-stop go-go-go before it gets tired and burnt out and can’t put two thoughts together.

Even if one’s anxiety and depression is the result of sin, Jesus forgives all who come to Him in repentance.  And that is a level playing field we all are on.  We all need Jesus, for more reasons and in more ways than anyone could possibly count.

3. Compassion and Empathy – Love in Action

Please understand how lonely depression and anxiety can be.  Fears and worries that people normally experience are only compounded and inflated in the minds of those of us who deal with anxiety and depression.

What we need is someone who can understand what we’re going through.  Someone who will help love us through the fears and doubts and anxious thoughts that tear through our minds and souls.

And, often times, it is what people do that is the greatest help.

It is amazing how some people can fear silence.  We feel like we should say something, and we do.

Without much forethought.

Please understand that our feelings of isolation and loneliness are only compounded when confronted with questions of “where is your faith?” or “what is wrong with you?”  For people who suffer from these disorders, it’s like telling someone with cancer to “get over it”.

We understand such reactions aren’t borne from meanness or cruelty, but basic misunderstanding.  If you’ve never experienced the physical pain of a panic attack (yes, it can feel just like a jolt of electricity running through your body), then it’s hard to understand what we face.  Unless you’ve been through the agony of anxiety so acute that you become anxious about being anxious, you can’t comprehend fear that deep.  Until you go through the dark valley of depression – not just having the blues but the exhausting drain of joy in your life repeated day after day after day after day… – you have no frame of reference for how it feels.

Please don’t feel like you need to fix us.  Please don’t think you need to fill the room with words.

Understand what we need could be something as simple as a hug.  A deep, loving, brotherly / sisterly hug.  We need to know we are not alone.  We need kindness and understanding.  We need to know everything is not going to be okay, but is okay.

We know how irrational our thoughts and fears can be.  We know 90% (or whatever figure you come up with) of the things we worry about never come to fruition.

Please understand we do not wish to come across as clingy or needy.  But we need a 3am friend – that person we can call day or night when we need someone to talk to.  We need someone to help pull our gaze outward and out of the swirl of fearful and defeating thoughts and worries and doubts.

We need to be reminded that God loves us, even if we can’t see or feel Him because, frankly, when the negative emotions are in high gear, it is easy to not be able to see God.  We need to be reminded that we are not falling apart.  But, mostly, we need to know that you – the body of Christ – recognize that we are a fellow member of the same body as you and we need your help, your love, your support.

We need to know we are loved and secure.

But… really, if you stop and think about it, don’t we all?

 

 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)

We are called to love one another.  There are a lot of components to love: affection, selflessness, honor… One of the biggest components to true, honest love is trust.

There’s just one problem: we are all human.

Flawed.

Frail.

Fractured.

Failed.

And that means, at some point and time, somebody you love has – or will – let you down.  Disappoint you.  Break trust.

And if that trust is broken hard enough, it can leave us shaken and unsure.  Repeat that broken trust from one or several other people in our lives and one can easily become weary, leery, jaded, even downright caustic when it comes to trusting another person again.

When we’ve been hurt by others and live with “trust issues”, we tend to project that pain onto other relationships as well.  Will this person hurt me too?  How can I trust anyone again after what I went through?  We (try to) protect ourselves by building walls against any intruder who may potentially hurt us.

Unfortunately, we sometimes project our inability to trust on God as well.  It can be difficult to place our full trust in the Lord, to take Him at His Word.  After all, we took someone else at their word and look where it got us – let down, hurt, spirit crushed…

Understand this: the love of God is like no love on earth.  We humans are incapable of love in and of ourselves.  Especially to the depths of God’s love.  Unlike people, God does not merely love us.  God is love.

Love is the very essence of Who God is.  Now, that is an overly simplistic statement.  God is far more multidimensional than that.  But, consider this: can an orange be a banana?  Can a parking meter be a tree?  Can a conservative vote for Hillary Clinton?  (Sorry… definitely not making any political statements, just trying to humorously illustrate a point…)

The love of God for each of His children is perfect, because God is perfect.  And God is love.  It is His very being.  He cannot not love.

And we are talking about God here, folks.  Not some weak, milquetoast deity who is soft as marshmallow.  No softy could endure what Jesus Christ endured on the cross for us.

For you.

The love of God is whole, complete and unshakable.  He is our firm foundation.  He is our strength and our guide.  On Him we can place our full faith and trust.  In Him we have all we need.  Even when we face painful situations, we are not alone.  The Lord is with us, every step of the way.  His love endures forever.

It’s why He does all He does for us.

Whatever it is that is keeping you from running to God with arms open wide, please put it down.  Cast it off.  Knock down the wall of doubt and trust in the Lord wholeheartedly.  Decide in faith right now that, although people have let you down, God is not a person.  He is faithful, even when we are not.  He is trustworthy.  “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind” (Numbers 23:19, ESV).

And God proved His love and trustworthiness for you on the cross.

4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

 

I need to remember to quit asking people how they are doing.

Why?

Because it opens the door to a one-word answer (which is sometimes a one-word lie): Fine.

It is okay to not be okay.  Nobody’s life is so perfect and wonderful that they have no problems, no struggles, no issues to deal with.

Weakness makes us real.  Weakness is the point where God comes in and provides the needed strength to carry on.

Weakness is real.  And when we deny our weakness, we deny our need for Christ.

Don’t do that.  Be real.  Admit what you’re dealing with and shine the light of Christ on those around you.  Let them see you are hurting and vulnerable, but the strength of the Lord keeps you keeping on.

Rejoice in weakness!  Don’t hide it.  Let others see God working in you, transforming you in ways no one could ever imagine.

Remember that you are loved by Almighty God.

Remember that you are the recipient of magnificent grace from your Loving Heavenly Father.

Remember that you have been saved and forgiven and cleansed and made righteous by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Remember that you are here to be salt and light to others, not to worry about anything but seek God first and foremost above all things.

Remember that you are not alone.

Remember that you are in His hands always – never abandoned, never forgotten.

Remember that Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  To which Paul responded, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:9-10, ESV)

Remember that it’s okay to not be okay.  We are all weak.  We all need Jesus.  And He is with us always, which makes our not being okay, okay.

Okay?

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)

The grace of God is an amazing gift to behold.  You cannot earn it.  It is a gift – a gift from an infinitely loving and compassionate Father Who understands what each of us is facing at any and every single moment.

In faith, we have the ability to go to God and talk to Him at any time.  He is always with us.  He never abandons us.  And, not only can we go to the Lord, we can go confidently – or, as the King James Bible puts it, boldly.  It means we can be open and candid with our Heavenly Father.  We can speak with Him with the assurance that He hears us and understands our hearts and needs far more than we do.

Think about it: when we sin, what is our first instinct?  It is akin to Adam and Eve when they discovered they were naked – hide from God.  That is the voice of shame.  That is the misplaced thought that we cannot to go to the Lord to seek forgiveness and mercy.

Now, don’t misunderstand me.  We do not deserve forgiveness and mercy.  Sin is what got us into this relationship mess with God in the first place.  But God, being Love Himself, made a way for us to come to Him once more, able to confess our sins and repent.

Likewise, there are a lot of things that keep us from boldly going to the Lord.  Worry, doubt, busyness, low self-esteem, misunderstanding Who God is, legalistic beliefs, impatience… these can all build a barrier between us and the Lord.

But the truth of the matter is that we – God’s children – can approach the Lord at any time, day or night, no appointment necessary.  We can tell Him what is bothering us.  We can seek His peace.  We can ask Him for His help.  Even if you have no idea what to say or where to begin, just cry out “Help!”  He will hear you.  And He already knows what you need before you even take in a breath to speak.

And we can trust that He is Who He says He is, and will do all He says He will.  Not only that, the Lord will act in just the right way, at just the right time.  A literal translation of Hebrews 4:16 may read, “Approach God on His throne with great confidence and faith and boldness, that you may receive His compassion and His unmerited favor to throw you a lifeline at just the right time when you are in need.”

Place your faith firmly in Jesus Christ.  Know that who you were before is no longer who you are.  You have been forgiven – your sin record expunged.  Know that He loves you.  Know that He is real, and His promises are true.  And go to Him expecting nothing but God.  He is all you need.

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah – Psalm 62:8 (ESV)

The more we seek the Lord, the more we let go and look to God and spend time with Him, the closer He draws to us… the more we love Him.  The more we crave time with our Heavenly Father.  

One of the astounding aspects of God that I have discovered is His unmovable steadfastness.  He never changes.  He is all He says He is.  

Always has been.

Always will be.

God does not merely love us.  He is Love.

God is not merely true.  He is Truth.

God is not simply holy.  He is Holiness.

God does not merely exist.  I AM THAT I AM He told Moses.  He is Existence.

He is utterly perfect, flawless, in all His ways.

And, because of all things things and so much more, God is our refuge.  He is our strength.  He is our guide.  He is our Savior.

Trust Him at all times.  Take Him at His Word.  God is absolute in His love us, in His caring about His children.  No ifs, ands or buts.

Just a simple reminder: cast your cares on the Lord because He dares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  Trust Him at all times, in all circumstances.

Rest easy.  Sleep well.  Have a blessed week!

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

Have you ever had a wad of gum in your mouth that you have chewed a bit too long?  It has no flavor, it’s stale and nasty and, with every chomp, it seems to grow.

And grow.

And grow.

Until you have no choice but to spit it out as soon as possible, before it overtakes your entire oral cavity.

Worry is like that wad of gum.  The more you mull your problems over, the bigger it seems to grow.

And grow.

And grow.

Until you have no choice but to spit it out as soon as possible, before it overtakes your entire cranial cavity.

The problem with getting rid of worry is that, while you realize that old piece of chewing gum isn’t actually growing in your mouth, worrisome thoughts seem to be real.

And big.

And nasty.

Getting rid of worry isn’t as simple as spitting out the thoughts.  It requires replacing the bad thoughts with good.  First, pray in faith to God, giving thanks to the Lord and recognizing that He is with you.  Always.

Then, instead of worrying, rest in Christ and fill your thoughts with the truth.  What we worry about rarely comes to pass.  The reality of life is that God is in control.  While there are things we can control (such as our thoughts and actions) there is far more we cannot (like outcomes and the thoughts and actions of others).  God is truth.  And if He says don’t worry, don’t worry.

Think on whatever is honest, of good character.  What character does exhibit?  One of Truth and Love and Grace and Strength.  Whatever God says is honest.  And if He says don’t worry, don’t worry.

Think about what is just, pure and virtuous.  Evil cannot touch you if you are a child of God.  Will bad things happen?  We all face hardships at some point in our lives, but we need not fear.  Even when we don’t understand why we’re going through what we’re going through, we can trust that God’s plans and intentions are just, pure and virtuous.  And if He says don’t worry, don’t worry.

Ponder what is lovely, of good report and praiseworthy.  In other words, stay positive.  Stay grateful.  See that the Lord is with you always.  Understand that Jesus died for you.  Accept that the Lord loves you.  Realize that His grace – all we truly need in this life – is there for you.  It is a gift.  No one deserves grace.  But our Heavenly Father gives it to us out of love.  And, yes, God loves you.  And if He says don’t worry, don’t worry.

If you’re mulling around worries and doubts, don’t give in to anxiety.  Don’t bow to fear.  Trust in the Lord.  Rest in His promises.

Spit out that old, stale gum.  It’s time for some fresh thoughts.

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah- Psalm 62:5-8 (ESV)

Selah.  What a beautiful word.  When you are reading a psalm and you cone across the word “Selah”, stop.  

Go no further.

Look back and re-read the verses you just took in.

Ponder them.

Soak in their meaning. 

Meditate on the message.

Consider what the psalmist is saying.

Only God can save you.  He is our only true, strong, steadfast, unmovable help.  Don’t twist around anxiously.  Find refuge in the Lord.  He alone is our strength.  He alone is our safe place.

Trust in God always.

Always.

No conditions.

No fine print or legal clauses.

No “unless” or “until” or “ifs, ands or buts”.

No reason to doubt.

No need to fear.

The Lord is our immovable rock.  He will never let us down.

There is no circumstance beyond God’s help.

There is no hurt beyond God’s healing.

There is a deep sweetness to be found when we seek the Lord and begin to discover how great is His love for us.

Trust in the Lord always.  Rest in Him.  Grow in Him and marvel at His love, grace and mercy.

Wait in silence.  He alone is our hope.  But what other hope could we possibly need?  We have the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of all on our side.

On your side.

Because He loves us.

Because He loves you.

You. 

And He has you in His strong, capable hands.

Selah.

October has not been an easy month for my family.  It’s been a time of grieving and, for some of us, a time of anxiety on top of the sorrow.  

I tell you this not to elicit sympathy or attention but to tell you that, through it all, God has been – and continues to be – faithful.  He has poured His grace on us, showered us with His love.  He hasn’t left us.  He hasn’t abandoned us.

I am so grateful.  The Lord has shown His love to me in so many ways… 

Through the love of others.

Through strength for the weak moments (right down to hearing just the right song on Christian radio with just the right reminder and just the right time).

Through His Word.

Through prayers answered.

I share this to simply encourage you.  If you’re stressed, worried, anxious, depressed, mournful, bitter, hurting, sick… give it to God.

Let go of the worries.  Rest in the Lord.  Don’t twist around in anxiety.  Just trust Jesus.  He said to cast your cares on Him.  He said be anxious for nothing.  He said take on His light yoke and leave your burdens behind.

His perfect love casts out fear.

The Lord is right beside you.

What is there to fear?

Why feel hopeless?

You can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you.

Embrace the sweetness of our Father.  Trust in Him.  Rest in Him.  Let Him lavish you with mercy and grace and perfect love.

Let Him heal you deep in your soul.

Let God be your strength.

And turn your (Christian) radio on.  You just might hear the very words you need.

 

22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. -Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Find your joy in God.  Find your peace in Christ.  Find your strength in the Lord.

We are not defined by your circumstances.  The truth comes from what God does with our lives, not what we fear might happen.

We are not defined by our weaknesses.  When we are weak, then God is strong within us.

We are not defined by our faults or failures.  When we fail, God can come in and change our defeats into victories.

You see, we are not who we think we are.  We are who our Heavenly Father says we are.

We are recipients of great abounding grace, unmerited favor with God when we need it.  When Paul was so troubled by his enemies, he went to Jesus three times, asking Him to take away the problem.  Instead, Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).  Paul discovered that the strength of Christ working within him was far greater than trying to rely on his own insufficient strength.

We don’t have to be perfect.  We just need to be faithful.

We don’t have to worry about results.  We just need to trust God.

Don’t listen to the voice of fear.  Trust God.

Cast your cares on the Lord.  He loves you.  He cares about you.  He knows your needs better than you do.  He knows your hurts.  He knows your weaknesses.  He knows your needs.  He knows your past, your present, your future.

God knows you.  He loves you.  He created you.  He sent His Son to die for you.

Fear not.  Just trust in God.  He can work out our circumstances.  He is sovereign over all.

In other words, trust in God for He is in control.

And we are not.

And that, friends, is a good thing.

Rest in the Lord.  Seek Him first and foremost.  Trust Him, for He loves you deeply.