Ex. 16:1   They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.â€
I find myself longing to go on disability again, from time to time. When things get crazy, when the pressure is on, when I feel like I can’t handle all of the stress, I long for the fleshpots of Egypt. “Would that I could go back to lying around sleeping all day! Would that I could go back to no responsibilities, free to do whatever I want or feel! Would that I could ignore my family, my wife, my children, my church, my friends, my everything! Oh things would be so much better then!”
Have you felt that way? I have. I get that way when the going gets tough. I get that way when I just plain don’t want to deal with the stuff of life. I want to run. I want to hide. I want people to LEAVE ME ALONE and not bother me. Oh how I long for the good ole’ days of being sick.
Of course, what I forget is the despair which was my constant companion. I forget not being able to move, feeling like I lived in molasses, and that I couldn’t string two thoughts together. I forget that I couldn’t be in a “crowd” of more than about one person. I forget the suicidal thoughts, the darkness that covered me, and the utter impotence of life under the weight of depression. I forget these things only too easily.
God has blessed me with healing and hope. He has given my a family who loves me, a church who loves me, and many friends who have been there through everything. He has given me all of this, and more. He has given me His Son, who has gone down into the depths of despair and abandonment for me. He has given me His Holy Spirit, who comforts me when I am faint, and who prays with me and for me, even if I have not the words. All this and more He gives me.
What He gives to me, He gives to you. Do not be afraid of the darkness.
-DMR
“He has given me His Son, who has gone down into the depths of despair and abandonment for me.”
That is a beautiful line, and an even more beautiful truth.
“He has given me His Son, who has gone down into the depths of despair and abandonment for me.”
That is a beautiful line, and an even more beautiful truth.
I’m still trying not to be afraid of the darkness. After a recent stay at the hospital, I never want to be in that dark a place again. Thank you for sharing God’s comfort. It gives me hope in Him.
I’m still trying not to be afraid of the darkness. After a recent stay at the hospital, I never want to be in that dark a place again. Thank you for sharing God’s comfort. It gives me hope in Him.
Here’s cheering God’s blessing of healing and hope in your life!
Here’s cheering God’s blessing of healing and hope in your life!
i find myself forgetting what the ‘depths of despair’ were like and longing to revisit that ‘time in my life.’ i definitely believe that it is the enemy pushing that thought in our minds because as c.s. lewis states in his screwtape letters, ‘if we can get man to think on anything besides jesus we have done our job’ (paraphrased).
How often we easily forget the pains and wish away ourselves to be able to revisit those times because they are ‘safe’ and ‘comfortable.’
be encouraged, friend. you are not alone. keep seeking the lord’s face even in your darkest hour because it is in those moments that you learn to discern the voice of jesus the best 🙂
i find myself forgetting what the ‘depths of despair’ were like and longing to revisit that ‘time in my life.’ i definitely believe that it is the enemy pushing that thought in our minds because as c.s. lewis states in his screwtape letters, ‘if we can get man to think on anything besides jesus we have done our job’ (paraphrased).
How often we easily forget the pains and wish away ourselves to be able to revisit those times because they are ‘safe’ and ‘comfortable.’
be encouraged, friend. you are not alone. keep seeking the lord’s face even in your darkest hour because it is in those moments that you learn to discern the voice of jesus the best 🙂
I am in my last year of seminary and am struggling with depression right now. THanks for your blog. It is helping me tremendously.
debra
I am in my last year of seminary and am struggling with depression right now. THanks for your blog. It is helping me tremendously.
debra
DMR: I just found your blog and have read everything you posted in 2008, and some of your posts from 2007 (your old site). I could just give you a giant hug! I have been dealing with major depression for several months now, and have searched high and low for something–anything–dealing with depression from a Lutheran viewpoint. This is the first thing I’ve found. I struggle with trying to mesh my Lutheran faith with the secular treatments the world provides. My own psychologist tells me my faith is the root of my depression. Yeah, you can imagine I have a few problems with that. I look forward to reading more of your blogs.
DMR: I just found your blog and have read everything you posted in 2008, and some of your posts from 2007 (your old site). I could just give you a giant hug! I have been dealing with major depression for several months now, and have searched high and low for something–anything–dealing with depression from a Lutheran viewpoint. This is the first thing I’ve found. I struggle with trying to mesh my Lutheran faith with the secular treatments the world provides. My own psychologist tells me my faith is the root of my depression. Yeah, you can imagine I have a few problems with that. I look forward to reading more of your blogs.