As created beings we already belong to God. He created mankind, but He created him with a freewill. Because of freewill, a choice was made to sin against a Holy God. The Holy God loves His creation and presented a plan for man to follow. But just a short time after that plan was initiated, rebellion lead to jealousy, which lead to murder.
Rebellion is the will making a choice not to follow the rules or laws. God's creation follows specific laws of physics to keep on track. The universe follows a pattern of divine design that man has tried for many decays to explain away so as not to have to trust the Unseen One. Because of this rebellion, God often allows depression, the sinking of oneself into oneself, to take place. This allows God the opportunity to recapture man's AWE.
As a youth, I began to question man's theory of the universe. I could not rationalize how something could come from nothing and then become what I saw all around me. The theory of evolution made NO sense. So, I chose to believe that there was a God. I had been raised in church, but I had to choose what to believe. That choice being made, I then had to know how to respond to Him. At seventeen I found that I could have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ and have not been without His presence in my live.
Depression is the "Alone place." I truly thought I was all alone. I have since learned, those are the times God was carrying me. He never left me. I just wasn't looking for HIM.
Psalm 107 Follows a pattern of thanks, praise, rebellion and prayer. This pattern, I have found is what leads to my depressions. I thank and praise then I rebel and God has to take me into the "darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron." (verse 7) "He brought me down with labour." It is then, I cry out to God, my Creator, and He brings me out to view His glory once more.
Psalm 107:17-20 "Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction."
It was during one of those times, that a precious friend of mine, began reminding me that the Christian life is not about living at all, but about dying. Dying to self and selfish desires and living as a daily sacrifice for God, broken and spilled out before Him in all we do. She would remind me every time we saw each other at church. She would even call me randomly at 4 A.M. to ask if I had died today then hang up the phone. As I look back I remember how furious that made me. But what she did truly helped me to grow in my desire to die to self and surrender to Him. He knows my needs. He will supply. He will carry me. He will never leave me. BECAUSE...........HE LOVES ME!!!
Psalm 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
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