Sinking

Many in Church are drowning. They are sinking in service, and through smiles. So many are running the religious gauntlet to prove themselves as true servants of God. All the while inside a deep water of depression consumes them, and their lungs, their very soul is saturate with sorrow. But no one knows, because these people wear the smile, dress in silk, and slick back their hair, and they sing the songs to Savior without missing a beat; all the while as their heart threatens to stop its beat. We are taught by society that depression is unacceptable, that you need to get a prescription, see a Christian counselor, and get over it. But this quick fix only sinks the soul deeper, because rather than facing how one really feels, they put the bandage of faith works and filled prescriptions until eventually the person faints.

Many are sinking like St. Peter, the their souls like shoals crashing. They hide their sorrow, because in temples of the saints you must be joyful, hopeful, happy, and full of hope. Well those beaten by the waves and pulled under are crying, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:10). The problem is the church is not a place where people can be honest, and "..confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16). In an age where any vice can go viral or doubt become a document to demean and destroy a deacon's reputation, it because almost impossible to reveal what is going on inside. The masks like the commercial where all these depressed people hold up a face smiley face is what megachurches have created with their desire for concert and concerted attempts to make a place of excitement and happiness. Anyone who has depression is told to see a doctor or counselor, when maybe Christ wants them to process, feel, and get in touch with their pain.

Great harm is done by being stuck in depression, but equal damage is rushing the recovery process. For Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4). You cannot receive the blessing of comfort if you pretend everything is fine all the time. You need to be real about your pain so God can surround you with comforter and send Comforter () into your situation. The apostle Paul commanded, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15). The Church is great at "rejoicing with those who rejoice," but the mourning part doesn't make go Megachurch public relations or marketing. People want to be happy they say, well many are mourning and no one wants to mourn with them. Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy." (John 16:20). We weep and mourn while world rejoices over Superbowls, Oscars, holidays, and more; because our hearts are deeply overcome by despair, and yet Christ promises a light at end of this mourning, "it will be turned to joy," and this is when He comes on clouds. For it is written elsewhere, "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes," (Revelation 7:17) and "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

A day is coming when our depression will be turned into dancing, "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.." (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Until then we are suppose to weep, mourning, feel our loss, and wrestle with the unfair feelings; not pretend everything in our lives in perfect lest we become liars. Part of knowing Christ is living in truth, being honest, because Jesus is Truth (). He already knows when you put on brave face and your heart is breaking. Do not hide the hurt inside or it will fester and cause damage to body, heart, and soul. Martin Luther said, "I would not make a good husband, I sometimes am so depressed I cannot get out of bed, people look to me as fixed star, but they are wrong, I am a wandering planet." (Luther 2004). Luther was honest about his struggles with depression, and yet He helped lead us into a Reformation that restored to us the Scriptures, a focus on the source of our faith the Savior, not saints. And yet this same man dealt with doubts and deep depression, because those whom God uses are not perfect: Adam (disobeyed), Eve (disobeyed), Cain (killed his brother, but had Enoch), Noah (drunkard), Abraham (fearful and liar), Sarah (doubted and mocked God), Moses (disobedient), Joshua (disobeyed God about making covenant with Canaanite peoples), Jacob (liar), David (adulterer and murderer), Jonah (ran from God), Samson (fornicator and oath breaker), Joseph (hated his brothers), Elijah (fearful), Jehu (killed Jezebel, but did not finish God's work), Apostle Thomas (doubter), Apostle Peter (denier), Apostle John (deserter), Apostle Paul (murderer), Mary Magdalene (had seven demons), Samaritan Woman (divorced six times, was living with a man), Apostle Timothy (fearful)  and Apostle James (doubted). I think Bible shows us that the people God used were not perfect so that we would have hope, and know that while we are oppressed by depression, doubts, and damages, to not give up, because the most powerful men and even women of God were not perfect, and if the Lord used them, He can use us. Granted these people did repent, confess their sin, and were "restored to all righteousness," (1 John 1:9). They did not stay messed up, but if you believe that mistakes mean you cannot be minister or because your mourning depression is too strong, then look at the list again.

I am not saying to keep sinning, but the point is the great saints of old were far from perfect and wrestled with things. Those who are being threshed with depression, doubt, despondency, depravity, and demons need to know that there is hope. Call on Christ as Peter did, "Lord, save me!" For all our good works cannot save us, only God who is Jesus Christ (Col 2:9) can, and remember, "blessed are those who mourn.."