why is my soul downcast?
Two main reasons we may have anxiety or depression:
1) sin
2) struggles
SIN
Depression can be a God-fabricated emotional response to sin. It can be his way to say "stop, don't sin, you're destroying your soul, you're robbing from your future."
Pain can be a gift. It can be our warning or alert system that something is wrong and needs to be taken care of. For example, pain when we have a broken leg tells us to not put our weight on it because it's broken and needs to heal. Same thing with emotional pain.
God made man to live in openness and vulnerability, not in secrecy. Confess your sins and be free of their burden and weight.
Sometimes the sin that weighs on us is not our sin. Sometimes we are truly victims of other's sins. (not to be confused with passim the buck and not accepting true responsibility)
Jesus does not put sin in our life. But he does take sin that is in our life to bring out redemption and healing.
STRUGGLES
Ex: perfectionism, narcissism, temp risk vertigo, ingratitude (and her nasty companion self-pity), bitterness
"Good enough is great in many contexts "
Narcissism can be extreme pride and megalomania, but it can also manifest on insecurity. When you keep looking at yourself, you're also bound to see imperfections.
Phil 2v2-4
Humility is not thinking low of yourself, and not thinking of yourself at all. Pride is a mirror. Humility is a window. It's about seeing others and serving others. How can I bring joy to others? How can I make their lives better?
One of Satan's lies is that you cannot bring joy to others until you're perfect.
"temporal vertigo" - not living in the moment. The past is a memory. The future is a shot in the dark. The only moment we have for sure is right now. 99% of what We worry about are things in the future and most of these things never even happen.
Live right here, right now. Not tomorrow, not next week, not tonight.
"These are yuppie words, happiness and unhappiness. It not happiness or unhappiness. It's blessed or unblessed. " Bob Dylan
Forgiveness is not a one-time act. It's an on-going way of life. We have to forgive, forgive well, and keep on forgiving.
Hebrews 12v14-15 Bitterness defiles many
Bitterness gives that person power over you. Jesus wants to set you free from that. Release him or her from your thirst for justice. God knows. Leave it all to God.
Forgiveness is setting someone free. And usually that somebody is you.
REPENTANCE
once you figure out the root cause(s) of your anxiety and depression, all you need to do is repent. Give things up to God.
Repentance is not a heavy somber event. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and strength."
Repent = Shuwb (in Hebrew)= to return home (Eden)
Acts 3v19-21 Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything.
John Mark Comer
Solid Rock Church 1/22/12
Created 4 months ago
