Confused, Depressed and Need Encouragement?
Confused, Depressed and Need Encouragement?
Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us that we begin to doubt and question all that we believe and hold dear. We suddenly find ourselves in unforeseen circumstances that look so bleak that for the moment, there does not seem to be a way out. And some times there may not be a way out of those hard and excruciating issues of life and we are forced to endure. It could come in the form of loss of a job, death of a loved one, sickness, divorce or difficult relationships and etc. For me, it was the fifteen years of barrenness and waiting to have a child we so desperately desired. At many points in the process, I must confess that I was confused, doubted and even wondered whether God was real or a figment of my imagination. I do not know what challenges of life that you are facing or may be coming your way but we can be encouraged today by reading the account of John the Baptist. John had been imprisoned by King Herod for speaking the truth to him (Luke 3:19). Confused, depressed, desperate and wasting in a dungeon, John sends his disciples to Jesus with some questions.
Luke 7: 18-23
18John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
20When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' "
21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Here are some observations from the passage in addition to the ones you may have:
1. What are these things John’s disciples told John? It refers to the miracles that Jesus was performing and Jesus himself confirmed them – the healing of all kinds of sickness and raising the dead. I can imagine John saying, “If Jesus is raising even the dead, why are my still in prison? Why can’t he come and miraculously get me out of the hands of Herod? He is doing it for others, why not me.” These questions sound like our questions too? Haven’t you asked them? “Even sister so and so is getting married and I am still single for life. Or even Joe has a very good, well paying job and I am here struggling and going to church”. How can I have this sickness when I have done everything right – good diet, regular exercise? Sound familiar?
2. John’s own words are “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? Could this be coming from the same John? John, the miraculously born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb; the great preacher and the one who baptized many people including Jesus? Could he have fallen to this dept in his confusion and possibly depression? I used to think Christians and real believers in Christ cannot be depressed. Is that really true? John the Baptist was at this point in great confusion and depression. John confirms our humanness. We are all frail and subject to disintegration under high pressure except for God’s grace upholding us. It also says that our previous experiences are no guarantees for our present and future faith. Our faith must be anchored on the continuous hearing and believing in the Word of God.
3. What is the way out or is there a way out? Jesus gives the remedy. Jesus first reminds John about what the Scripture said. The blind will see and the good news is preached to the poor (Isaiah 61:1). When all fails, Jesus is saying stick to God’s word which does not fail and must come true. Your circumstances may be changing for the worse but God’s word never changes.
4. “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me”. Jesus warns John that he should not let discouragement and doubt to ensnare and trick him to abandoning what he believed. Depression will do that to us. When you are confused and depressed, you start talking rubbish and it is time to get help and encouragement from others. John asked for Jesus’ help in his depression and we should. It also tells us that isolation from others will worsen our depression. We need people around us when we are depressed. John’s disciples visited him in prison. We need to look out for signs of depression among us and help those people get help. Sometimes, it may be even medical help. In our confused and depressed situations, we need to be affirmed and Jesus did that speaking of the great mission John had accomplished. Read Luke 7:24-35.
5. Jesus was also telling John, I know you are prison and I know you are hurting but do not forget the big picture. Jesus was literally saying, “Pal, It is all about Me”. All our lives are to point to the glory of God. John knows this and his pain is making him forget. John is the one who declared “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30. Now the heat for the decrease is on. Let’s not forget that it is all about God getting the glory even when the rubber meets the road and our situation seem so desperate.
6. In addition, Jesus was saying, listen John, the kingdom of God is being built and established in the hearts of many and that is why I am here. The blind see but more so the good news is being preached to the poor in spirit. Our lives regardless of our pains/heartaches are for seeking, building and establishing God’s kingdom here on earth. It is to make God known to the world at work, school, and home. This was Jesus’ mission and that is our mission which he has commission us to do.”Go and make disciples”. Is this your mission even if you may be in somewhat of an imprisonment for now?
Our situation does not always end in “positive” note on this side of eternity. John never got out of prison. He was beheaded by Herod. But I believe, John was immediately transported to the glorious presence of God which is far much better than any life here on earth. Is there still hope in our confused and depressed situations? Like David, we can say a big YES and speak to ourselves as he did. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (Psalm42:11). What is pressing on you right now? And is this your confession? Be encouraged. May God help and heal us in our confused and depressed states. And may we keep our eyes on the big picture – the life of Jesus lived through us. Amen.
Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us that we begin to doubt and question all that we believe and hold dear. We suddenly find ourselves in unforeseen circumstances that look so bleak that for the moment, there does not seem to be a way out. And some times there may not be a way out of those hard and excruciating issues of life and we are forced to endure. It could come in the form of loss of a job, death of a loved one, sickness, divorce or difficult relationships and etc. For me, it was the fifteen years of barrenness and waiting to have a child we so desperately desired. At many points in the process, I must confess that I was confused, doubted and even wondered whether God was real or a figment of my imagination. I do not know what challenges of life that you are facing or may be coming your way but we can be encouraged today by reading the account of John the Baptist. John had been imprisoned by King Herod for speaking the truth to him (Luke 3:19). Confused, depressed, desperate and wasting in a dungeon, John sends his disciples to Jesus with some questions.
Luke 7: 18-23
18John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
20When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' "
21At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Here are some observations from the passage in addition to the ones you may have:
1. What are these things John’s disciples told John? It refers to the miracles that Jesus was performing and Jesus himself confirmed them – the healing of all kinds of sickness and raising the dead. I can imagine John saying, “If Jesus is raising even the dead, why are my still in prison? Why can’t he come and miraculously get me out of the hands of Herod? He is doing it for others, why not me.” These questions sound like our questions too? Haven’t you asked them? “Even sister so and so is getting married and I am still single for life. Or even Joe has a very good, well paying job and I am here struggling and going to church”. How can I have this sickness when I have done everything right – good diet, regular exercise? Sound familiar?
2. John’s own words are “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? Could this be coming from the same John? John, the miraculously born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb; the great preacher and the one who baptized many people including Jesus? Could he have fallen to this dept in his confusion and possibly depression? I used to think Christians and real believers in Christ cannot be depressed. Is that really true? John the Baptist was at this point in great confusion and depression. John confirms our humanness. We are all frail and subject to disintegration under high pressure except for God’s grace upholding us. It also says that our previous experiences are no guarantees for our present and future faith. Our faith must be anchored on the continuous hearing and believing in the Word of God.
3. What is the way out or is there a way out? Jesus gives the remedy. Jesus first reminds John about what the Scripture said. The blind will see and the good news is preached to the poor (Isaiah 61:1). When all fails, Jesus is saying stick to God’s word which does not fail and must come true. Your circumstances may be changing for the worse but God’s word never changes.
4. “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me”. Jesus warns John that he should not let discouragement and doubt to ensnare and trick him to abandoning what he believed. Depression will do that to us. When you are confused and depressed, you start talking rubbish and it is time to get help and encouragement from others. John asked for Jesus’ help in his depression and we should. It also tells us that isolation from others will worsen our depression. We need people around us when we are depressed. John’s disciples visited him in prison. We need to look out for signs of depression among us and help those people get help. Sometimes, it may be even medical help. In our confused and depressed situations, we need to be affirmed and Jesus did that speaking of the great mission John had accomplished. Read Luke 7:24-35.
5. Jesus was also telling John, I know you are prison and I know you are hurting but do not forget the big picture. Jesus was literally saying, “Pal, It is all about Me”. All our lives are to point to the glory of God. John knows this and his pain is making him forget. John is the one who declared “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30. Now the heat for the decrease is on. Let’s not forget that it is all about God getting the glory even when the rubber meets the road and our situation seem so desperate.
6. In addition, Jesus was saying, listen John, the kingdom of God is being built and established in the hearts of many and that is why I am here. The blind see but more so the good news is being preached to the poor in spirit. Our lives regardless of our pains/heartaches are for seeking, building and establishing God’s kingdom here on earth. It is to make God known to the world at work, school, and home. This was Jesus’ mission and that is our mission which he has commission us to do.”Go and make disciples”. Is this your mission even if you may be in somewhat of an imprisonment for now?
Our situation does not always end in “positive” note on this side of eternity. John never got out of prison. He was beheaded by Herod. But I believe, John was immediately transported to the glorious presence of God which is far much better than any life here on earth. Is there still hope in our confused and depressed situations? Like David, we can say a big YES and speak to ourselves as he did. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (Psalm42:11). What is pressing on you right now? And is this your confession? Be encouraged. May God help and heal us in our confused and depressed states. And may we keep our eyes on the big picture – the life of Jesus lived through us. Amen.
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