Dear Friends,
Being a child of God does not make you immune from depression and discouragement. In fact, the experience of depression may be more normative among God’s people than we know.
One Sunday morning in 1866, C. H. Spurgeon stunned his five thousand listeners when from the pulpit of London's Metropolitan Tabernacle he announced, "I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever gets to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to."
For some of his audience it was incomprehensible that the world's greatest preacher could know the valley of despair. Yet twenty-one years later in 1887 he said from the same pulpit, "Personally I have often passed through the dark valley".
Martin Luther was subject to such fits of darkness that he would secret himself away for days, and his family would remove all dangerous implements from the house for fear he would harm himself.
Isaiah 40 is a well-loved passage of scripture written to offer comfort to people who were weary and fainting. At the end of the chapter, Isaiah provides a prescription for those who have been beaten down by their circumstances and who wonder if they can go on
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
“Wait” is the Hebrew qawah, which means “to trust, hope, or have confidence in.” Originally qawah meant “to twist, bind.” It was used of the twisting process employed in the making of a rope, which of course, produces an instrument or a tool that is strong and capable of holding a heavy weight.
The phrase “those who wait” is describing a continual action. It refers to a person who is characterized by binding himself to God and finding his or her hope there.
Focusing on our God and the truth of the Word is like weaving and twisting threads into a rope; it helps us cultivate courage, strength, and endurance. The result? We are formed into an instrument that can be used to bring glory to God – the very purpose for which we were created and redeemed.
God calls us to “wait on Him” – to live by faith in His Word, in His sovereign purposes, and in His majestic being. He calls us to comfort one another as we face the difficulties of life with the challenge, “behold your God.”
And in the process, He promises to renew our strength.
The word “renew” means “to exchange,” as taking off old clothes and putting on new. When we wait on the Lord (living by faith and trusting in Him), He exchanges our frailty for His power.
What are the results of waiting on the Lord, putting our hope and trust in Him?
- We will gain new strength to carry on when we are weary.
- He will lift us out of despair and allow us to soar above the pressures of life. Isaiah promises, “we will mount up with wings like eagles.” This means we can soar above the reproaches and pains of this life by fixing our eyes on Him.
- It gives us endurance, so that like long distance runners, we are able to “run and not get tired.”
- It keeps us from giving up. We walk and do not faint.
In the face of despair, we have two choices open to us:
We can choose to lean on our own understanding and turn to our own devices for deliverance (which will lead to further despair)…
Or we can choose the comfort of God as we learn to behold Him, trust in Him, and act on His promises.
If you are discouraged and depressed, here are some practical ways you can wait on the Lord. . . .
- Get rest – that’s what Elijah did
- Ponder God's character and love, as Isaiah exhorts us
- Make extra time in your life to study God's Word
- Surround yourself with uplifting music - like King Saul did
- Spend extra time with your Christian friends and church family
These are probably the opposite of what you feel like doing. But doing what you feel like doing – how’s that working for you?
Years ago I came across these seven laws for a life free of depression:
1. Commit yourself to the purpose of glorifying God in all things
2.Spend time daily meditating on God's Word and applying it to your life
3. Deal with grudges and anger daily
4. Concentrate on building close relationships with your family
5. Develop solid same sex Christian friendships and spend time each week enjoying these people
6. Be involved in a daily routine (bring order in your life) that brings personal satisfaction to you
7. Do something nice for one special person each week.
Those suggestions can sound simplistic for someone in deep despair. And I don’t want to suggest they are a cure all for depression. But they represent healthy markers in life for those who are seeking to make it to the finish line without fainting along the way.
A vine will cling to an oak during any storms. Though the violence of nature may uproot the oak, the tendrils of the vine still cling to it. If the vine is on the side of the tree opposite the wind, the great oak is its protection; if it is on the exposed side, the storm only presses it closer to the trunk.
In some of the storms of life, God shelters us by intervening and delivering us. In other storms, He allows us to be exposed so that we will be pressed more closely to Him.
It’s time to roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer (check with Mike Morledge if you need a reference point for that song lyric).
The month of June kicks off with a couple of back-to-back nights, happening next week
First, guys, our final First Tuesday Men’s Meeting of the year happens on June 4. Whether you’ve been to any of the previous meetings this year or not, you’re welcome to join us. I hope you will.
And then the next night, Wednesday June 5, everyone is invited to our annual Backyard Burger Bash (formerly the Parking Lot Picnic). Yes, I will be grilling my now famous Pastor Bob’s Burgers™. We’ll have inflatables for the kids. Competition (Cornhole?) for everyone. And lots of food, fun and fellowship. Put it on the calendar and plan to join us out back! And plan to BYO lawn chairs or a blanket to spread out on the ground.
Have you signed up your kids for the Backyard Bible Club yet? Our younger kids will be learning about the Fruit of the Spirit next month. If your kids aren’t yet signed up, here’s a link (https://redeemerlr.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2268897) so you can take care of that right now. We have about a dozen available spaces for kids at this point, before we’re all filled up!
And don’t forget – here are some ways you can help make it a special week for our kids.
1. Come and help every day during the week of June 10-14 in a variety of ways with the kiddos (contact Jen if you have questions or would like to sign up to help: jengiles1@gmail.com (mailto:jengiles1@gmail.com)).
2. Can’t come every day? Come on out for any of the days to help out with the kids.
3. Come spend an hour or so helping to decorate the rooms around the church on Sunday afternoon, June 9 at 2pm.
4. If you can’t come, here’s a way anyone can help. Order an item off the Backyard Bible Club wish list to help with needed supplies. Click here (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/9lFt7Al?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_2LP9HxfTz9Bx6%20(https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/9lFt7Al?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_2LP9HxfTz9Bx6)) to shop and contribute items from Amazon.
5. Pray for the week!!
Our NxtGen ministry for college aged students and young adults will be meeting three times for lunch this summer, right after church, to discuss the book Knowing God by JI Packer and to be able to spend time getting to know one another better.
Pat Howell and Cole Perkins will be facilitating the gatherings. And lunch is on us!
The first gathering happens right after church on Sunday, June 9, in the church living room.
If you’re planning to attend, click here to order a copy of the book (https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-God-IVP-Signature-Collection-dp-1514007762/dp/1514007762/ref=dp_ob_title_bk) so you can read the first section before you meet together for lunch 10 days from now!
What happens when the Lamb in the Book of Revelation opens the final seal on the scroll? Before the scene in heaven shifts to the sounding of seven trumpets, there is a dramatic pause, where the prayers of God’s people are heard and answered by the One who sits on the throne. We’ll see how this scene unfolds as we look at Revelation 8 this Sunday.
See you in church.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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