Read John 14:18-21
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
Reflect
· What brings on the blahs in your life?
· When loneliness or depression strike, do you stay in the pit, starving your soul--or do you climb out and move forward in faith?
· What helps you overcome disappointment?
Shattered hopes. Crushed dreams. Hearts too heavy to sense the One who walks with us. Words that drip with disappointment. "My life is falling apart." As depression takes hold, we begin to sink--deeper and deeper into a pit, wondering what we've ever done to deserve any of this, questioning why God has abandoned us. Sound familiar? We've all been there to some degree. The fact is, our emotions are highly cyclical and can bounce from extremes. So, if we've failed at something, we usually feel more frustration than faith. If we've had a fight or have been rejected, we're often more consumed with anger--not the comfort of the Almighty.
When you find yourself face-to-face with loneliness or depression, don't allow yourself to get bogged-down by all the yucky emotions inside. Instead, get some perspective, and take a moment to honestly evaluate your situation. Above all, take your emotions seriously. Remind yourself that faith is based on the unchangeable truth that God came to earth in Jesus, died for our sins, rose again from the dead, and even today reigns as Lord over all. Nothing can change this truth.
Pray
Lord, I can't climb out of this pit on my own--I need Your help. Show me how to move forward again. Amen.