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Discouragement
Steven
Harper
Some disciples have an erroneous idea
that it is somehow sinful for a follower of God to be discouraged, even for a moment. This idea is probably a result of so
much teaching and preaching on the idea that Christians should not be discouraged, or that we have
so many blessings, we don't really have cause for discouragement. However this might come to be accepted, the idea is
taking the truth a little further than need be, because discouragement in itself is not sinful.
There are some consequences of discouragement that may certainly be unwelcome and not beneficial to the people of God, but
that is another issue altogether.
Discouragement, by definition, means to deprive of confidence,
hope, or spirit; to dissuade or deter; and to hamper; hinder. In spiritual matters, discouragement cannot be
a good thing, especially if one continues in the state without addressing the cause. Someone may discourage another because
of harsh words or ungodly behavior; others may be discouraged because they are facing hardships and persecution; still others
may simply be discouraged because they are not at the level of spiritual maturity they desire. In each case and in every situation,
however, the problem must be addressed and the one who is discouraged must be given a solution for the discouragement.
But first, let us note that some very godly people have
been discouraged at times — sometimes justifiably so — but in all cases, God had an answer. The point we should
learn from this is that if we face disappointments and discouragement, God has an answer for us, too. He has given us an answer
to every cause for which His people may be discouraged.
David. (Psalm 142)
Here, the one we know as a man after God's own heart, admits, “my spirit was overwhelmed within me”
(v. 3). His plea to the Lord in this is the fact that none stand with him in his trials, and feels abandoned.
He says, “Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares
for my soul” (v. 4). He also said, “Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; Deliver
me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I” (v. 6). On this occasion, David was discouraged
by the lack of support from his fellow man, not unlike the plight many Christians experience even today.
But note that David finds solace in another place: God. In that same psalm where he speaks of his discouragement
with man, he speaks the praise of God, who had never — and would never — forsake him.
He cries out to God with the confident assurance, “You are my refuge, my portion
in the land of the living” (v. 5). While others may have abandoned
him in his time of need, David knew that God would always be with him — a promise made to God's people even today
(Heb. 13:5). If you are ever discouraged because it seems like your closest friends have abandoned you in
times of trouble, just remember this promise God has given and reclaim your hope. There is no reason to remain discouraged!
(Psalms 32, 38) On another occasion, David
again felt discouragement, but it was of his own doing. Here, he writes, “When I kept silent, my bones grew old
through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought
of summer” (32:3, 4). And, “I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all
the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken;
I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart
pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand aloof
from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off” (38:7-11). This time,
the cause for David's discouragement and sorrow was his own sin! He recognized that, guilty, he stood under the heavy
weight of God's hand [guilt for his sin] and he also recognized that others saw his sin, too, and were ashamed to be near
him.
But, again, David also recognized
there was a way out of this condition. In these same psalms, he recognized, “Blessed is he whose transgression is
forgiven, whose sin is covered” (32:1). And because he knew this, he could say, “I acknowledged
my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (32:5). He could also
say, “For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God”
(38:15). Even in such a discouraging situation — where you know you have
sinned against God and even others know you have sinned against God — there was hope in the
knowledge God answered his request and the confidence he could be forgiven.
As children of God today [disciples
of Jesus Christ], we have that same confidence! John tells the one who is already a Christian, “If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). But he doesn't
stop there with words that might be a source of discouragement to all; he goes onto say, “If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (v. 9).
In Christ, we have the promise that, should we sin and should we repent and confess those sins, we will be forgiven and cleansed
from all unrighteousness! Again, there is no reason to remain discouraged!
Elijah. (1 Kings 19)
At this time in Elijah's life, things were very bleak for a man of God. Ahab was king of Israel and Jezebel was his wicked queen. Ahab was said to have done “more to provoke the Lord God of Israel
to anger than all the kings of Israel
who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33). [Not a small accomplishment!] He followed after false gods, built
a temple for them in Samaria and erected an idol in that
temple. Apparently, they were very closely tied to the false prophets of these false gods, for they ate at the table of Jezebel
(18:19). If that wasn't enough, Jezebel
had massacred the prophets of God (18:4) and those who escaped were hiding in caves.
But Elijah met those false prophets on Mt. Carmel and the Lord delivered a
decisive victory over them (18:20-40). Yet for all this, Jezebel still sought the life of Elijah and, immediately following this great victory
for the Lord, Elijah fled into the wilderness (19:1-4). It was here that Elijah stopped long enough to think
about his situation and began to get discouraged. He even prayed that his life might be taken because he had seen and faced
enough.
But while there in the wilderness, God came to him and asked why he was there. Elijah answered, “I
alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (19:10). When God came to him again in the still, small voice and again asked why he was there, Elijah gave
the same dejected answer: “I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (v. 14).
But God had an answer for that,
too! He revealed to Elijah, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (v. 18). And today, many Christians feel this sense of discouragement, thinking they
are "alone" in a world of ungodliness but, once again, God has an answer. Just remember there are many today who
have not "bowed the knee" to worldliness and who are faithfully serving God where they are.
Whatever situation we may face — even if it seems
like we have lost all hope — there is no reason to remain discouraged. Remember God is near,
and in His Word we may find hope again
http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org
Is
anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. James 5:13 Always
talk to God about all your struggles.
He understands unlike any human can and He is always there for you. Always!
In
the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
The fear of the
LORD is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
Prov 14:26-27
When
the dark hours come, take refuge in the Lord and refresh your mind with the fountain of life. It is there to aid you in your
struggle.
3-Part Series on "Be Anxious for Nothing"
Does this mean we are wrong to feel negatives
emotions?
(1) Joy in the Lord
(2) Negative Emotions
(3) Be Anxious for Nothing
INTRODUCTION:
I decided to do a 3-part series on emotion after reading a statement I read on the internet commenting on
Philippians 4, "Nothing is so important in this life so as to be the cause of anxiety and depression." With "Our
Hopers" our first reaction to this may be a shaking of the head, thinking, "This writer has never
gone through what we have!" But then we remember the verse, "Be anxious for nothing," and that causes
us to pause and think deeper on this. Confusion may arise as we reflect on the emotional pain we are going through; we
may begin to wonder if we are in sin because of the anxiety and depression we are feeling.
In the first article,
Joy in the Lord, I try to prove, by scripture, that joy can co-exist with grief and distress: In this
you greatly rejoice though
now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your
faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory
at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you
rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 1
Peter 1:5-9
To "joy in the Lord" is not just feeling happy, in fact we can joy in the Lord while
in deep grief. Joy in the Lord is a result of a rational use of the knowledge revealed to us in the Word of God. In this knowledge
of our Lord and the hope we have through Him, we find joy.
I wrote about this in the article, "Jesus
Wept." Our Lord rejoiced in doing His Father's will, while in the deepest agony and anxiety. In the article
"Negative Emotions" we see, from scripture, that not all negative emotions are wrong. In fact,
with some, there is a strong possibility we are wrong if we don't feel them! Emotions are a product of our thinking (with
the exception of uncontrolled emotion stemming from an organic cause). Through humble self-examination we can discover the
source of our negative emotions and determine, by God's law, whether they are proper or not.
The reasoning behind these articles in regards to
the last article, "Be anxious for nothing" is to show that while we are to rejoice in the
Lord, that doesn't mean a Christian will not feel the sting of sorrow and pain. The joy we find in the Lord doesn't
mean we are in sin if we don't feel happy and smiley and if our heart is burdened with grief. It does mean we will recognize
our blessings in Christ, we will depend on our Lord for strength and guidance and we will have a heart of peace that, eventually,
all will be well. Being anxious for nothing is not being devoid of emotion, but rather our fears tempered with our joy
in the Lord and our negative emotions controlled by faith in the Almighty God of Love and our knowledge of our hope in Christ.
 Part 1
JOY IN THE LORD
by
Pat Gates There is a quiet place in the soul that calms the torrent of grief and sadness. The world lashes out
in anger, and rends the heart in two, but through the wound, joy in the Lord enters and the soul is still. It is not in the
times of laughter I have experienced the epitome of joy in the Lord, but rather the times I could not escape relentless pain
and sorrow. In this oppression, I go to the haven of peace, my joy in the Lord, where my spirit calms and is strengthened.
JOY
IN THE LORD IS MORE THAN EMOTION Is joy simply an emotion of extreme happiness that chases away all gloom and sadness?
Is it an outward expression of happiness displayed by smiles and laughter? This could very well be the secular definition
of joy, but the scriptures give a fuller meaning to joy. Emotion is very much a part of joy in the Lord and it may be shown
in a happy countenance, but to rejoice in the Lord can also produce an emotion of calm contentment and sobriety during moments
of great distress. In either state, whether coupled with extreme happiness or tranquility, it will bring us to our knees in
humble submission to the will of God and to the acknowledgement of His great love and blessings He bestows us on in Christ.
Joy produces assurance of being cared for and gratefulness for salvation. Joy in the Lord brings steadfastness when all the
world may be falling apart around us.
Phil 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Phil 4:3 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REJOICE IN THE
LORD?
The Psalms are full of praise for God and taking joy in the Lord because of His mercy, compassion, strength,
protection, victory over evil, Truth and Righteousness, and salvation.
Ps 5:11-12 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because
You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be
joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless
the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
 We rejoice that God defends us, blesses us and surrounds us with a shield.
Ps 32:10-11 Many sorrows shall
be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
We rejoice that mercy surrounds us.
Ps 33:3-5 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully
with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
We rejoice in righteousness, justice and the goodness of the Lord.
Ps 51:7-9 Purge me with hyssop, and I
shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make
me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
We rejoice in forgiveness of our sins.
Col 1:24: I now rejoice in my sufferings
for you, and fill up in my flesh
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.
We rejoice in our sufferings for the sake of the church.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory
is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
We rejoice we can partake of Christ's sufferings in our own trials for we look for His revealed glory.
Matt
5:11-12: "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We rejoice that our persecutions are not in vain for great is our reward in heaven.
And when she has found it,
she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner who repents." Luke 15:9-10
2 Cor 7:9 Now I
rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance.
Along with the angels, we rejoice when a sinner repents.
Luke 19:37-38 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude
of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with
a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
saying: 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
We rejoice for the mighty works of God in Christ.
Rom 5:10-11 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much
more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
We rejoice for the reconciliation to God Christ provided for us.
1 Cor 13:6-7 Love does not rejoice
in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
We rejoice because of Truth.
2 Cor 7:16 Therefore I rejoice that
I have confidence in you in everything.
We rejoice when we someone's character produces confidence in us.
Phil 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
We rejoice whenever Christ is preached.
Rom 14:17-19 For the kingdom
of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these
things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by
which one may edify another.
Joy is a characteristic of the kingdom of God, the church of our Lord. It is coupled with righteousness and peace and
we joy in these spiritual things, not those things of the flesh.
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of
hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
There is joy in believing!
2
Cor 7:13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced
exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
Philem 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you,
brother.
We are joyful when other Christians refresh us.
Phil 1:4-5 Always in every prayer of mine making
request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
We joy in our fellowship in the gospel.
Phil 2:2 fulfill my joy by being
like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Being like-minded, having the same love produces joy.
Col 1:11-14 strengthened with
all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has
qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins.
Joy is coupled with strength, patience and longsuffering. It is being thankful for our inheritance and our deliverance
from darkness into the kingdom of Christ, and our redemption through His blood.
2 Tim 1:3-5 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing
I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine
faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother
Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
3 John 4 I have no greater joy
than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Remembering the faith of others brings us joy.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Our Lord had joy for "that was set before Him" as He endured the cross.
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
We joy in trials knowing we will be better for it as they produce patience.
1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant
mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In
this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness
of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor,
and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
We joy in our living hope through Jesus Christ, receiving the end our our faith, the salvation of our souls.
Joy is produce by knowledge of our Lord As we see from scriptures, joy has substance as it is based on the knowledge of the Lord and all our blessings
through Him. We can't help but joy when we meditate, with thankfulness, on our Lord God and His marvelous works. It produces
peace in us and stability in our thoughts and emotions. Joy is the source of strength for our obedience to God. "Do
not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength," Neh 8:10-11. Knowledge of our Lord and what He has done for us
produces joy and that, in turn, creates emotion. The emotion can go anywhere from exuberant outward verbal praise to a private,
inner peace and everywhere in-between. Joy is a product
of rational thinking. Joy doesn't come automatically, it is the outcome of rational
thinking. A spiritual mind produces spiritual joy for no fleshly mind can possess such understanding. A mind that is distracted
with cares of this earth does not contain joy no matter how much the mouth may acclaim, "Praise the Lord!" A happy-go-lucky
personality may appear joyful, but if their heart does not abide in rational thinking, based on knowledge of Truth and gratitude
for their hope and salvation in Christ, then joy in the Lord does not exist in them. Joy can co-exist with grief Joy is such a marvelous possession
because it can exist during times of grief and even depression. How is this possible? Because, again, it is not just an emotion,
it is based on knowledge and rational thinking. If sadness and depression is self-induced by self-pity or sin, joy in the
Lord can wipe away all the negativity in our mind. If sadness, stress and depression is due to illness or circumstances beyond
our control, joy can help us endure and to think and act as the Lord would have us to. It causes gratitude and dependence
on God's will and wisdom, rather than our own. It gives confidence that all will be well, it brings peace to a heart of
turmoil, and it brings perseverance to a weary soul.
There is truly joy in believing!
Part 2
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
by Pat Gates Negative emotions are a normal result of negative experiences in our lives. There are experiences that will
anger us, perhaps sadden us, or may cause distress and fears. These emotions are not sinful if our heart and actions are aligned
with the word of God. Some examples are: Moses
feeling distressed and overwhelmed due to his great responsibilities (Num. 11:10-17) Hezekiah felt sadness that he would soon die (1 Kings 20:1-3) The Lord's indignation
when he saw the moneychangers in the temple (Jn. 2:14-17) Paul weeping about "the enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil. 3:18) The weeping of the sinful
woman (Lk. 7:37-38) The widow weeping over the loss of her son (Lk. 7:12-13)
Paul’s list of trials, including being "troubled"
and “fears without” (2 Cor. 7:5) The Lord’s distress in the garden, being in "agony" (Lk. 22:44) We are told to weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15)
However there are people we read about in the Bible who felt
negative emotions but they came from a mind that was not in line with God’s will. Some examples are:
Cain who felt jealousy and anger that was a product of disobedience
(Gen. 4:5-8) Ahab
who felt “sullen and displeased” due to (1) condemnation of his disobedience (1 Kings 20; see vss. 42-43) and
(2) not getting what he wanted (1 Kings 21:1-5) Peter who felt fear that was a product of a lack of faith and trust in God (Mt. 14:29-30) Anger of the prodigal son's brother (Lk. 15:28)
HOW DO WE DECIDE
WHICH EMOTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE?
Instead of immediately feeling guilty and apologetic for any negative emotion that may arise in us, let’s examine
the source of the emotion. Because emotions are a product of what we are thinking, we need to take a look at why we are feeling
the way we are and this takes self-examination coupled, with humbleness and honesty. If the source of our emotion is due to
our own sinful thoughts or actions, we then need to exercise control over ourselves by repenting, praying for strength and
overcoming the sin. In turn, the negative emotion will be gone, for it is the sinful thought that is producing the improper
emotion.
The source of our emotion may
be due to the sinful nature of others, persecution, grief, or physical illness, and while we, ourselves, are not in sin, we
still need to exercise control over the emotions that will come. We need to make sure that while we are undergoing
these trials that we do not allow sinful thoughts to creep in, thus producing negative emotions that are wrong, such as hate,
an unhealthy self-pity, or overwhelming despair. Whether or not the emotions at this time are proper or not, we need to a
keep them in their proper place to prevent sin which "lies at the door." Our emotion that comes with trials that
we can't help, are not sinful, we just need to make sure they do not get in the way of our faith and obedience. Sadness,
grief and distress can co-exist with faith (remember our Lord in the garden), however, faith, spiritual strength and
obedience must be foremost in our thoughts, never allowing these negative emotions to fester into discouragement and despair.
Our discretion on spiritual matters as we examine ourselves
and our emotions should come from God’s revelation to us, not in our own wisdom. In God’s word we can find negative
emotions that are acceptable, such as those listed above, keeping in mind our faith and obedience should control these emotions.
The best example is our Lord's obedience to His Father's will that took precedence over the feelings of agony, He
felt in the garden.
We can also find
negative emotions in the Bible that are a product of sin; we must not make allowances for these, but we must examine why they
are there and rid ourselves of the source. Trying to get rid of the emotion without taking care of the source is like doing
nothing for a broken leg, but to take an aspirin. The aspirin may lessen the pain somewhat but it is not fixing the problem
and future problems, along with continue pain, will develop from a lack of attention to what is causing the pain.
CONCLUSION
I'm not sure how and when so many of us got the idea
that negative emotions, as a whole, are signs of weakness and something to apologize for. If they are a product of sin, get
rid of the sin, but otherwise, allow these emotions in ourselves and in others, always keeping them in their proper place.
We need not coddle them, nor feel guilty when we have them. In controlling them, they help us grow to be more sympathetic
towards others, more dependent on Christ, and enables us to draw nearer to our God and His people.
"Jesus
Wept" by
Pat Gates
"I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe."
There was no hurry to get to Judea, for after the messenger came proclaiming Lazarus'
sickness, Jesus knew He would use the death of Lazarus to help increase His disciples' faith. He loved Martha and Mary
and wanted to reassure them all would be well: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son
of God may be glorified through it." Jesus knew their sorrow would soon end upon His arrival and, for now, His focus
was on the building up of His disciple's faith.
As
you read John 11:1-15, there seems to be a feeling of anticipation and joy in Jesus. Not the kind of joy that brings smiles
and laughter, but the joy of knowing His disciples will soon see the power of His Father and that not only their faith will
be increased, but the faith of all who will witness Lazarus' resurrection. I'm sure the Lord felt for Martha and Mary,
but the increase of mankind's faith by the glory that would be revealed was the foremost thought and desire. Jesus was
glad He had not been in Bethany to heal Lazarus for His desire was for man's faith in Him: "I am glad for your sakes
that I was not there, that you may believe."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
As Jesus neared Bethany, Martha met Him, saying, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother
would not have died, but even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." How pleased Jesus must have
been upon her confession of faith and He further comforted her by saying, "Your brother will rise again." Martha,
not understanding the full extent of that statement, proclaimed her belief that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God and that
her brother would indeed rise again in the resurrection of the last day.
Reading verses 17-28, I see the calm reassurance and powerful admonition Jesus gave to a beloved
friend that she should trust Him and all will be well. I continue to see the anticipation in Jesus of the display of the power
that is to come, but coupled with this joy is desire to comfort this one in grief.
As Martha heard the words from the Son of God, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes
in Me, though he may die, he shall live," her heart must have been comforted, howbeit the immediate grief of the loss
of her brother was upon her. She then went and called her sister, Mary, to come to Jesus.
He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
When Mary came to Jesus she fell down at His feet, weeping,
"Lord, if You have been here, my brother would not have died." This time, there are no words recorded. There are
no words of reassurance that Mary would soon have her brother back again. There is no reminder that Mary was weeping at the
feet of the One who is the resurrection and the life and no admonition to believe that although one may die, he shall indeed
live again.
This was a different scene:
Mary weeping in grief at His feet, accompanied by her friends who were crying. Jesus, engulfed in the deep pain of broken
hearts and the bitter sorrow was moved with intense feeling for His creation. His spirit was troubled and He groaned as He
felt the sadness of His people.
In these
feelings, I see not the humanity of the Lord, but the godliness of compassion; love displayed in the tenderness of tears.
It was pure compassion. The absolute empathy of putting Himself into the place of one whose spirit was tormented by the pangs
of death. As a mother hurts for the pain in her child, the Lord hurt for the pain in those He loved. It is the revelation
of the tender compassion God has for His creation.
"Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God."
Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb and commanded
for the stone that lay at the mouth of the cave of death, to be removed. "Lord," Martha said, "By this time
there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." "Did
I not say to you that if would believe you would see the glory of God?"
Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I
know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who were standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent
Me."
"Lazarus!
Come forth!"
He who had
died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.
I, myself, am in awe as I think about this scene. I see Martha and Mary clutching their breast,
their eyes widen with fear and wonder, frozen in disbelief, yet believing as they hear Jesus say, "Loose him, and let
him go."
Underneath the wrapping
they saw their brother: whole, healed and resurrected! I see them running to him in tears of joy or better yet, I see them
falling down at their Lord's feet, thanking Him and praising the name of the Lord for His mighty deeds, and then turning
to Lazarus' arms, and perhaps back again to Jesus.
I think of the crowd of Jews with their mouths open and their eyes wide with wonder. Perhaps they are beginning to smile
now and their smiles soon turn to laughter and joy. I see some falling down in fear, now believing that Jesus is indeed the
Christ, the Son of God (11:45, 12:11). And others, turned away, anxious in their hatred and disbelief, to tell the Pharisees
of what Jesus had done (11:46).
The Plan, The Compassion, The Power
Other than the description of the days of Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion, I know of no better story that gives
a more complete picture of the gospel of our Lord and Christ. It is a gospel of the perfect love of God, not only in the self-sacrifice
for the sins of mankind, but the great compassion that in shown in the tears of Jesus. I love the progression of thought and
feeling in these passages: This great story begins with our Lord's plan to use an Lazarus' death to increase faith
in His disciples. More emotion is building as He meets Martha and gives the inspiring words of hope, and as the story progresses,
we see our Lord's intense passion of feeling another's deep sorrow, and finally we reach the climax of the story:
the great drama in the display of power of the resurrection of Lazarus. Deteriorating flesh, made whole, rising up, walking
out of a tomb in grave clothes where none can deny the power of the Lord.
I get such a thrill every time I read these passages! Let's not do these scriptures an
injustice by getting transfixed on the fact that "Jesus wept" is the shortest verse in the Bible, for that is meaningless.
Let's not teach that to our children as this great fact of the Bible we Christians should understand, but rather let's
understand and teach the powerful impact that God, Himself, feels our pain and grief. He feels it so deeply that our torturous
soul is known to Him, felt by Him, and that we have a Savior who not only desires our salvation, but is filled with tender
compassion for His people. Let's teach our children the great power of God and our need of salvation through His Son and
that such a compassionate, powerful God can help us with all our struggles through this life.
Praise God for such a Savior!
The fact that Jesus wept teaches us: - The emotion of sadness, empathy and grief is not a sin.
- Tears are not to be apologized for.
- Tears are not an embarrassment.
- Tears are not a
sign of weakness.
- Tears are not just for women.
- Tears do not add to another's sorrow - Jesus would never add harm to Martha
and Mary.
- Tears are a display of love (the Jews interpreted
Jesus' tears as a sign of love for Lazarus).
- Tears were
not held back by the Lord.
- Tears are a creation by God and
are a product of a "troubled spirit."
- We must weep
with those who weep, even if we don't cry literal tears, we need to feel their sorrow and put ourselves in their place.
- Tears do not show a lack of faith.
- Tears are not a sign of anxiousness and a lack of trust in the power of God.
Part 3
"BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING" by Pat Gates
The word "anxious"(careful, KJV) is from
"merimnao" {mer-im-nah'-o} 2. As defined by THAYER... a. It means "to be pulled in different directions"
b. For example, our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears pull us in the opposite direction c. Thus, to be anxious is
to be "pulled apart"! (from Executable Outlines by Mark Copeland). Using
the definition above, let's examine each verse in the following passage to see how we can rid ourselves of this anxiousness
that tempts us to be controlled by our worry and concern, pulling us away from our faith and hope in our Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things
are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy--meditate on these things.The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the
God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 GET
RID OF ANXIOUSNESS: Rejoice in the Lord: Rejoicing in the Lord
begins with the knowledge of knowing God and our salvation and hope in Jesus Christ. It is the assurance of being cared for,
of having a solid foundation on which to stand. It is setting our mind on spiritual matters and aligning our thoughts and
actions according to the Word of God. To joy in the Lord means to recognize all the spiritual blessings in Christ and to be
thankful. Joy will bring us to our knees in humble submission to the will of God, acknowledging His great power, authority,
love and grace. This joy will remind us of our hope in Christ and that our spiritual life far exceeds the physical. It will
provide us with the calm assurance that God cares about us and we can approach the throne of grace with all our concerns. Be anxious for nothing: -- Never replace the joy of the knowledge of your hope in the Lord
with the hopelessness of self-dependence and continual worry, always distracted by the cares of this life. Whether it be disease,
grief from loss, or persecution, continuing to joy in the Lord will allow no room for anxiousness to overcome us. We may still
feel the emotional impact the problem is causing, but our emotions are controlled with our focus on the power, care, and hope
we find in Christ. Let your gentleness be known to all men: Commentators
has various interpretations of the word, gentleness or moderation: w Mild, gentle, patient. The word "moderation"-epieikes (NT:1933)-refers to restraint
on the passions, general soberness of living, being free from all excesses. (from
Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft) w Macknight: "Means meekness under provocation, readiness to forgive injuries, equity in
the management of business, candour in judging of the characters and actions of others, sweetness of disposition, and the
entire government of the passions." (from Adam Clarke's Commentary,
Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft) w In
things indifferent do not run into extremes; avoid bigotry and animosity; judge charitably concerning one another. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic
Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.) Phil 4:4-5 w Indicates readiness to listen to reason, a yieldingness
that does not retaliate (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic
Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press) All of us who experience
stressful situations understand how self-focused we can become. Sometimes, there is no choice; illness forces self-care and
self-awareness due to pain and weakness. However, living with illness and trials can also produce temptations we need to be
watchful for, such as self-indulgence, self-pity, and just being downright selfish, without thought of other's needs and
concerns. If self-indulgence and a lack of self-control guides us, this will lead to anxiety and discontentment, for there
will be no peace, no answers, no hope. A yielding attitude is involved
in our moderation. We look not only on our own needs, but also on the needs of others. We don't demand to have our way
all the time because we are suffering. We don't indulge our every whim and excuse our impatience and demanding attitude
because we have it worse than others around us. We won't allow ourselves to "fly off the handle" because no
one understands how we feel. Gentleness displays patience towards all and is willing to put others first; all fleshly desires
will be controlled by the spirit. Thanks be to God for the sacrifice of His Son and the Son's example of true gentleness
in the giving of Himself for all. The Lord is at Hand: Whether this means
the Lord is always near to us or whether it is looking at judgment, our anxiousness can be kept at bay by the knowledge of
the greatness in the authority, the love, the mercy, and the severity of our God. (Rom 11:22: Therefore consider the goodness
and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness.) We will not
allow anxiety to force our spiritual eyes inward towards dependence on self, nor outward toward dependence on others, nor
downward towards the temptations Satan places before the weak. Rather, we look upward towards the Lord of all who is our strength
and our shield. We will not allow anything to hide the fact that our Lord is near to us now and will be with us in the great
day of judgment. In everything by prayer and supplication: "In everything"
pray. Nothing is too small to take to God in prayer. Sometimes those small things that can grow into larger problems that
can tempt us to become anxious. How comforting to know our Father wants us to go to Him in prayer and will help us with our
problems. What peace prayer brings to an anxious, weary heart! With thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God: Praying with thanksgiving is not just saying the words, "thank you for all the
many blessings," but it is a recognition that we have a loving Father who hears our prayers and who provides our needs.
It is praise of gratitude to our great God who is the Giver of all good things and, in our thankfulness, we humble ourselves
and recognize without Him, we are nothing. This, in turn, replaces anxiousness with a peaceful knowledge that we are and will
be cared for. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus: This is such a beautiful verse and it is an awesome blessing when put
into practice. The trial we are dealing with presses on our heart until it feels like it will crush us. We bow before our
heavenly Father and pour our hearts out to the One who can ease our burden and supply the strength we need; the end result
-- peace! The peace that surpasses all understanding will follow if we
have recognized who God is and have put our faith and trust in His power, wisdom, love and mercy. This peace does not come
just because we poured out our thoughts and feelings and psychologically we feel better. Yes, this can make us feel better
at the moment, but it is only our full dependence on God's wisdom and our hope in Christ, that will have the outcome of
lasting peace. This peace acknowledges our humble submission to the will of God, casting all our care on Him, because we know
He cares for us.This knowledge guards and guides our emotions and our thinking so we stay in line with the Word of God and
in faithful dependence on Him. We allow His will to be done without argument and our hope dispels that crushing weight of
anxiety. Whatever things are true: Replace anxious thoughts with truth.
This truth involves what we see, what we say, what we hear and what we think, and how we deal with others. Anxiety has a way
of distorting our spiritual sight and dimming the light of truth. Rational thought of what God has revealed to us in His word,
is replaced with our own false conclusions. Meditating on truth helps us see the situation clearly and, therefore, we can
make the right decisions and take the right action. Whatever things are
noble: Meditating on noble thoughts is thinking on that which is honest, honorable and dignified. Have you ever seen someone
being overcome by anxiety act noble? Now, I don't mean someone being overcome with grief and sadness, but rather someone
who is allowing anxiety to govern their thoughts and decisions; they are usually too emotional, too self-focused, and they
end up saying or doing something they later regret. An example of noble
thinking is our Lord in the garden. He was very troubled, but His thoughts and actions were honorable. Why? Because while
in great emotional stress, His thoughts were rational, He found strength in prayer, and His desire was for His Father's
will to be done. Whatever things are just: Meditating on thoughts that
are just is a matter of thinking and doing what is right between people. Being overcome with anxiety may produce selfishness
and self-pity and we are very apt to distrust others and misjudge other's actions and intentions. Or we may become so
self-centered, we become demanding and conclude that no one suffers like we do, therefore we deserve to have our way and our
judgment of others (or misjudgment) becomes just in our perverted thinking. Whatever
things are pure: Meditating on those things that are pure will keep us from the temptation to try and rid ourselves of anxiety
through unlawful fleshly pleasures. They will never bring peace but will add more burden to our lives. Whatever things are lovely: Lovely thoughts and that which is of a good report brings about
positive thinking during anxious times. This does not mean we won't feel the pain of the trial that besets us, but we
will not allow anxiousness to drown out the light of hope. We will dwell on the good that is in our lives and the benefits
that can come out of our tribulation. Whatever things are of good report:
Being overcome with anxiousness darkens our thoughts and outlook on life; negative thoughts come flowing in and we soon find
ourselves drowning in pessimism and distrust. We must force our minds on that which is good. We need to read God's word
and seek out the Lord's people who will build us up and will help us through these dark periods, not by ignoring our problems,
but by helping us through them with the light of the knowledge of Truth. And we need some good old-fashioned self-control
of what we are thinking and maybe a shout of "Get behind me Satan!" If
there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. If we meditate on these things, if we
pray about everything, with thanksgiving, if we rejoice in the Lord, if we treat others justly, where is there room for anxiousness
to take over? Yes! We will feel sadness, grief and emotional pain, but we won't allow these emotions to guide our thoughts
and actions and lead us into despair and hopelessness. Go ahead, feel
the pain without guilt, if your emotions are not stemming from sin for they are just a normal reaction to living in a sorrow-filled,
sin-filled world. We see examples in the Bible how righteous men and women reacted to grief and how even our Lord was distraught
in the garden. Emotions are not to be apologized for, nor do we need self-doubt and guilt when we aren't continually smiling.
HOWEVER, emotions do not need to tear us apart to where they lead our thoughts away from God and that which is righteous.
They do not need to lead us into despair where we become a negative, pessimistic people. And they should never take away our
joy in the Lord for therein lies our hope, our true happiness, and our peace that passes understanding. CONCLUSION: So, what do I think of the quote that
started this whole series: "Nothing is so important in this life so as to be the cause of anxiety and depression"? I think there are many things in this life that are important enough to cause anxiety and
depression: Sin, child abuse, unfaithful children, death, marital unfaithfulness, war etc. etc. I also think none of these
should cause anxiousness in us, in other words, we should not allow these things to rule our thoughts and pull us apart spiritually.
We should not be controlled by anxiety and depression and become a chronic worrier. We should not be self-dependent and a
negative, pessimistic person, continually seeing bad in all things and all people. We should not allow these problems to disable
us where we can not function and cause hopelessness in us. They should never, ever lead us from God. "Be
anxious for nothing" is a command; it's not just some good advice, but it is expected, by God, that we not allow
ourselves to be overcome by our concerns. Our loving Father has given us direction to help us deal with the pain and not let
it tear us apart. Being anxious is allowing our emotions to supersede faith, dependence on God, and the rational thinking
that God has revealed to us in His word. Being anxious is living in the flesh, being filled with worry and concern that immobilizes
us to a life of self-centeredness and self-dependence. It is sin to allow anything to tear us apart from our God and that
which is righteous. "Be anxious for nothing" means a rational
choice that we will serve God, trust in His wisdom and become entirely dependent on His will, His wisdom, His direction and
His promise that He hears our prayers. It is making the choice of being thankful, using self-control, and placing our thoughts
on our hope in Christ Jesus. It is rejoicing in the knowledge of our hope and salvation in Christ. It is a work we must do;
it is a battle of the spirit against the flesh. It is admitting our pain, not denying it, but it is also putting our pain
in its proper place, never allowing it to rule our lives to the point of self-dependence and self-centeredness. It is going
to God in prayer, humbling ourselves in submission to the great God and Father of us all. It is rising from our knees in faith
that God heard our prayers, will answer our prayers and having that peace that passes all understanding that will guard our
hearts and our minds.
Note sent in by Karen: Your comments
about life's pain coexisting with joy in the Lord reminded me of something I got from an online friend that I have printed
and carry with me as a needed reminder. It is an interview with Rick Warren who wrote, "The Purpose Driven
Life," and it more than anything else has crystallized Job's experience and my own most succinctly. You may
or may not wish to use it all, but the important line in it to me was this: "God is more concerned about our character
than our comfort" - and doesn't discomfort bring out the worst or best in us all? Here is the interview if
you want to use it....
People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond:
In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-but not the end of me. I may live 60
to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity.
This is the warm-up act - the dress
rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.
We were made by God
and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: Either
you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The
reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making
your life holy than He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not
the goal of life.
The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the
greatest year of my life but also the toughest,with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was
hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe
that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad
track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in
your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life,
there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,"which is my problem, my issues, my pain."
But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
Optimists, for
example, tend to do better than pessimists when coping with stressful situations. They are more likely to put a positive spin
on stressors, look for ways to make the best of a bad situation, and use problem-solving strategies to tackle difficulties.
Some studies indicate that optimists often fare better physically, too. A long-term study of more than 830 Mayo Clinic patients
published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2000 found that those classified as pessimists had a 19% higher risk of mortality
over the course of 30 years than those who were optimists. A 10-year study of 1,300 men based on data drawn from the Veterans
Affairs Normative Aging Study was reported in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2001. It suggested that a sense of optimism may protect
older men against developing heart disease. If you're not a natural
optimist, this information could merely fuel your pessimism. Don't let it. Take a deep breath and relax. Evidence suggests
avoiding pessimism is more important than boosting optimism. It's true that there are people with naturally sunny natures,
but it's equally true that the way you handle yourself emotionally owes a great deal to nurture. With practice, your current
outlook and behaviors can change for the better. www.everydayhealth.com
I
had the privilege of meeting Fran Liggin a couple of years before she passed away -- we had some great conversations about
her livng with being bipolar. She was a spiritual woman and no matter how deep our conversations went, because of her
great sense of humor, we always ended our talks with laughing.
Majoring in Minors
Mary
M. (Fran) Liggin
I'm convinced that the catharsis for sadness and depression
is gratitude. Gratitude in the life of a Christian is not optional. We re taught by command to be grateful. In 1 Thessalonians
5:8 the apostle Paul wrote, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
We are also taught by example to be grateful. Jesus was thankful: Matt. 11:25-27; Mark 8:6; John 11:41. Other great
characters of the Bible had thankful hearts -- David: 1 Chron. 16:7-36; Psalm 100. Daniel: Daniel 6:10; Anna: Luke 2:38; Paul:
Acts 27:35, 28:15; Philippians 1:3, 4:6.
Often we get so caught up in our misfortunes or "how bad" we
feel that our whole life begins to revolve around these negatives. We even date matters from a given tragedy, "That happened
the year hurricane Opal hit" or "the year I nearly died of pneumonia." We need to major on our blessings and
minor on our troubles. This is not an easy thing to do but it is something we MUST do. If we are not careful while we walk
the pathway of life, we will never pluck a rose, see its beauty, nor enjoy its aroma. Instead, we will pluck many thorns and
wear them in our hearts.
Because she did not major on her troubles Fanny Crosby, who was blind, could still write
"with numberless blessings each moment He crowns" in her wonderful hymn, "A Wonderful Savior." In fact,
when we learn how to be truly grateful, we will learn how to be grateful even for our troubles and our so-called inconveniences.
"One little boy was thankful for his glasses for they kept the boys from fighting him and the girls from kissing him,"
(Heart Diseases and Their Cures, by Wendell Winkler, pg. 22).
How can a Christian learn to be thankful,
even for their troubles? He must firmly believe that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord,"
Romans 8:28. Many times we are so thankless because we are so thoughtless. We must train our thinking so that we become aware
of every blessing, even the ordinary and commonplace blessings of life. One way to do this is to stop taking the commonplace
things of life for granted. We must learn to express our gratitude by our lives as well as with our lips. And we must always
express our gratitude for our spiritual blessings -- they are the blessings that count!
Perhaps the following authentic
Kentucky recipe, with original spelling, for washing clothes as contributed by a reader to the Colorado Interstate Gas Company
magazine, will help us to be appreciative of commonplace conveniences that we are so prone to take for granted:
1.
bild a fire in back yard to heat kittle of rain water.
2. set tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if wind is pert
3. save one hole cake soap in billin water;
4. sort things, make three piles - 1 pile white, 1 pile cullord, 1 pile
work britches and rags
5. stur flour in cold water to smooth then thin down with billin water
6. scrub dirty spots
on board - scrub hard, then bile; rub cullard but don't bile - just rench and starch
7. spred tea towles on grass
8. hang old rags on fence
9. pore rench water in flower bed
10. scrub porch with hot soapy water
11. turn
tubs upside down
12. go put on clean dress -- smooth hair with side comb -- brew cup of tea -- sit and rest and rock
a spell and count blessings.
Life Is So Daily
Days seem sad
Nights seem long!
Keep on trying,
Try to stay strong.
Life is so
daily!
Lots of disappointments,
Folks let me down,
Keep on smiling,
Try not to frown.
Life
is so daily!
Keep on walking,
Straight to my goal;
Heaven for my home,
Saving for my soul.
Life
is so daily!
Wonderful peace,
No pain and n sorrow
No more night;
Sunlight tomorrow.
Heaven
will be so daily!
by Mary M. (Fran) Liggin
For our mental health, we need to remember
our purpose in this life. For those of us with ongoing physical and/or emotional trials we may get so caught up in our struggles
that we forget why we are here. Disease, grief, and organic depression are selfish; they try and take up all our mental
energy and while we do have to give in to their demands at time, we can continue to try and stay focused on our purpose. This
effort will help us to persevere and triumph over these trials.
Our Purpose In Life
by
Kent Heaton
In October of 2005, C. D. Moore of Bell, Florida offered
a prayer at a gathering of saints at the Cherry Sink Church of Christ. In the course of the prayer he offered, he made the
following
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