Bonus Info on St. John’s Wort and Depression

I talked for almost an hour the other day with the Naturopath I’ve been seeing for about ten years. She is a born again believer. She combines her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with her training in Naturopathic medicine to help people learn how to live healthier lives. A very rare combination! The information she shared with me was so helpful, I wanted to pass it on.

I expressed my concerns to her about how tired I’m feeling since I started taking St. John’s Wort. The depression has lifted, but I feel sluggish and sleepy; I’m not used to having to rest all the time. I’m used to being on the move.

Karen explained, “St. John’s Wort isn’t what’s making you tired, Beth. It’s actually an amazing supplement that has many uses. It is working to build up your depleted system.” I had already found out from my research that it can be helpful for depression, for fighting viral and bacterial infections, in the treatment of PMS and fibromyalgia, for chronic pain, and sometimes weight loss.

Karen continued, “One of the best things it does is feed overworked nerves. If you’ve been under prolonged stress from grief, pain, anxiety, or whatever, your nerves eventually get to the point where they can’t let down. You’re feeling tired because you are tired. The St. John’s Wort is helping your body let down so you can rest and heal.”

Hmm, so the answer was not to take less so I can do more, but to rest when I feel tired and let God do His healing work. An amazing concept.

I’m not out to sell St. John’s Wort or any other product, but if you’re seeking a natural solution for depression and thought you might try it, this is information that could be very helpful. Make sure you do not take St. John’s Wort if you’re already taking another antidepressant.

In our western culture, we’re used to taking medicine so we can feel better, in order to keep right on doing what we want to do. But I’m learning that sometimes it’s better to feel worse for a while in order to treat the source of the problem and not just the symptoms. I hope this is helpful information.

Next time, I will address some of the spiritual causes for depression and how we can allow God to heal us in this area.

The Soul’s Battle With Depression

Did you wonder if I had dropped off the face of the earth? Well, kind of. It is definitely an odd season of life; one which I am not comfortable with. For those of you who have expressed concern for me, let me reassure you that even though depression is not fun, God is oh so close. It is dark and sometimes seems endless, but He is holding my hand and giving me an impossible sense of peace. Daily He speaks messages of love and assurance, and I cling to the knowledge that He is in control. So, let’s get to it and I will share some nuggets of truth God is teaching me about the battle with depression.

Our soul is made up of three parts: our mind, our will, and our emotions. This is the part of our being that relates to other people – our horizontal nature. I want to talk about each one separately, because although they are intricately intertwined, each one builds on the one before.

The Battle of the Mind

Everything begins in our head. What we think about feeds our desires and plays out in our actions. Our mind can work for or against us, depending on what we feed it. Of course, reading and meditating on God’s Word is essential. This word meditate literally means to ruminate - like a cow chews, swallows, digests its food for a while, then brings it up for another round, before sending it to the second stomach, and so forth.

Listening to God-music is another way to influence our minds. Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians 3:16 are great reminders of this. I have actually started waking up with songs already playing in my head. I know this is His special answer to my prayers for renewed hope.

Bible reading and music can have little effect on our mind, however, if we do not squelch the competing voice of the enemy. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us to, “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This especially includes lies concerning our personal value. Satan wants us to constantly replay hurtful scenes from our past to beat us down. God wants us to frisk every thought for contraband and anything destructive to the truth of who we are in Christ.

My friend Gwen uses the “It is written” method that Jesus used against Satan (Matt. 4). She fights back by speaking scriptural truths out loud. We agreed that if it was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for us!

The Battle of the Will

The second area of the soul is our will. This is where we decide whether we will do our own thing or submit to God’s leadership. Isaiah 30:15-16 in the Message paints a descriptive picture: “God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: ‘Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me—The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do. You’ve said, ‘Nothing doing!’” And Psalm 81:10-12 also, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. ‘But my people would not listen to me…would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices” (NIV).

God recently gave me a strong message from Joshua 5:7-8. It says: “They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way…after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.” Circumcision is an operation to cut away the foreskin of a man’s most private part. God instructed the Israelites to do this as a sign of their covenant (promised) relationship with Him and purity. You’re probably wondering how that applies here, aren’t you?

He said, “You have not allowed me to cut away the things that are dragging you down, Beth. I want to help you. Will you, in obedience to me, stay in camp until you are healed?” My first thought was, “But I want to do battle against the enemy, Lord! And we’re this close to the Promised Land. Can’t you just heal me quickly?

He said no.

He pointed out that trusting Him is essential. That to go into battle right now would endanger me as well as others. That His timing is perfect. So I am slowing down, being still, hanging back from the things I’m normally involved in, and resting. God has made it easier for me to obey by allowing me to experience fatigue like never before. I’m so tired, I can’t do much else!

I still have the choice to obey Him or to fight His healing work. Time after time, I bow my will in submission to His loving care, even though it is very difficult to be still.

The Battle of the Emotions

The third part of our soul is fed by our mind and will - how we feel about our self, our life, and our relationship with God. I keep going back to a phrase coined by Pastor Rob Baker of Oasis Fellowship, “How do you deal with what you feel? You’ve got to go with what you know.” In other words, emotions are real and powerful, but they can’t be trusted. We must learn to influence our feelings by choosing to first submit our minds and wills to Christ.

In order to combat these overwhelming feelings, I have become like a terrier in my morning devotions. For the first time in my life, I usually have the freedom to spend as long as I want in the Word. So I am taking advantage of it. Like Jacob, who wrestled with the man from God and told him, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Gen. 32:26), I too am wrestling until the blessing comes. And it is good.

If you are currently struggling with depression, I hope my journey is helpful and encouraging. Be assured, God is with you; you are never alone. Reach out for His hand in the darkness and let Him comfort you. He is there. He will hold you.

The Physical Battle With Depression

As I said in my initial post, I’ve been learning a lot about things that can contribute to depression. Today, I’m going to share what I’ve learned about the physical causes of depression and what we can do to combat them. We cannot always control how much we’re affected by the first four contributors, but we can learn how to respond to them in healthy ways.

The first might come as a surprise to you: Loss. When we face a loss of any kind, it drains our energy and affects our emotional balance. Researchers have discovered that extreme losses such as death, divorce, a lifelong career, home (due to fire or other sudden disaster) can take 85% of a person’s energy to recover from. That leaves only 15% available for mental, social, spiritual, and physical functioning. That can send a person spiraling into depression.

Unrelenting pain can also deplete our energy to fight back feelings of sadness.

Hormonal changes, such as PMS or menopause take more physical energy than our normal output and can leave us feeling lethargic and sad. Women aren’t the only ones who have hormonal cycles, but since men don’t have the physical symptom of a period to mark these changes it’s harder for them to recognize hormonal changes.

Also, Physical Changes of aging or a debilitating sickness or injury can be a bitter pill to swallow. We want to keep moving at the same speed and energy level we had in our 20’s, or like we did before we were sick or injured. It’s another kind of loss.

The next three contributors to depression we do have control over, but often we don’t see how intricately they are intertwined with the other two parts of our being - our soul and spirit – and choose to “cheat” a little here and there until it’s out of control.

Fatigue is a common culprit in depression. We joke about it all the time, but forcing our bodies to keep on moving with regular doses of caffeine “uppers” - coffee and energy drinks – can contribute to depression. If we refuse to rest when our body’s had enough, eventually we’re going to crash, physically, emotionally, or both.

Of course you knew this one would get in here somewhere, our Diet is extremely important to emotional health. God created our bodies to burn food as close to its original form as possible, without colors, additives, and processing. You’ve heard of stuff like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and unflavored water? Simple but true, a body full of sludge will eventually poison our emotional health.

We also need regular Exercise to burn that fuel. A stream with no outlet stagnates and stinks. It’s amazing how much a walk can release pent up emotions and improve our mood.

I told you in my first post that I had been “doing all the right things” yet have still been battling the worst season of depression I’ve had in years. I eat a pretty healthy diet (although I do enjoy coffee and chocolate!), take a whole gamut of vitamins and supplements, and try to exercise at least five times a week. However, I realized I haven’t been resting when I needed to because I felt guilty spending “unproductive” time reading or curling up for a nap. So instead of fixing myself a cup of coffee or forcing myself to do just one more thing I’m trying to listen to my body’s needs and practice better self care.

There were also things I couldn’t control – personal losses and feelings of grief, unrelenting back pain, and the changes of menopause. I realized that any one of these ‘uncontrollables’ could trigger a depression, but when they came at me one after another my body’s defenses were eventually too depleted to fight anymore. I began to search out natural remedies to replenish serotonin levels in my body. I have began taking St. John’s Wort and so far, it seems to be helping.

However, as I said, we’re not just physical beings, but body, soul, and spirit.  My next post will have to do with how depression can affect our soul, which is made up of the mind, will, and emotions, and how I’m learning to combat depression in this important area.  

Fighting Depression Series

It’s a stupid commercial. Every time it comes on, my husband and I either look at each other and laugh, or chime in with the corny phrase, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” This is followed by the actor’s anemic struggle and pleading eyes. Then the announcer touts the special call button you should always wear around your neck and tells us how we can order one. How ridiculous, we think. Until it happens to you.

The dumbest injury I’ve ever suffered is the time I got trapped under my own yard debris bin. It was full and heavy. I yanked on it with all my weight to roll it down the driveway for pickup, but it flipped over on me instead, pinning me to the ground. I pushed and strained to lift it off; I even tried sliding out from under it, but it wouldn’t budge. Eventually, pain and fear trumped pride and I called for help. I was hoarse and pretty shook up when someone finally heard me. It took three of my neighbors to lift it off. I still have a dent in my leg from where it fell.

Depression can be like that. We don’t like to admit we’re down; we’d rather be up on our feet and roll our own trash to the curb. But the truth is, sometimes we do fall and we can’t get up. That’s when we need help to lift whatever is weighing us down. Depression is not a sin, it’s a feeling, and certainly not anything we choose. But we can choose how we respond to it. Like all human struggles, God has the answers for it.

I am just coming out of the worst season of depression I’ve experienced, other than when I went through an unwanted divorce. It was a heaviness I couldn’t lift - a darkness I couldn’t dispel. Even though I love the Lord and have much to be thankful for, I woke morning after morning with no desire to get up, to do anything, or see anyone. But I did it anyway. I continued to do all the “right” things, while the darkness clung like festering tar.

I continued to press my “call button” and follow God’s counsel. Today, I can truly say the JOY has returned. Praise to God! I know I’m not the only one. Many of you deal with depression on a regular basis or are currently suffering a season of depression. What I share with you in the next three posts is not as an expert, but as a fellow sufferer testifying how God has helped me get up from this all too human frailty. Each post will include what I’ve learned can help when depression hits.

We are created in God’s likeness and He is made up of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have three parts to our identity as well: Body, Soul, and Spirit. My first post will list some of the physical causes of depression and how we can counteract them. The second post will deal with the soul, which is made up of our mind, our will, and our emotions, and how we can fight depression in those areas. The final post in this series will deal with ways to battle depression in the spiritual realm. I hope this series will help and encourage you, or provide something to share with a friend who is fighting depression.

See you next time.

Are You Worn Out, Lagging Behind?

My new grandson Kai makes the perfect model

I love the new song by Tenth Avenue North called “Worn.” It certainly expresses the way I feel sometimes. I thought of it the other day when I read these verses: “Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God” (Deut. 25:17-18).

Isn’t that the way it is? The enemy always picks off the tired, injured, and unaware. He watches for signs of weakness and attacks when we’re most vulnerable.

What is it that wears you out? For me, it's sickness, pain, discouragement, heartache, and doubt that sap my strength. Often I overdo it, expending energy on unnecessary ventures, or trying to do for others what they should do for themselves. When I take side paths or get involved in discussions God does not intend, I lose my way. Sometimes I’m not even aware I’ve gotten behind until I feel a sudden thud against my spirit; a signal I’ve been hit. Then there’s a feeling of panic.

How can we keep from falling behind? The Bible says that God led the Israelites with a cloud by day and fire by night. Day or night they always knew what direction to go if they looked up. That’s the key for us as well. If we don’t want to get left behind, we need to keep looking up for direction. It may sound simplistic, but it works: reading the Bible every day, listening to God, and Christian fellowship are still God’s answers for making it safely to heaven (our Promised Land).

What about when others straggle behind? Do we just leave them and keep moving? Well, I know how I want to be treated if I start lagging behind. It doesn’t help for someone out front to keep barking, “C’mon, lazy bones; you’re going too slowly. Pick up the pace!” Especially if I am unable to go any faster. I want someone to encourage me to rest, pray for me, walk with me a while to make sure I’m not alone. I try to remember this when I notice one of my fellow sojourners in a weakened state and falling behind.

The sad fact is many will fall to the enemy along the way. Some, because they neglect their own self-care or have leaders that fail to be watchful; others, because they willfully separate from the group. They claim they’re strong enough to defend themselves and don’t need to be a part of the whole. I shudder when I see them fall prey to the devourer because of their own pride and stubborn waywardness.

All of us get worn out from time to time. If you are currently lagging behind, please, let someone know how you feel. Reach out for a helping hand. If the first person you talk to doesn’t respond, keep trying until you find a friend. And look to Jesus for the strength to carry on.

He invites us all, “Are you tired? Worn out?…Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30, Message).

Here’s the link to “Worn.” As you listen, be assured you are not alone on this journey: http://tenthavenuenorth.com/  

 

Easter: I Want to See Jesus

I have a love/hate relationship with Bible based movies. I love that they help us picture the holy land and people and events of the Bible better. But I hate it when they mess with the stories in order to make them more “dramatic;” adding, deleting, or rewriting things to suit themselves. You have to laugh at The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston and his steamy Hollywood scenes with Anne Baxter. His portrayal of Moses as a buff eighty year old rescuing the Israelites from slavery is a little farfetched.

However, very good things have come about through the biblical movies over the years. Like many of you, Kelly and I have been watching The Bible on television, leading up to the final installment on Easter tomorrow. He says I’m no fun to watch with, because I point out every detail that’s not correct. I’m trying to contain myself, really I am, but it’s just that the truth is so much better than some of the stuff they come up with.

I have to say, however, that so far I like this portrayal of Jesus better than any other I’ve seen. I feel like he captures the essence of Jesus’ character most completely. In Jesus of Nazareth, they did a fabulous job presenting the people’s reactions to Him, and what it must have been like to see Jesus in person. But Jesus himself looked wimpy and depressingly holy.

The Passion did a great job depicting the suffering Jesus endured in gory and graphic detail, but that Jesus also seemed distant and unreachable. Not what I picture when I read scripture.

Bruce Marchiano’s depiction of Jesus as a man of joy in the book of Matthew of the Visual Bible, is wonderful. He is winsome, happy, and tender. But is a little kissy and seems a little boyish to me.

So far, the Jesus in this newest movie comes across as strong, joyful, compassionate, and yet zealous for God’s will to be done. He reaches out to the desperate and needy, breaking down social and physical barriers and building connections between God and people. He doesn’t pander to those in power – spiritual or political. Yet, there are still details that will not be quite right.

I know I’m not the only one picking apart every new movie that comes out. Why then do we want them to keep trying to flesh this out for us? Because like so many who flocked to Him during His three years of earthly ministry, we want to see this Jesus. We want to look into His eyes and feel His love for us. We want to know Him in every intimate detail. And even if it’s not exactly right in every detail, we hold in our hearts every morsel that helps us know Him better.

The more I read the Bible, the more I feel like I can see Jesus with the eyes of my heart. I don’t know the color of His hair and eyes, or the smell of His skin, yet I know the sound of His voice when He speaks to me. I don’t know the feel of His touch on my skin, but I know the pull of His spirit when He directs me.

I pray that this Easter and every day after, that you will get a better and better picture of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. His story is true and because He lives we have reason to celebrate. Happy Easter everyone!  

#Easter #therealJesus #accuratebiblicalmovies #moviesaboutJesus #truepictureofJesus

Easter: Does Worship Embarrass You?

There’s been a rash of worship going on at our church lately, and I for one am loving it. It inspires me. One man occasionally makes a lap around the pews as we sing; he just can’t stand still in his love for God. Another woman sways with raised hands, sometimes kneeling in place, lost in exultant praise. There’s an occasional “Woo!” here and there in the congregation and shouts of “Yes!” or “Go God!”

Not long ago I caught a smirk on his face as a man turned away from one such worshiper. I could easily picture him at a football game with his buddies, whooping and hollering for their team. Why is it that it’s perfectly normal in our society for someone to paint their body blue, wear outrageous outfits, or wave a giant finger to show team spirit, yet be embarrassed by the moving of the Spirit of the Lord?

I thought about King David’s wife Michal. She despised him for joining with the commoners in praising God as they brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city. But his response was, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Samuel 6:22). He didn’t care what anybody thought of him, his worship was for God alone.

I know I’ve been guilty of letting the world dictate to me what is and is not “politically correct” to get excited about. But why be self-conscious in my exuberance for what I know in my heart to be true and eternal? And why would I ever get embarrassed in front of other believers? Yet I have.

Years ago, my husband came home at a time I wasn’t expecting him. Praise music swelled through the house. In the middle of my cleaning spree I’d gotten so blessed that I simply lay on the floor with arms open wide to revel in the moment. That’s where my husband found me, with joyful tears streaming down my face. And it embarrassed me. The spell was broken and I quickly got up, wiped the tears from my eyes, and mumbled about getting carried away with an apologetic smile.

Another time in church I was lost in reverie - eyes closed, hands raised, when my daughter tugged at my sleeve. “What are you doing, Mommy? Why are you raising your hands?” I whispered that I was praising God and rather than introduce her to this joyous rapture, I let it squelch my praise.

photo by Selaphotography

By myself I’m uninhibited – shouting, dancing, singing, kneeling, occasionally on my face before God. Over the years I’ve become more open at expressing praise at church too, and braver about mentioning God in public. Especially this week as we approach our biggest Christian holiday.

I don’t want the world to water down this holiday with baby chicks, lambs, bunnies, spring flowers and new clothes. As much as I love all that. Jesus is the reason for the glory of this season. The empty tomb is why we celebrate new life. And our worship of Christ is not embarrassing, but a natural outflow of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. Death has been conquered – Halleluia!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes… I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death…So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me…If anyone is ashamed of [Jesus] and [His] words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Romans 1:16; Philippians 1:20; 2 Timothy 1:8; Mark 8:38).

Easter: Meeting Our Deepest Need

I heard on the news the other day about Calvin McCraw, a homeless man in Oklahoma City, who will let people vent to him for fifty cents a minute (http://www.wbtv.com/story/21442174/homeless-man...). What an entrepreneur! They say the first rule of success is to look for a need that’s not being met and find a way to satisfy it. Calvin apparently noticed that friends who will listen without interrupting, tuning you out, or giving advice is a need that’s not being met in today’s world. So he’s filling the gap and making a profit.

Of course, what feels like a need isn’t always best for us. The other night I felt like I needed some homemade chocolate pudding with a vanilla wafer, dollop of peanut butter, and piece of dark chocolate melted into each bowl. I was tired at the end of a long day and struggling with unrelenting pain. The first bowl tasted so good, I felt I needed another.

However, once the taste wore off I felt worse than ever – overstuffed and disgusted with myself for going overboard. It wasn’t satisfying because chocolate wasn’t my deepest need. Do you do the same thing? Trying to meet your need with all kinds of things, but still feeling empty inside?

Easter is all about God’s answer to our deepest need. When Jesus came to earth, people thought they needed a king, a political hero to rescue them from the domination of the Romans, a miracle man, but He refused to give them what they thought they wanted. Jesus knew none of those things would satisfy. What they needed was a perfect lamb to provide forgiveness for their sins, once and for all.

After Jesus’ death, a couple of His followers met up with Him on the road to Emmaus, but didn’t recognize Him in His risen form. He asked what they were talking about and they revealed their disappointment and confusion about Jesus. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:19-21). That’s when He filled them in, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (verse 27).

They had thought Jesus was what they needed, until things didn’t go their way. I find myself doing the same thing. So often I seek comfort and ease and happiness, but those are not my greatest needs. Jesus knows we most need an eternal relationship with Him. Time after time, He meets me on the road of life and explains it to me more fully - using His Word, people, even song lyrics, and situations – to help me recognize Him again as my Savior.

Have you had your own Emmaus Road experience? Have you recognized Jesus as your Savior? He is the answer to our greatest need, on Easter and every day.

#Easter #doyouknowwhatyouneed #forgiveness #happiness #Savior

Jesus Man of JOY: Easter

I’m pretty pumped my buddy Trish invited me to do a Kay Warren Bible study with her called: Choose Joy…Because Happiness Isn’t Enough. It’s exactly what I needed right now. I tend to get mired down in my own “stuff” forgetting the JOY that can be mine as a Christian. It encouraged me that Kay has struggled with depression and discouragement like I do

I’ve done numerous word studies on JOY, bravely underlining each verse in my Bible, writing copious notes in the margins. Yet still, the trouble persists. I’ve wondered why. Now, I finally feel like I’m starting to get some answers.

In our first lesson, Kay reminded us that Jesus was a man of JOY. JOY was the essence of His being – His nature. His role as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world was one of pain and suffering, but that was not His character.

Perhaps at Easter, we focus too much on the sadness of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. We repeatedly quote Isaiah’s prophecy that He would be, “Despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3-4, NKJV). All that is true, but it’s important to remember Jesus made that sacrifice because of JOY.

Last week, I watched the 2012 remake of the movie Steel Magnolias for the first time. One scene between the character M’Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, had a life-changing impact on me.

Shelby begins to break down at the thought of her mom sacrificing one of her kidneys in order to save her life, and begins to have second thoughts. But M’Lynn says, “You’re lookin at this all wrong. Most mothers only the get the chance to give their child life once. You’re givin me the opportunity to do it twice. I mean, I’m grateful I don’t have to just stand by helpless. It’s a blessin.”

I think that’s what Jesus would say. “Children, you’re looking at this all wrong. I gave you life once, but now because of my death on the cross, you have a second chance at life – eternal life. I didn’t have to stand by helplessly and watch you die in your sin. I had the power to do something about it.”

Jesus told Nicodemus in his nighttime visit that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3). “The Son of Man must be lifted up,^” He said, so “that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Jesus gladly gives us that chance.

That’s why it says, “For the JOY set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV, emphasis mine). Mission accomplished.

So this Easter, while I’m aware of the pain, misunderstanding, abandonment, and separation Jesus went through for our sake when He died on the cross, I’m concentrating more on His reason for going through with it. His motivation was to show us the extent of His love and He had the JOY of knowing that everyone who accepts His offer can also live a life of JOY.

Easter: While the Words are Still on Our Lips

My mom found me weeping and instantly guessed what was on my mind. It’s been the topic of many a prayer, conversation, and ache of my heart for some time. No matter what else I may be doing or who I'm with, this concern is never far from my thoughts.

I suspect many of you deal with something similar – a loved one, health problem, relationship, or circumstance that is constantly on your heart. Someone or something that needs the Lord’s touch; that you are passionate about. If so, it’s probably the frequent topic of conversation between you and others, you and the Lord, or the constant patter in your head.

This is what I thought of the other day when I read Luke 24:36: “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” In this context, the disciples were talking with two of Jesus’ followers who had just had an encounter with the risen Lord. They didn’t recognize Him as they walked together on the road to Emmaus until He ate with them. The eleven disciples were grappling with this possibility, in fact, right in the middle of talking about “this” when Jesus showed up.

What a comfort it is to realize He still does the same thing for us. Right in the middle of voicing our heartaches, passions, our questions – our “this” – Jesus shows up to reassure us and give us peace. Our “this” may still be unresolved. Things may not be moving forward like we think they should. It might even look like there’s no hope left. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection didn’t answer everything for these believers, but His appearance gave them what they needed to face the future, day by day.

While the words are still on our lips, as we mull over current events and personal tragedies, Jesus’ words still speak to our deepest need. He says, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see.” As a twenty-first century disciple of Jesus, I found four personal messages for my “this.”

·         Let go of your anxiety and doubts; I’m here

·         Look at what I’ve done for you; the work is finished

·         I have come in person to show you my love

·         Touch me, see me; experience and know me in your heart

My “this” is still unresolved, and the subject of constant prayer, but because Jesus has shown himself to me, my risen Savior, I can have peace. And you can too.

God says, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). 

#Easter #hopeforheartache #unansweredprayer #needinghope #Jesusshowedup #helpfortoubledhearts