I've just finished reading through Acts. At the end of the book, Paul and Co experience the craziest series of unfortunate events. This scripture is describing a terrible storm they were in that led to them being shipwrecked and marooned on an island. But when I read this particular verse it caught my attention and brought to mind the crazy wave of depression and hopelessness and suicide that is currently sweeping the world.
The darkness: no sun or stars to light the way and give guidance and something to look forward to, no purpose to live for.
The raging storm: the inner turmoil of thoughts and the despair that screams louder and feels more powerful than any strength that can be mustered up in ourselves.
The giving up of hope: the succumbing to the hopelessness that says we are too far gone to be saved, that says we are not loved, that we are not worthy of love and that no one cares of our existence or non-existence on this earth.
Even just typing that all out feels a little terrifying, that someone would be in that place. And sadly, way too many people are stuck in this place of hopelessness; where it feels like the light will never break through and the storm will never end; where they are too far gone to be saved.
I don't say this lightly, but the reality is, there is no such place! No night is too dark for God's light to pierce in, no storm is too wild to be commanded by him to be still, no place is too far or too hidden or too wicked to be rescued by Jesus.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5
The darkness has not and will not ever overcome the Light of the world, Jesus. Ask him to shine in your life. Even if there is just a little pilot light left in you, fan that thing into flame and let the Light burn in you and dissipate the darkness.
"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." - Mark 4:37-39
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, offers us peace in the midst of the storm. Even when the wind and waves are raging, we can find rest in him. He has complete dominion over everything, the natural elements of physical storms, as well as the hormones and crazy mental world that can be so tumultuous. And he does care. He hasn't brought you out in the boat with him to drown, but in the midst of the storm, he does want you to trust that nothing is out of his control and that he cares for you.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13
It seems too good to be true. But God cannot lie. So when he says that if you call on him you will be saved, then I totally believe with everything in me that absolutely anyone can be saved. There are no filters or preconditions to this saving, which means that no one can ever be too far, or too bad, or too unworthy. Because the 'goodness' and the 'worthiness' of the saving is all on Jesus, and not on us. Through him, anyone can be qualified and all can be saved.
I know that there are many other factors and things to consider when it comes to depression and hopelessness. But I do believe that these are three pillars of truth that are foundational in living a life of hope in Jesus.
I love what Paul says two verses after the hopelessness of their situation is so strongly stated: "I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed."
Yes, the ship will be destroyed—we will lose possessions, our plans will go awry, we will deal with devastating loss and heartbreak. But not one will be lost. You will not be lost. God holds you safely in the palm of his Almighty hand. I pray that today you would find such peace, light and hope in that.
Finally, perhaps, like me, this is not an area that you find yourself struggling with right now. If so, let's take after Paul's example of standing in the gap for the people around him:
v25 "So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."
Would we have faith in God for the people that can't find the faith in their darkest moments, and would we stand alongside them in their rocking boat and raging storm and speak the truth to them, helping put courage in them to stand, to keep going and to fight once more.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13
It seems too good to be true. But God cannot lie. So when he says that if you call on him you will be saved, then I totally believe with everything in me that absolutely anyone can be saved. There are no filters or preconditions to this saving, which means that no one can ever be too far, or too bad, or too unworthy. Because the 'goodness' and the 'worthiness' of the saving is all on Jesus, and not on us. Through him, anyone can be qualified and all can be saved.
I know that there are many other factors and things to consider when it comes to depression and hopelessness. But I do believe that these are three pillars of truth that are foundational in living a life of hope in Jesus.
I love what Paul says two verses after the hopelessness of their situation is so strongly stated: "I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed."
Yes, the ship will be destroyed—we will lose possessions, our plans will go awry, we will deal with devastating loss and heartbreak. But not one will be lost. You will not be lost. God holds you safely in the palm of his Almighty hand. I pray that today you would find such peace, light and hope in that.
Finally, perhaps, like me, this is not an area that you find yourself struggling with right now. If so, let's take after Paul's example of standing in the gap for the people around him:
v25 "So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."
Would we have faith in God for the people that can't find the faith in their darkest moments, and would we stand alongside them in their rocking boat and raging storm and speak the truth to them, helping put courage in them to stand, to keep going and to fight once more.
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