Struggles

"Some days I'm just stressed out," I say to the doctor.
"You just don't have enough faith then," he replies.

Hmm, I think. I don't know.... Ever wondered about statements like the helpful doctor's? It didn't help my level of stress decrease. As a matter of fact I had to stifle the urge to 'give him a piece of my mind'.

Do Christians ever have stress? Ever have depression, or struggles? Well, since we don't live in never never land, we all have levels of these things, regardless of what the doctor...or the world may think.

"Mommy, mommy!" Lucy says to her mother. "I'm melting!"

The day is hot and little Lucy is sweating profusely, and she thinks she's...melting. How funny.

"You always look so cool," Helen says to me. "Don't you ever perspire?"

It's afternoon, and we have just arrived at the church building. I feel like Lucy must have felt...I'm melting. You shower and get cleaned up, but by the time you get to the (un-air conditioned) church building you feel like you have just taken an exercise in futility. Then sister Helen pats me on the hand and says.... -- Well, imagine how startled I am. I always look what? Don't I ever...what? Well, thank you, and maybe I look skinny as a rail too? How funny!

Acts 4:13 Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

The key to our Christian life isn't that we don't have these things, but where is our focus. I love the part, " and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." The 'watery grave of baptism' washes away our sins, and we then arise to walk in newness of life. Each day of our life in that walk is a new day, and each day we need to focus on growing closer to our God, and our Savior.

Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.

Stress usually, for me, occurs when something out of my 'comfort' zone happens, most generally quite suddenly. I believe Satan likes to 'throw us a curve ball' to throw us off balance. Catch us unaware, so to speak. How do we handle such things? Prepare. Prepare for the unexpected through prayer, prayer, and more prayer. Bible study is very necessary, but just having the 'knowledge' isn't enough. Just as James says in James 2:19 that faith without works isn't enough--"Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder."--knowing the scriptures is only half of the armor. We must arm ourselves with prayer--communing with our God. Only God knows the future and only He can see what we will need, and fortify our faith for that future.

The medical society tells us that 'depression' is a disease. However, more often it is something we can let ourselves 'fall' into. Some people have an odd condition. If they have a sore spot, a pimple, or some such thing, they will pick at that spot. In my own experience if I squeeze a pimple, get the pus out, wash it well, and maybe even put a little 'medicine' on it, then leave it alone and let it heal, it does just that. Depression is similar to that pimple. Face whatever the problem is, get the ugly pus out, wash and treat it. Then move on. Stop picking at it. But we often don't. We let it fester, we pick at it, brood over it, and wonder why it doesn't get better, or go away.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

How can we over come stress, depression, and struggles? By thinking on good things, reading your Bible, and praying, having good 'companions'. All of these things encourage 'good mental health'.

1Peter 1:5-8 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 6) and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 7) and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8) For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!