February 2019 - The Word for Today
Psalm 42:6-7 NLV
Sommige van die gelowigste mense in die Bybel en in die geskiedenis van die kerk het teen depressie gestry. Job het dit deur die verlies van sy kinders, sy rykdom en sy gesondheid ervaar. Selfs al het ‘…die Here [het] met Moses gepraat soos vriende wat gesels en mekaar in die oë kyk…’ (Eksodus 33:11 NLV), het die druk om Israel te lei, Moses tot by die punt van wanhoop oorweldig. Elia het die profete van Baäl by Karmelberg oorwin en daarna so depressief geword dat hy wou sterf. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, een van die grootste predikers wat al ooit geleef het, het depressie die ‘swart hond’ genoem wat hom sy hele lewe lank gevolg het. Depressie sal ons almal in een of ander vorm in ons lewe aanraak. Langtermyn depressie neem langer om te oorkom. Die langste pad in die wêreld word egter korter wanneer jy die eerste tree neem, en daardie eerste tree is om na God toe te draai. Of jou depressie nou deur die druk van verantwoordelikheid soos Moses veroorsaak word, of deur die verlies van dinge wat jy liefhet soos Job, of omdat jy soos Elia gedreineerd voel nadat jy ‘n groot sukses bereik het, jy moet na die Groot Geneser toe draai en Hom toelaat om jou weer heel te maak. Dis wat die Psalmdigter gedoen het. Dawid ontken nie sy emosies nie; hy druk hulle aan God in gebed uit. ‘Hoekom is ek nou so mismoedig? Hoekom so hewig ontsteld?..’ (Psalm 42:6 NLV). Hy hou egter nie daar op nie. Hy sê: ‘…Nee, ek plaas my hoop op God! Ek sal Hom weer prys. Hy is my redder en my God!’ (vers 12 NLV). Depressie lig en hoop keer terug wanneer jy God prys en sy goedheid vertrou.
Soul food: Eks 16-18; Luk 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Spr 6:23-25
Some of the godliest people in the Bible and in church history battled depression. Job experienced it through the back-to-back losses of his children, his wealth, and his health. Moses “spoke face to face [with God] as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11 NKJV). Yet the pressures of leading Israel overwhelmed him to the point of despair. Elijah conquered the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and afterwards became so depressed that he wanted to die. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers who ever lived, called depression “the black dog” that followed him all his life. Depression, in some form, will touch each of us at some point in life. Long-term depression takes longer to get over. But the longest road in the world is shorter when you take the first step, and that step is turning to God. Whether your depression is caused by the pressures of responsibility like Moses, or by losing things you love like Job, or feeling drained on the heels of a great success like Elijah, you must turn to the Great Physician and let Him make you whole. It’s what the psalmist did: “My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you” (Psalm 42:6 NIV). David doesn’t deny his emotions; he expresses them to God in prayer. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (v. 11 NIV). But he doesn’t stop there. He says, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Notice, depression lifts and hope returns when you begin to praise God and trust His goodness.
Soul food: Exo 16-18; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Prov 6:23-25
Jy is deel van die familie
Efesiërs 1:4-5 NLV
Ons almal het ‘n behoefte daaraan om te behoort, om deel van ‘n familie te wees. Een pastoor skryf: ‘Ek ken paartjies met harte vol liefde wat begeer om dit op ‘n kindjie uit te stort, maar hulle raak nie swanger nie. Wanneer hulle dan ‘n kind aanneem, sê hulle nie vir die kind dat hy/sy aan hulle verwagtinge moet voldoen as hy in die familie wil bly nie. Net drie foute word geduld – en dan gaan jy terug na die agentskap toe nie. Nee, hulle aanvaar die kind met oop arms en vreugdevolle harte omdat hulle hom liefhet. Hulle neem hom vir ewig in hul huis in, gee hom hulle van en maak hom ‘n wetlike erfgenaam. Lank voor ons geweet het dat ons God nodig het, het Hy ‘…vooraf besluit om ons as sy kinders aan te neem…’ Aardse ouers skei, gaan in hulle onderskeie rigtings en begin nuwe families. God doen dit egter nie; jy hoef nooit bekommerd te wees oor jou plek by Hom of jou verhouding met Hom nie. Ongeag jou ras, kleur, geloof of agtergrond, wanneer jy jou sondes bely en Christus as jou Redder aanvaar, word jou aanneming bindend en permanent. Jy is deel van God se familie.’ Nog ‘n bewys daarvan is dat ‘…die Gees self bevestig die getuienis van ons eie gees dat ons God se kinders is’ (Romeine 8:16 NLV). Besef jy wat dit beteken? Jy hoef nooit weer geïntimideerd of bang te wees of onder ‘n wolk van veroordeling te leef nie, want jy is ‘n kind van God en saam met Christus ‘n erfgenaam (sien Romeine 8:17). Die woord ‘erfgenaam’ beteken dat jy elke seëning en voordeel wat Christus vir jou by die kruis gekoop het, kan opeis. Elke liewe een, sonder uitsondering!
Sielskos: Eks 13-15; Luk 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Spr 6:20-22
We all have a need to belong, to be part of a family. We want a community of people around us that we can go to for support, encouragement, and love. We don’t get to choose the family we’re born into. We might feel like we can’t relate to them, or our family may not make us feel safe and loved. Often our friendships, churches, and colleagues can provide other ‘families’ for us. But sometimes we can feel like we don’t belong anywhere. When we’re feeling like that it’s important to remember that we belong to God’s family. The Bible says: ‘He chose us before the world was made so that we would be his holy people – people without blame before him. Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him’ (NCV). We never have to worry about our standing or our relationship with God. Regardless of race, age, or background, when we repent and accept Christ as our Saviour, our adoption into His family becomes permanent. In Romans it says, ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children’ (8:16 NIV). And in 1 John 3 it says, ‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (v.1 NIV). Once we realise that we’re part of His family, we can find freedom from feeling isolated and fearful. And we don’t have to live feeling condemned and ashamed, because we’re children of God. We belong, and nothing can change that. Take a look at Romans 8:31-39 – we’re His children, we’re loved by Him, and nothing can separate us from that love.
Exo 13-15; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Prov 6:20-22