I CALL THEM CURES FOR THE
BLUES
It was Saturday and I got
up early as usual. I told myself God loves me and started my day. I wasn’t
feeling top notch and didn’t know exactly what was bothering me: upcoming
doctor appointment? No. Looking for a new work project? No. I went through a
list of things that could possibly be bringing me down, but there was nothing specific.
I just was feeling somewhat deflated, discouraged and sad. Satan would like to
keep us all that way as long and as often as possible so we get so discouraged
we give up on all we’re doing for the Lord.
But it’s not going to
happen.
I started off by telling myself Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; I will rejoice and be glad
in it.” I also told myself: “I’m going
to have a great day.” I had to say it three times before I even partially
believed it. I felt like just crawling back into bed, but instead I just
started doing things. I went outside, swept the patio, did some paperwork,
cooked some vegetables for my best friend, and I started to feel better.
We all get disappointed and discouraged at times and sometimes want to
indulge in a bit of self-pity over one thing or another. It’s just human
nature. We get tired of always fighting and working and fighting and working
and it just gets us down sometimes.
Jesus’ disciples had the same problem.
Jesus took them to the Mount of Olives just before his crucifixion. He
told them to pray while he went off a little ways to pray by himself. But when
he “rose up
from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow”
(Luke 22:45).
That’s just how I felt. Midway through the day it was still heavy
and I just didn’t want to do anything but take a long nap and escape the blues.
But Jesus “said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye
enter into temptation” (vs.46). And isn’t that just so true? If we stay in our
“poor me, I just want to sleep” state we’re much more likely to fall into
deeper temptations that get harder and harder to escape. Satan is definitely
looking for that. “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
A great example of someone who let the “poor me” temptation escalate
into years of sorrow was the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. He’d been
coming down to the pool to get his healing for years on end, 38 to be exact. Jesus
asked him, “Do you want to
become well? Are you really in earnest about getting well?” (John 5:6). The man
didn’t say yes. Instead he answered by blaming other people, saying it was
their fault he wasn’t getting healed.
It’s easy to blame
others for our lack of joy, health and happiness. But Jesus told the crippled
man he had to take the forward action himself. “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy
bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and
walked” (vs.8-9).
When there’s no one around to lift us up out of our slump, we have
to do it ourselves with God’s Word. And because God already knew we’d have some
problems with this, He put lots of scriptures throughout the Bible to help us.
I call them cures for the blues.
Hebrews 12:12 is a good
one: “Wherefore lift up the hands
which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet.”
And 1 Timothy 1:6-7 says,
“Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee. For God
hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind.”
Isaiah 61:3 tells us the Lord gives
us “the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” But we’re the ones who have to
put it on. When we’re feeling burdened, the last thing we want to do is get up,
go to the closet and put on something bright and happy. But I’ll never forget
the words of Rose Marie, a secretary I once met. I complimented her on how
pretty she looked one day. She replied, “I always try to look my best when I
feel my worst.” Great advice.
Nothing really spectacular happened during the day but I just kept
moving and at the end of the day God gave me a great reward:
Jane and I were coming home from doing some errands and a young
couple, Mayra and her husband (20 and 21 years old) were walking down the
street. Several months ago it was raining and I gave Mayra a ride to her job
over at the Circus Circus Hotel. We had a great talk about Jesus and she told
me her husband was starting to believe in Jesus too. She said they didn’t have
a car anymore and were going to move across country to live with her dad and go
to school.
And here they were today, walking down the street (God’s perfect
timing) with two big suitcases, a guitar and their little Chihuahua dog in a
pink carrying case. I waited for them to get to our driveway and asked, “Are
you leaving now?” She answered, “Yes.”
“To the airport?” I asked. “How are you going to get there?” She
looked at the ground and barely whispered, “We don’t know exactly.” Jane
instantly spoke up, “We’ll give you a ride. Just wait a minute and we’ll be
right back.”
We went inside, gathered some snacks into a bag and came back out.
Mayra started to wipe the tears from her eyes, as she clutched the snack bag. I
hugged her and told her we were happy to give them a ride. She said, “Nobody is
this nice after only meeting someone one time.” They didn’t have a car so they were
used to walking, but ten miles to the airport? That’s crazy!
We were so blessed to be able to help them start their new life.
Then on the way home I got a text message thanking me for some help I gave
another friend. God gave me a really spectacular and rewarding end to a day
that started out sad and discouraging. I’m so thankful for His Word and His
love.
This event happened over two and a half years ago, but I was actually
feeling a little discouraged today. When I came home from work and opened my
folder of articles and read this one, I had to smile at myself. It was just
what I needed and now I’m feeling way much better! Praise God!
Love, Carolyn
FREE printable PDF file of one of my sample
books. e-mail me at cjmolica@hotmail.com.
These are the choices: MIRACLES, WORKS OF FAITH, SUPERNATURAL POWERS, WORDS,
COMFORT, BIBLE STUDY, SPIRITUAL EYES, COMMITMENT. A DEVIL ON EVERY DOOR KNOB Parts 1&2
No comments:
Post a Comment