Let me tell you a story: You’re standing out in the cold. No friends. No family. Lost with no shelter – in negative degree weather. A stranger comes by and requests you to do the unspeakable: “You’re not allowed to shiver.” Of course, such a request is completely unrealistic. “Are you kidding me!?!” you reply. But this is exactly what is requested from the lonely, broken, and hurting. It’s an answer that none of us want…
People just like you and me simply desire to have the problem fixed in our own way. To imagine the comfort of your own house with a warm bed. Or perhaps in the kitchen with a warm cup of coffee. But the thing is, you can’t. You have no place to call home. Let’s say you put on a small jacket that you’ve found. Think you can handle the cold now? Maybe a little bit, but the problems persists… You’re still stuck out in the cold.
This is the problem for the lost, hurting, and broken. We want it our own way, but life says we can’t. The same can be said of us as Christians with our relationship with God. Look at the time when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He’s bleeding blood and praying that God will save Him from the cross. But then He says, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Jesus does this three times in the book of Matthew. It was Jesus that wanted the outcome to be different. But it was through God’s will that He must suffer from the cross. We are to have the same faith, obedience, and trust as Jesus did.
I know this is a hard pill to swallow for you. It’s so difficult. All we want is peace and love. All we want is to spend time with friends and family, have a good night’s sleep, and ultimately enjoy our lives. But I would greatly encourage you to look up the prayer of serenity. In such a prayer, it clearly says, “taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.” These are words to live by.
Before I let you go, there’s one more reference I wish to make. I encourage you to look up the song, “Light It Up” by For King & Country. Did you know this song that was written specifically for a depressed individual? You may interpret the lyrics different than me. But if you asked me what this song was about, I would say this is a message to the lost and hurting. To say that, in-fact, you are going through a difficult time of pain, sorrow, and depression. It’s important to acknowledge such so that we can make appropriate decisions. But the song goes on in it’s meaning. Such a song teaches that even when we’re broken, we can still be a light for others. That it’s our decision. You’re going through trials, but what will it be? Will you still be a light for others? If so, then light it up! Keep in mind this is certainly not the answer that we want. We wish to have all our problems solved. But may we take courage of the example that was given to us through Christ. And may we work hard for the Lord as long as we are on this earth.
God bless.