I wrote my last post 3 years ago.
Been thinking a lot but not writing anything.
Its January 2019 and everybody is talking about been focused et al but I have been struggling with demons.
Looked at a Bible Plan on Depression and this has answered my prayers... In a sense.
Imagine someone telling you that I am cheating on my wife.
Imagine you inquiring and finding out that this person believes I am cheating because of something I said.
Imagine finding out later that the person came to the conclusion that I was cheating because of what he heard someone said that another person was told that I said something?
Imagine finding out, eventually, that the original story is that I love the way India Arie sang Brown skin.
Let that sink.
How did my love for the way India Arie sang Brown skin become my infidelity to my love, Usi Egbuson?
Many people have been trapped in this kind of predicament but imagine when its about God Almighty?
One of the verses cited for Christians going through depression is Matthew 11: 28.
Matthew 11:28 English Standard Version (ESV)
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Sounds encouraging right... But by the time I compared scripture with scripture, I realized that this scripture is not primarily about being depressed. Its about longing for righteousness.
All I needed to do to get to this point was read the following verses below
John 7:37 English Standard Version (ESV)
Rivers of Living Water
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
John 6:37 English Standard Version (ESV)
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
Matthew 11:3 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Matthew 23:4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
Luke 11:46 English Standard Version (ESV)
46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
By the time I was done and started doubting whether the initial verse, Matthew 11:28, was talking about depression I decided to read Matthew 11:25 - 30 to understand the context.
The Lord was talking about resting in him as opposed to resting in ceremonial law and all the ordinances.
So even though the Bible verse is one of those quoted to aid depression a deeper look into it reveals that the depression I am referring to is one that is caused by the want/lack of earthly joys and comforts. My childlessness/ physical pain/ desire for a more comfortable life.
It points to the fact that a brother should repent from chasing after the things that 'gentiles' chase after and instead, lean on the everlasting arms of Christ my Savior.
Are you a Christian? May I encourage you to dig deeper into the word and study to show yourself approved?
What worries me now is that this was not a deep dive Bible Study. It was just a quick following of the 'white rabbit'.
May the good Lord have mercy now, in 2019 and forever. Amen.
