Overcoming depression and discouragement

Believers, the Old Testament is filled with faith pictures that have as their substance our Saviour Jesus Christ and our life in Him. Remember the two despondent disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24? They were sad because they felt that their hope of redemption was lost since Christ had died. Here's what Christ did as He walked with them:

27 "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."

Check out the result in verse 32! "And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”"

The New Testament did not exist yet. Seeing Christ is the Scriptures (Old Testament) sets our hearts on fire for Him. The word of His Grace is the power of God to salvation, including salvation from depression and every earthly ill. We see a faith picture in the story of David and his 3D (in distress or in debt or discontented) army in 1 Samuel 22:2 -

"All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him."

This is a picture of Christ and the grace revolution that is setting hearts on fire for Christ all over the world today. People are getting tired and discontented with the untruths that many "church leaders" are preaching in the name of Christ and are seeking the Truth. This is the Spirit of God moving and as it was with Saul and David, proponents of established religious practices in the church are still trying to suppress the message of the cross (Grace) which Paul described as "foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." in 1 Corinthians 1:18.

But we all know that David and his 3D army (many of whom were transformed into giant slayers like David) overcame, all without wishing for Saul's death! This is the beauty of these faith pictures. We get to see the result of being in Christ.

The Root and the Offspring of David, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is still receiving recruits into His 3D army - Distressed souls (oppressed, filled with fear, anxiety, worry and depression,) those in Debt (dreading payment/judgment for their sins and financially too!) and the Discontented (generally unhappy with life and the message that is being preached in many churches and seeking the Truth)

As He orchestrated in the faith picture with David above, the Lord Jesus Christ is receiving all who come unto Him, no matter how sinful or miserable; no matter the level of their indebtedness to the law; accepting and granting peace to the discontented. He transforms us into His holy people and employs us in His service. He is using weak instruments - the Distressed, the Debtors and the Discontented - to bring about His own purposes.

No room for those who are "not that bad" and can still manage to do things to save themselves to join this army!

Believers, ask the Lord to lead you on the path of righteousness. By His grace, join this army of Christ just as you are - distressed, in debt, discontented. These traits are what qualify you to join and you will never remain the same.

Where the men of Israel saw Goliath (representing whatever troubles or puts you under condemnation today) and fled in fear at his taunting, David saw an uncircumcised Philistine that dared to taunt the armies of the living God. David killed Goliath and his 3D army went on to become like him, also killing giants! With Christ, you too will slay giants of reproach, oppression, depression and discouragement that the cursed Satan taunts you with today.

1 John 4:17 says "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."

With Christ as our righteousness, as He is, so are we in this world. In Him, everything representing that reproach-peddling Goliath in our lives (oppression, depresssion, acts of sin, distress, debt, discontent, fear, addiction whatever) is defeated and not because we put in any effort. It is His undeserved, unmerited favour- Grace. In Christ, we get to slay giants, yet not us but Christ in us! Only believe. He is Saviour to the uttermost.

Tell Him now that you don't even know what to pray. He will give you your prayer. He will help you. He will save you.

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right!