IS GOD DEAD?
NOTE: After several weeks of absence, Barney’s Bullet has returned with a new look.
Shortly after his marriage to Katharina von Bora, the great reformer Martin Luther was experiencing extreme persecution, which led him into bouts of depression. Arriving home one day, he found his wife dressed in black, wearing a mourner’s veil. Luther froze. “Who died?”
“God did,” she replied.
Stunned, Luther asked, “What do you mean? Of course God didn’t die! How can you say such a thing?”
She stopped, stared at him and replied, “Based on how you’re acting, I can only assume that God must be dead.”
Face it. Depression can wreak havoc in even the hardiest of hearts. Sure, some folks suffer from clinical depression, caused by chemical imbalance. But I’m confident the majority of our anxiety, worry and depression results simply from thinking the wrong thoughts. We center our mind on our misery, rather than our Master. We forget who our Father is, that He’s in charge of the universe and loves us more than we can imagine. God is not dead!
David experienced his share of depression, and in the throes of despair penned these words, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” ( Psalm 13:1-2). Let me paraphrase: “God, are you dead?”
In verse four, he turns his eyes to the Lord in prayer and then notice the transformation in tone. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me” (v 5-6).
David’s mood swing wasn’t the result of anti-depressants. It came from anti-depressing thoughts! And the same’s true for us. Let’s get real. We’re living in times that could suck the joy out of Mr. Rogers. We’re stuck at home. Here in Sonoma County, we can’t go to the beach or eat indoors at restaurants. There’s no sports or movies. You can’t even go to Safeway, without wearing a mask! We’re tired. We’re lonely. We’re battling depression, much like Martin Luther… and David. What’s the answer? Katharina von Bora nailed it. Turn our thoughts away from our troubles and onto our triumph. Pause in God’s presence. Remember all we have and fill our hearts with gratitude. And never ever forget… God is not dead!
Principle: Focusing on the Lord lifts us out of anxiety and depression.
Promise: “I trust in your unfailing love; My heart rejoices in your salvation.”
Ponder:
Under what circumstances do I find myself being pulled into a pit of depression?
What specific thoughts and truths lift me out of it?
Prayer: Loving Father, in the midst of these difficult times, lift me up and turn my heart toward you.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Psalm 13
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.