We have two Thinky Things today, both with a similar theme: You are not alone – let’s do life together.
Psalm 102
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
The psalmist was going through a really low time. He describes what he was going through as we read through Psalm 102, and he shows all the classic signs of depression:
- He felt alone and separated from God. (Psalm 102 v 2).
- He had no interest in everyday life – every day was a grey haze. (v 3).
- He suffered from unexplainable aches and pains. (v 3).
- His emotions felt withered up and dead. (v 4)
- He suffered from loss of appetite. (v 4).
- He was groaning. (v 5).
- He felt all alone. (v 6).
- He couldn’t sleep. (v 7).
- All his friends had left him. (v 7).
- He imagined that everyone was talking about him behind his back. (v 8).
- Even when he did make the effort to eat, his food tasted like ashes. Eating was an effort. (v 9).
- Tears are always close at hand. (v 9).
- He felt like he was being punished by God, guilty and never able to be free from his sin. (v 10).
- And life felt fleeting and worthless. (v 11).
If you feel this way, you are not alone. The psalmist went through it before you. Others are going through it right now, and more will follow.
Depression and other mental illnesses are a terrible thing. But we are not alone. Pray to God. It might not feel like he is listening, but he does.
And ask for help: family, friends, a counsellor, a doctor, or a helpline. You are not alone. Together we can get through it.
1 Corinthains 10
WE CAN OVERCOME
Sometimes it can seem as if we have no choice against temptation’s lures. But that is not the case. Paul gives us some great encouragement helping us to know that we are not alone when it comes to being tempted. We do not have to face temptation alone, and our temptations will never be too strong for us to resist.
Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10 v 13).
Our temptations, even our most private ones, have been experienced by thousands of people before us. If we care to ask, there are probably many others around us right now going through the same temptations as we do – and each of them afraid to admit it.
If we could bring ourselves to confess our sins to each other (James 5 v 16), we could begin to build up a support network that would be a huge help to us all as we struggle to overcome temptation and sin.
And God does not leave us to whatever temptations come our way. He knows where our breaking point is and will never allow us to be tempted beyond that. We can overcome!
With the help of each other, and with God actively involved in our lives, we can overcome and become more than conquerors through him who loved us.
May we always remember that we are not alone.
With love in our Lord
Robert
Robert Prins
New at Thinky Things this week…
Short Story – The Good Old Days
Oliver wants to live in the good old days that his grandfather keeps telling him about. But what will he really find when his grandmother makes him some magic cookies that transport him back to when his grandfather was his age?
The wise man said, “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.” (Ecclesiastes 7 v 10).
Will Oliver discover the same thing?
Read it at https://thinkythings.com/home/short-stories/
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