Beyond Sadness

Recently, I heard a sermon message that hit a nerve - the topic was sadness, anxiety, and depression. Seems that these days, the Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Gen Zs, and young children are burdened with pervasive anxiety and depression. Many require therapy or mood-altering medicine to combat anxious and depressive symptoms. Fear, insecurity, trauma, lethargy, and suicide attempts plague our society, right down to the youngest in our families. The sermon message highlighted this problem and pointed us back to the solution, heartfelt repentance, family unity, and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

And I thought, where do we typically learn about faith, our heavenly Father, and a relationship with Jesus? For most, we learn in our homes, where a true believer's faithful conduct is modeled by our parents, grandparents, and extended family. In my mind, the answer is simple: follow Jesus, eyes on Jesus. But why does doing that seem so difficult? How do we re-establish core values of faith in our modern family?

Our society has grown to include different cultures with divergent attitudes and values. We are highly mobile. Nuclear families with a two-parent household, including Mom and Dad, with grandparents nearby, have become the exception. And many families have simply given up old ways. Do we applaud or do we pity the "traditional" family structure where Dad goes to work and provides for the family while Mom nurtures children and maintains the home front? Often, we more easily understand the sacrifice and lifestyle when both parents exhaust themselves, working full time and "tag team" parenting duties with the children.

Further, we see single parent homes where stewarding faith takes a back seat to working multiple jobs to make ends meet. I know from first-hand experience the trauma of single parenting through the ugliness of separation and divorce. A pastor once said that, for the children of divorce, it is not like a single bullet to the family that can be removed and overcome. On the contrary, it is more like a bomb going off inside the family with waves of injury and repercussions for years into adulthood and into future generations. Indeed!

Yet, in pursuit of bigger and better things, lifestyles, paychecks, houses, and opportunities, many folks have actively chosen to shift away from the love and support of close-knit families and our heavenly Father. I know because I did for many years. Instead, we search for that Holy Grail, the shiny penny, the next promotion, a larger house, more prestige, or the bigger object of our desire that promises to fill us with joy!

I wondered, have we gone too far down this road to turn back?

I reflected about our nation's history for the timing when this shift began. Over the past 100 years, we see a subtle but life changing shift from eyes on God and preservation of the family to eyes on things of this world and now, to eyes on self. Enter pride, selfishness, false humility, performance, competition, comparison. Unfortunately, we do not see much "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV) Instead, we see that by holding onto selfish traits, the devil has places to land among us and expand his evil kingdom.

Sadly, I believe the result of these selfish traits can be seen today in generations of people who do not know the Lord. Consequently, many suffer serious physical, mental, and emotional illnesses. While I recognize that believers may also suffer from various illnesses, I believe that those who do not know the Lord suffer without hope. They feel alone, isolated, unfulfilled, anxious, restless, empty, depressed, lethargic, without direction or clear purpose, longing for something more. Many people chase after the next worldly thing for their healing or to make them feel whole. If you watch television for several minutes, we see advertisements for a pill, drug, or injection for treatment of depression, anxiety, and maladaptation. Yet, even with free-flowing prescriptions, we are not healed, just medicated.

And now, in the busyness to achieve or reach for more, the prevalence of anxiety and depression are on the increase. The Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary defines anxiety as "apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness, usually over an impending or anticipated ill; a mentally distressing concern or interest; an abnormal or overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs, such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate, by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it."

Significant words in this definition include SELF, DOUBT, ABNORMAL FEAR, SENSE OF APPREHENSION, and OVERWHELMING. Do you see the subtle influence of the evil one in these terms? He taunts and tries to condemn us into believing that everything is hopeless and out of control. Eyes on self and anxiety increases. Anxiety then, in my opinion, manifests as chronic worry over what might happen with future situations over which you have no control. And over time, as Scripture tells us, anxiety becomes depression, a significant disorder. But who is in control?

Further, the Mayo Clinic, an entity of medical treatment and information, tells us that "occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, but when symptoms are chronic, long term and out of control, intervention becomes necessary." And what about a condition or state of being called "depression"? The Mayo Clinic describes depression as a "Mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest, affecting how you feel, think, and behave, that can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems." (www.MayoClinic.org)

To those searching for help to alleviate anxiety and depression, I say, Stop!

Take a moment and redirect your thoughts back to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! We were not meant to carry these heavy burdens in life. Stop the worry and put your eyes back on Jesus! "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV)

Take time to quiet your soul. Rest often. Stop the busyness. Read Scriptures and pray. Worship. Connect with other believers. Praise the One True Living God!

Pay attention to this Scripture, a direct admonition from Jesus: "THEREFORE, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ........Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? THEREFORE, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ......For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. THEREFORE, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34, NKJV)

Abba Father, help us to remember and apply the Word of Jesus! Do not worry! Keep your eyes on Jesus. Quiet time. Rest. Pray and share the Word with your family. Simple and to the point. Why do we make it so complicated?

How do we get out of depression and anxiety and keep our eyes on the Lord? Read further, there is Hope!

This message is from Jesus Himself: "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30, NKJV) Eyes on Jesus, not the world's troubles.

Sometimes we are tremendously burdened with anxiety, grief, and depression. The only words we pray are "Jesus, help!" Truly, that is enough. The Lord hears our prayers, especially when we admit our weakness and desire His strength. Build on that first step and repent. Turn to Him and continually seek His face! And speak to your family as you grow in your faith. Embrace your significant role as mother, grandmother, daughter, sister or sister-in-law. Families transform and return to Jesus when one person takes hold of their faith! Share your journey. Jesus said, "For where two or more are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20, NKJV)

After many years of suffering the consequences of my own poor decisions, resulting in anxiety, mild depression, divorce, physical health issues, financial problems, and more, I am so thankful for the prayers of my grandmothers, my mother, my aunt, and my close friends. These prayers carried me through difficult seasons, even when I was my own worst enemy. And these prayers brought me to my knees before the One who has all the answers, our heavenly Father. He knew me before the world began, and He has an assignment for me on this earth. He has a particular assignment for you as well.

And remember, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16, NKJV)

When I returned to Him with my whole heart, I realized that my selfish lifestyle and self-will impacted many. It impacted my family and those around me who may have missed their blessings because of my disobedience to the Lord. That revelation was a tough lesson for me. But the Lord heard my cries and held on to me. I started a new life when I repented of selfish ways. I truly brought my burdens to Him and cast my cares on Him! Remember: "Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, NKJV)

As my faith grew, the Lord showed me how to release guilt, shame, fear, trauma, anger, bitterness and resentment, anxiety and depression. Now, I purposefully go to My Heavenly Father every day - in prayer, praise, worship, quiet time, fellowship with other believers, and through my reading and study of His Holy Word.

Will you allow our heavenly Father to change your heart today?

There is so much JOY and FREEDOM in laying down our burdens to pursue life as a precious daughter of the Lord, Our God! Eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! Believe this: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV)

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do we get out of depression and anxiety and keep our eyes on the Lord?

2. Will you allow our heavenly Father to change your heart today?

3. Decide today to keep your eyes on Jesus. Find a church near you and attend. Take notes on the sermon. Read, study and apply the Word. Journal as you study His Word. Pray. Fellowship with other believers. Teach your family as you learn. Pray together as a family. Read the Bible together too! Eyes on Jesus! Believe and start your journey to be set free from anxiety and depression today!