I’ve seen myself as a victim rather than a fighter for far too long. I know some people have doctor-diagnosed chemical imbalances and literal, clinical depression, but these are in the minority. Not that this blog doesn’t apply to you, but rather, if this is you, please don’t take this as me saying you should get off your meds and throw your pills out the window.
Actually, were one to do that, better to flush them; throw them out the window and some idiot’s gonna swallow ‘em, just to see what happens.
But for the rest of us…
I’m tired of being the one cowering behind the living room curtain, keeping a lookout for the big, bad, bully of depression to come around. I see his shadow, and start getting cold sweats and chills.
“Here he comes,” I seem to moan. “Oh man, I’m gonna have a ROTTEN day.”
That’s MY decision. That’s MY call.
“I’m a victim of my pain and depression,” I then go on to explain. “It triggers anger, so, my apologies if I’m hard to live with.”
Don’t mean to offend anyone by my slang, but that’s CRAP, man.
In 2012, I made the decision—despite the chronic pain in my back, hips and legs—to stop taking hydrocodone. Then in 2017, feeling emboldened by the Holy Spirit, I took another step towards freedom and stopped my daily ingestion of Tramadol.
If I can move forward with this type of faith in my PHYSICAL body, why do I have such a hard time doing it for my EMOTIONAL STATE?
I mean, did or did NOT Jesus say we are MORE than conquerors? Well, here it is, see for yourself:
”What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:31, 35, 37
Not a conqueror on my own, but “through” Him, Christ, who loves me. So who says I can’t fight these plagues of depression and anger with everything I have in me? Why can’t I use the Word (the very WORDS) of God to battle my weaknesses?
I’m sick of resigning myself to my “issues.”
“That’s my cross to bear,” I weep. “That’s my weakness, my demon.”
Thus, I asked myself, “What does a Conqueror look like?” and then found this:
“Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.” Psalm 112:6-9
That’s POWERFUL, buddy. Restated, those who trust in the Lord…
- Will not be overcome by evil
- Do not fear bad news (this plays into our family motto, “No fear of the future, no regrets of the past”)
- Are confident
- Are fearless
- Can face their foes triumphantly
- Share freely and give generously to those in need
It’s high time we who serve the Christ start acting like the royalty we are. Each precious daughter of God Almighty is a PRINCESS, and every beloved son is a PRINCE.
Yet we continue to act like paupers, waiting for our “issues” to overtake us, and then begging the Lord to take them away when they do, like Oliver Twist, sheepishly asking for more porridge.
“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b
I think it’s time I sharpened my sword and return to the battlefield. Will I be attacked by our enemy, Lucifer, the Devil? YES, but I will boldly claim this promise:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
The Devil would have us view ourselves as weak and pathetic victims of a dark age. Tired, broken-down, fragile and perplexed, certainly, but crushed? Overcome, defeated? NEVER!
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Because it’s so easy for me to read something like this and not catch how freaking AWESOME it is (and because, like my wife, I’m a “list” person), we can feel free to remind Satan of the following:
- I have troubles but will NOT be crushed or broken!
- I’m perplexed, but will NOT give up!
- I may feel hunted by my weaknesses, but God will NOT abandon me!
- I get knocked down, but will NOT stay down! I get up and keep going.
I pray this is speaking to your heart as much as it is mine today. Thank the Lord for His promises.
We’ve not been left out in the cold, November rain (sorry, the 80s metal-head in me couldn’t resist), naked and ashamed, shivering, feverish and dying. NO! We shall find shelter in the Lord.
“You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory.” Psalm 32:7
I can’t promise my family I’ll morph into Brother Larry Sunshine, fully overcome with joy and giggles, passing out flowers on the freeway, but what I CAN promise is I shall FIGHT these things which haunt me. In the Name of Christ, I shall BATTLE that which seeks to destroy me, and I shall overcome.
“Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Blessings.
Broken People 