"Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief." (Proverbs, ch. 14, v. 13*)
Have you ever smiled in front of others, while feeling sad inside? Sadness, pain, despair, depression – these are states we barely talk about as Christians. It seems if you're a Christian and you experience any of the above, it makes you less of a Christian. Apostle Paul tells us: "Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say: Rejoice!" (Philippians, ch. 4, v. 4*) and "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians, ch. 5, v. 16*). Embracing these verses, we assume that a Christian's life is one of constant joy. And who wouldn't rejoice, knowing that the Son of God gave His life for us so that we could be redeemed, forgiven, and saved today. Yes, we have a reason to rejoice. But precisely because we are human, we sometimes find ourselves weak, facing various problems, overwhelmed by worries, or simply observing what is happening around us – where evil seems to abound without obstruction. Sometimes we are hurt by people close to our hearts, other times unjustly wronged or simply ignored by those around us. Then, bitterness, pain, loneliness, despair, or depression may overtake us. If we ourselves have not experienced any of these feelings or fallen into such states, we have probably encountered people with similar issues. How do we treat them? Do we pass them by, not understanding how they have fallen into this state, or do we point fingers in condemnation when it comes to Christians?
When seeking a way out of despair or a cure for depression, there is no better place than at the foot of the Cross, where all of God's love is poured out in fullness. Reflecting on what happened so long ago, yet still alive today, we realize how immeasurably great this divine love must be – God who gives His only Son for us. How immeasurably great must the love of our Lord Jesus Christ be, who, humbling with the greatest meekness the world has ever seen, humbles Himself, becomes one of us, and bears our sins, suffering on the cross in our place. How great this love must be, that notwithstanding our disbelief, wicked hearts, and voluntary estrangement from God, He does not abandon us and continues to seek a way to each person's heart! How great and boundlessly high, this vast love!
We can think of a verse from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, which states: "(...) Surely I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued to show kindness to you." (Book of Jeremiah, ch. 31, v. 3*) These words are addressed to God's people, who, because of disobedience, are sent into exile. Words that reveal so much from God's loving heart. Words that offer hope that even if a person has erred, even if they are enduring punishment due to disobedience, God is still ready to embrace him with His love and show him mercy. So you, who are reading this, if you have failed many times, if you think that you have hit rock bottom, if you are desperate and feel abandoned, even by God, turn to the Word of God, for there are many examples like those described above. And each one of them testifies to God's love! "Surely I have loved you with an everlasting love!" – these are God's words to you today. Allow Him to embrace you with it, to comfort you, to heal the wounds in your heart, to restore you, to help you stand up, and to give you the strength to continue. There is no better cure for each of us than God's loving heart! Likewise, there is no better way for us to help those who are going through a tough period than becoming a conduit of this love ourselves! There is no better cure for a suffering heart than love – God's towards us and the one we give.
Challenge for the week: Look around! And if you see someone who is suffering, who is in despair, who needs to be listened to, who is confused, or simply needs a friend, show love! It would mean so much...
*Biblical quotes are according to the text of the Bible, revised edition © Bulgarian Bible Society 2015.
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