PSALM 42:5 – Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.”
THEME OF THE DAY: OUT OF THE SPIRITUAL BLUES. Today’s scripture applies to every child of God. No believer will travel to heaven without those painful stops of being cast down, of having hearts in turmoil over fear, worry, anxiety, stress, and the chaos of our own sinfulness and the world around us. It is just the way it is. It is part of not only the journey but the spiritual battle we face. Heaven is our home but we are not home yet.
The quotable Charles Spurgeon sums up the Christian life well, “Fits of depression come over the most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy.” So, when those “spiritual blues” come upon us, don’t immediately start thinking “I must be in sin.” Yes, that could be a cause but not always. As the Prince of Preachers said, “the joyous are not always happy” and we might add, “Christians are not always lacking joy due to sin.” But we don’t have to stay under the dark clouds of the spiritual blues. God provides a way out, multiple ways out, and we want to consider two. . .
First, practice the key element Jesus teaches is to characterize the lifestyle of His followers – And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23). Often times we get discouraged and downcast because we have allowed our lives to focus way too much on ourselves. Jesus basically says, “Say no to yourself.” And when we go contrary to His instruction, it is no wonder we get discouraged. Being self-absorbed will lead to discouragement. We are called to look away from ourselves and unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). So, the path out of the spiritual blues begins with self-denial.
The next thing we are to do if we want to send the spiritual blues away is focus on others. We cannot just stop thinking about ourselves. We need a replacement, and the replacement is what the Master modeled for us – a life of humble, sacrificial service. Remember what Jesus did in the opening of His Upper Room Discourse (John 13-16)? He washed feet – You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:13-17).
As staggering as it is that the Creator would wash the feet of His sinful creatures, what is more astounding is what He knew what was unfolding in His life; betrayal, mock trial, scourging, and crucifixion and yet, His focus was on others, not Himself. And that is what will drive away the spiritual blues. Be Jesus-like. Serve others. Forget yourself. As we do both, we will our joy in the Lord restored and our conformity to the likeness of Jesus a little further developed.
PRAYER: “Father, thank you for heaven, and the place I will never know the pain of living in a fallen world.”
QUOTE: “When discouragement comes knocking at the door of your heart, get up, go past it, and serve someone.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim