This is a revision of a post I had up some weeks ago, because i became in the know of something new.
I got back from church some weeks ago feeling really depressed, so depressed I thought of dying, like just skip these scenes of my life and get to the part where i spend the rest of my life with Jesus.
Church was really good, like so good. I still wonder where such evil feelings came from. Oh! yeah, hell!
I have written a number of times on overcoming depression.You can have a read here and here if you missed out on it . Maybe I over exaggerate these feelings sometimes.
*shrugs
But then I am human after all. Yes! I feel these things, love, anger, fear, doubts, anxiety…..but how do I deal with the them? Or handle them?
As the days went by, studying my Bible I realized that great men of God actually faced similar experience.
I was really excited when i read of Prophet Elijah’s story, i literally jumped off my bed. Like! what?! what?! Hol’up! wait a minute. You can read his story here I Kings 19:3-8
Prophet Elijah felt what i felt too! You know how you find a story you can so relate to and learn from? That was exactly how i felt.
Elijah who God took up to heaven in a chariot of fire was depressed he also felt like dying. A man who had such closeness with God and a huge mandate to fulfill on earth prayed to God to take his life because he could not bear it no longer.
Paul was overwhelmed with life he at a point also thought of stopping, going to be with Jesus. Philippians 1:21-26
But thank God I can learn from their experiences. Elijah went far away to be by himself, he talked to God about how he felt and waited under an oak tree for God to respond.
An angel of the Lord came and fed him, then he received strength and he went about his ministry.
So you and I could try out this style, go be by ourselves and pour everything at God's feet and wait for Him to strengthen us just like He did Elijah.
Paul had to remind himself that the life he lived didn’t belong to him.He had to fulfill what he had been given to fulfill;to strengthen the new converts and even win more souls for the Kingdom.
We all have mandates for our lives, heaven has written things about our lives. e.g.You are the light of the world. Remind yourself everyday. You cannot afford to dim that light just yet
Moreover I noticed Paul surrounded himself with like minded people, people who were growing in the faith as well.
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, let us encourage one another all the more since the day of the lord is coming nearer.- Hebrews 10:25
This is more like a preventive and proactive way- just surround yourself with people of faith who can pull you up when necessary.
God owns our lives and He would call for it when He wants, we don’t call the shots. You keep living and basking in His glory
Amen