Thursday January 14th, 2021
« “You loved justice and hated evil, and so I, your God, have chosen you. I appointed you and made you happier than any of your friends.” »
1 From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ— To God’s chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
2 You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by His Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by His blood.
May grace and peace be yours in full measure.
3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Because of his great mercy He gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death.
This fills us with a living hope,
4 and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people.
He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away.
5 They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God’s power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
6 Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer.
7 Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine.
Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure.
Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 You love Him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see Him.
So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express
9 because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him.
It would be hypocritical to act as if one cannot see how fast depression is taking over the minds of many people today.
I want to let you know that there is a tested and sure way out of depression.
- Suicide is not a way out because that will only lead to hell, and believe me, the depression and suffering in hell is far worse than what obtains here on earth.
Don’t go that route at all.
- Alcohol is also not a way out of depression. If anything, it makes matters worse because the repercussions of actions taken when under the influence of alcohol will lead to further depression.
- Food does not heal depression either. Many depressed people choose to eat away their worries, but unfortunately, food does not cure depression. At best, it would only make their stomach full so that they become so tired that they sleep off.
What a depressed fellow really needs is joy.
You see, happiness depends on happenings, but Joy comes from the Lord, irrespective of prevailing circumstances.
The first step to having joy is to become a believer in Christ.
“Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words”
When you become a born-again Christian, loving righteousness and hating iniquity, God will anoint you with the oil of gladness above your fellows (Hebrews 1:9).
Joy is the fruit of the Spirit and a means by which a born-again Christian may be identified (Matthew 7:16 ).
- Finally, depression thrives in silence
Speak out today if you are struggling with unhappiness.
Seek counseling from a more mature Christian, preferably a pastor of the same gender in a bible- believing church.
Also, as brethren in Christ, we all ought to consciously look out for one another, showing kindness and love at all times.
The Joy of the Lord will keep strengthening us all in the mighty name of Jesus.
Key point: Maintain a close relationship with God from today and you will say goodbye to depression forever.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Text edited by Naomie
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