Sometimes we are too troubled even to pray. What do we do then?
I believe we simply need to remember that we are in God's hands. It may be all we need to do is - nothing. Just imagine resting in Christ's arms, saying nothing and letting his love bring comfort to us.
One of the great examples in the Bible of spiritual depression or exhaustion is the story of the prophet Elijah running away from Queen Jezebel of Israel.
This comes just after Elijah has won a great victory - through the power of God - over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. God showed the people of Israel that he was God - not Baal - by bringing fire supernaturally on animal sacrifices.
In 1 Kings 19, we see Elijah running away to Mount Sinai in fear for his life even though God had displayed his power, a power far greater than Jezebel's.
He settled under a broom tree and asked God to take his life.
That is the pit of despair.
But God steps in and puts Elijah back on his feet - physically, spiritually and emotionally. He tells him to listen for God's voice and God speaks to him in a whisper.
God tells Elijah to buck up and get on with the tasks that he has given the prophet. And he promises a successor to carry on his work.
Sometimes a tragedy or an illness or a family dispute or a job loss can submerge us and we feel like Elijah, abandoned and hopeless. But God made his presence felt in Elijah's case and he will do so with us too.
We may be able to say nothing more than "Help!" as we look to God. But we can rest in God, wordless.
In the great passage in Matthew 11:28, Jesus says: "Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Ultimately, we must get beyond being preoccupied with self and start laying out our concerns to God.
In Philippians 4:6, the apostle Paul says: "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all that he has done."
That is excellent advice. Take everything to God and thank him for what he has already done in the past. A thankful heart starts to lift the veil of depression.
Yet when we can't even do that, we need to remember Jesus' words: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Then, we need to lean upon him without words, confident he loves us.
I believe we simply need to remember that we are in God's hands. It may be all we need to do is - nothing. Just imagine resting in Christ's arms, saying nothing and letting his love bring comfort to us.
One of the great examples in the Bible of spiritual depression or exhaustion is the story of the prophet Elijah running away from Queen Jezebel of Israel.
This comes just after Elijah has won a great victory - through the power of God - over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. God showed the people of Israel that he was God - not Baal - by bringing fire supernaturally on animal sacrifices.
In 1 Kings 19, we see Elijah running away to Mount Sinai in fear for his life even though God had displayed his power, a power far greater than Jezebel's.
He settled under a broom tree and asked God to take his life.
That is the pit of despair.
But God steps in and puts Elijah back on his feet - physically, spiritually and emotionally. He tells him to listen for God's voice and God speaks to him in a whisper.
God tells Elijah to buck up and get on with the tasks that he has given the prophet. And he promises a successor to carry on his work.
Sometimes a tragedy or an illness or a family dispute or a job loss can submerge us and we feel like Elijah, abandoned and hopeless. But God made his presence felt in Elijah's case and he will do so with us too.
We may be able to say nothing more than "Help!" as we look to God. But we can rest in God, wordless.
In the great passage in Matthew 11:28, Jesus says: "Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Ultimately, we must get beyond being preoccupied with self and start laying out our concerns to God.
In Philippians 4:6, the apostle Paul says: "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all that he has done."
That is excellent advice. Take everything to God and thank him for what he has already done in the past. A thankful heart starts to lift the veil of depression.
Yet when we can't even do that, we need to remember Jesus' words: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Then, we need to lean upon him without words, confident he loves us.
These are the times where just saying "Jesus..." holds much much power.
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