| "I
am struggling with what seems to be an eternity in depression or is it
conviction of sin?"
My pastor seems to believe
that it is not depression, just conviction of sin. What have I done
that was so bad to send me into a state of
depression? I know
depression. I have spent my whole life fighting it. Now
when I need to know that God is with me, I find out my depression is because
He is against something I said or did? I have only been in the Lord
for over a year. I am not sure what to do next and having to care
for my three children and home schoolthem, I don't know how much good I
will be to them. I struggle to get up and stay up. I know when
I have met my match. This time, I can't see my way through.
Is my Pastor right? What have I done wrong? I haven't committed
adultery, murder, stolen or blasphemed? What then? I have had
struggles in my marriage. My pastor at one point was a very good
friend. He has since been very distant. I don't have insurance
and I am not even sure that you can help. I'm sorry for going off
course, I think. Thank you for any help you can extend.
Dear Friend: There
are 2 or 3 problems here that you are struggling with. Depression,
guilt and stress.
How much one is affecting
the other is uncertain, but you need to work through all of them. Please
read my article on Depression,
and Stress, also.
First, I'd like to help
you deal with the guilt that has overcome you and help you experience the
depth of love and forgiveness God extends to you. I don't know what sin
you committed to cause your pastor to
say harsh things to you
but, I do know that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world (that
includes you & me), past, present and future sins, and that He
has paid the full penalty for those sins. Romans 8:1 says: "There
is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life?
Have you repented of your sins? Repentance means not only asking
for forgiveness but having a desire to turn from sinful living.
Do you routinely confess
your sins to Him? Jesus has paid the price once and for
all for your sins. He offers to forgive our sins, and to give us the free
gift of eternal life...making peace between us and His Father when we decide
to trust Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. He loved us so much that
He died for our sins 2,000 years ago.
The Bible says that we are
sinners: Rom 3:23-24 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God," (NIV) But that God has provided Jesus as the Savior: John 3:16 says:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
The Bible also says that
we can receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and have eternal life: John 3:36:
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the
Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (NIV)
Read my article on faith
in case you need to know more about God's plan of salvation.
The only sin God can't forgive
is the sin of unbelief, because salvation through Christ (which includes
forgiveness and eternal life) needs to be accepted by faith in order to
be applied to one's life.
Read the following scriptures
and memorize some so that you will begin relying on God's Word and assurance
regarding the forgiveness He offers you in Christ.
Heb 10:10-14 reads:
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands
and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for
all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14
because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being
made holy." (NIV)
There are many verses assuring
us of the forgiveness we have in Christ. Read these and ask
the Lord to help you believe what He has said in His Word about forgiveness.
Acts 10:43 All the prophets
testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness
of sins through his name."
Eph 1:7" In him(Christ)
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God's grace."
Col 1:13-14" For he has
rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom
of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Ps 65:3" When we were overwhelmed
by sins, you forgave our transgressions.'
Ps 103:2-3" Praise the LORD,
O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,'
Ps 103:10-12
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our
iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is
His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so
far has He removed our transgressions from us.'
Isa 43:25 "I, even I, am
he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your
sins no more."
Acts 10:43 "All the prophets
testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness
of sins through his name."
Acts 13:38 "Therefore, my
brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins
is proclaimed to you."
Rom 4:25 He was delivered
over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
I Jn 1:9 "If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV)
Counseling with a (different?)
pastor or Christian counselor and reading the Word of God can help
you sort out the guilt issues you struggle with and determine whether your
guilt is true or false. Remember that (God's) "love covers a multitude
of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).
We don't know our hearts
very well, but God knows us and His forgiveness is complete and eternal
because Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and "not for
our sins only, but the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2). (NIV)
To grow in
your relationship with Christ, attend a solid Bible teaching church to
learn more and to fellowship with God's family. You can contact the
WillowCreek Association for a
recommendation to a churrch near you. Read your Bible and pray everyday.
See
the AACC directory for a list of counselors in your area: www.aacc.net
Read the following book:
What
a Christian Believes; An Easy to Read Guide to Understanding
by Pastor Ray Pritchard for a
further understandingo o the Christian faith. God bless you!
Other books
I recommend are: (you can order them now or check out our resources
page for more selections about topics on faith):
How
You Can be Sure You will Spend Eternity with God by Erwin Lutzer.
Hope
for the Troubled Heart by Billy Graham $4.79
What's
So Amazing about Grace? by
Phillip Yancey $13.99
Praying for
you. Lynette Hoy, NCC, LCPC |