Title: Overcoming Depression
Contents
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
As famous celebrities' suicides are reported one after another in the newspapers, psychiatrists and psychologists analyze them, revealing that the sudden shock from their honor and anxiety and worry about the future are the cause. However, there is also depression in the life of faith.
In today's text, Peter does the amazing thing of walking on water. But after a while, Peter fell into the deep water. There is something we must point out here. When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he said, “Jesus, let me also walk on the water.” He asked for permission, and at Jesus' permission, the storm stepped into the sea and walked. As Peter walked on the water, nothing changed. Whether stepping on or walking, the environment was the same. But suddenly Peter fell into the water, and Jesus rescued him from drowning and told him why he fell into the water. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The reason that Peter fell into the water was not because of his surroundings, but because it was Peter's own problem.
The depression of faith we have today, the change of faith as if we suddenly fell into the water one day after believing hard. Where are these causes? “O you of little faith,” it is in our faith.
The first cause of Peter's depression of faith was his temperament. Humans are born with temperament, and this temperament does not change well until death. However, the temperament God has given us is often an advantage in our life. At the same time, this temperament is also a disadvantage.
Strengths develop me, but these strengths can also make me fall. Peter's characteristics are quick decisions, active personality, and enthusiasm. These are the strengths that make Peter shine. But this temperament also makes Peter fail. If I had known that Jesus was going to die on the cross before Peter quickly said, “Lord, wherever you go, everyone else may forsake you, I will follow you to the point of death.” He would not have made that mistake. So, it was because of the quick judgment and deep thought that passionate, active people might lack.
The second reason we have spiritual depression is because we have little faith and doubts, as Jesus pointed out. Peter's surroundings did not change, but he created his own doubts and created his own fears. So is our faith. It is because the circumstances around them do not change, but they create their own doubts and fears.
Also, doubt and faith always exist together in us. In our hearts we have faith and at the same time we have doubts. If there is faith, there is no doubt; if there is doubt, there is no faith, but in the presence of faith there is doubt, and in doubt there is faith. Abraham also believed in God, but he doubted, “Can God really give me children?” Abraham had doubts even though he was the father of faith.
If we are to overcome religious depression, we must grow in our faith. Doubts must be made small and faith must be enlarged. We have faith and doubt together, and as our faith grows, our doubts become smaller.
Then, the way to overcome religious depression is to cultivate faith in us. The way to increase your faith is to first have the right knowledge of Jesus. Faith is the knowledge of Jesus.
Second, there is no change in Jesus' love for us. Jesus never regrets choosing us. That is why we say in John 13:1 that Jesus loved his disciples “to the end” and that he loved them forever. So we must look to the Lord who loves us to the end. If we do not look to the Lord in our lives in this world and look to other things, we will inevitably fall into depression like Peter did. I hope you will always look to the Lord who loves us unchangingly.
The third thing that greatly enhances our faith is the fact that God never lets us drown. As Peter fell into the water, Jesus immediately took his hand. In John 13, it says, “No one will snatch you out of my hand.” No one can snatch us out of the hand of Jesus.
Everyone, we need to grow our faith in us. So we have to get rid of doubt in us relatively. Just like people whose faith is upright, we must live a life free from the bipolar disorder of faith yesterday, today, and forever. I hope that you will work hard yesterday, work hard today, and live your life of faith as a person who works hard tomorrow. People who work hard regardless of rain or snow, I believe that God will use such people greatly. While I am working, I will continue to work. Because God is pleased with the constant work. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will work unchangingly to overcome the depression of faith and become a leader of faith.
2007-03-10 13:36:02