By Nancy Virden (c)2020

My concern is for those of you who struggle with depression, addiction, or abuse, and for those of you who are troubled over a loved one who has one or more of these issues.

In current times of isolation and danger, one might wonder if there is any hope. The short answer is a resounding YES.

It is one of the foundations of Always the Fight to apply the Word of God, also named the  Holy Bible, to our deepest needs. As one who can personally relate to the issues of depression/suicide, addiction, and abuse, I have found every promise of God to be realistic and relevant during my darkest hours.

But how do we know God is good?

Some of the people whose stories feature in the Old Testament are not-so-great humans.  The Bible gives accounts of crime, abuse, murder, and slavery. It can seem strange and difficult to understand God’s purpose. 

In one such example, we see King David who led his country well and honored God with his worship. This same King David abused his power to murder an innocent man and steal his wife. In reading such tragedies it is tempting to get lost in the whys and perhaps question the nature of God.

The Bible doesn’t hide from the messiness of real life. Looking past the surface, we learn that these accounts overflow with evidence of God’s unrelenting love. He is faithful even when people fail. In each record of human terribleness, we see God pulling out all the stops to chase evil out and bring light in. 

The overall theme of the Bible is threefold: God created people without badness; people sinned (did wrong to hurt God and others); Jesus gave us a way to return to God as his holy (with no sin) children. God’s mercy reverberates throughout the good book.  

Some things never change

Just as King David had the freedom to choose how to be, we do also. 

• We are free to choose whether to look beyond the surface of the Bible or not.
• We are free to trust God’s process of salvation through Jesus or not. 
• We are free to choose to trust Him through the coronavirus crisis or not.

How people behave or believe is not a reflection of God’s nature. Galatians 5: 22,23 is a description of who God is. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”

God is always good. It is unwise to look to people’s actions or to the suffering in the world and make a judgment about God and His Son, Jesus. This coronavirus is an unlovely, unwanted human tragedy. Since God does not change, we know from the Bible that He embraces us and is excited when we come to Him.

We can trust Him to carry us through whatever comes. He is our hope. 

Today’s Helpful Word  

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

 

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

*** COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME

NOTE: I am not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speak only from personal experiences and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

*Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright (c) 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.., Carlo Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.