HEAVY WEIGHTS

    When I was a child and into my young adult life, I had a weight that I carried. I just felt this lump of sadness inside of me that would not go away. No reason that I could remember. My childhood was pretty decent. But there was always something. I became a Christian and eventually it lifted.

Until we deal with the spiritual we cannot expect the other facets of us and our lives to change. I know that many many millions of people are hurting in this world today. Lebanon has fallen into anarchy, Iraq is colonised by Iran and electricity is being withheld, Jordan has fallen, Afghanistan is fallen, Syria is being taken over by Iran. Wow and that is just one part of the Middle East.

I have not even mentioned the billions in abject poverty who would just be grateful for one proper meal per day. Due to 2020 there are others who are now waking up to the reality that they have to downsize, return to family homes, stop buying meals etc. For many rice and peas is all they can afford right now.

Sometimes there is no one to blame. Sometimes the ones to blame are not reachable. That burden, or weight of pain of loss, is heavy I know. Everyday I am reading about people whom I met at one point in time who died. That spirit of depression has easy targets.

When we feel heavy, we feel there is no hope and it can lead to suicide. Statistics show that more children are committing suicide. Farmers in the UK have been prone to this too. It is important to offer hope and practical advice to help others. 

Not everyone has support systems in place. Like the weight lifer, he had three people on standby to help him if it got to be too much. These people were experienced. This is something I observed with our young people. They surround themselves with others young like themselves and with others just like themselves. We need to build support systems around us. 

It is important to have a sensitive ear and be willing to spend a little time with those who need it. Identify the vulnerable around you. Keep watch and pray. When that spirit of suicide hits it takes more than one life with it. Rebuke it from your family, community and nation in Jesus name. Take opportunities to pray with others. Give a blessing as a greeting. 

The Bible says the joy of The Lord is our strength. Why? My answer would be that by focusing on Him we are able to regain control of our life. We have hope in knowing that what we suffer on this earth cannot affect us in eternity in Heaven. Surrendering to Jesus, all the hurts and the insecurities is the answer to our prayer.

There is a practical application to this. In our praise and worship we can affect the atmosphere around us. In eating as healthy as possible we can maintain a balance in our bodies. Vitamin C, and dark chocolate works wonders for me. I attack from all sides any form of depression. I use this bit of advice to open the topic and talk about the spiritual part. It usually brings a chuckle or two.

I pray that God shows you the ones around you who need your prayer and your attention. I pray God gives you the right words and means to pray with them or for them in Jesus name.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.