Nougat 19

Today’s Holy Nougat offers a note of encouragement regardless of our circumstances.

“The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Rescue

Whether temporary or permanent, if it’s considered a mental health issue or demonic; the general consensus is that hopelessness and/or depression are dangerous places to be. From my limited experience, and what I’ve read and heard, it is insidious, slipping in our thoughts without warning, oftentimes without formal invitation.

It may be a chance comment one time too many, an intentional act by another, seemingly empathetic response from a kindred sufferer, conviction that we will never make it, one failure too many, one last abusive action, one disappointment beyond others, excessive social trauma, chemical imbalances, rape, incest, witness to abuse … all those and others are triggers for depression and a sense of utter hopelessness.

The worst part is, we feel absolutely forsaken (whether it’s true or not, even in a crowd) and get to thinking that no one cares.

In response, we respond differently to feeling depressed or hopeless. Some seek validation from any source (and we don’t always help with judgmental responses); others find solace by checking out (‘the lights are on/flickering, but nobody’s home’ – we say they’re mad or crazy); yet others escape through liquid, solid or other drugs. We know that those are not the only methods. There’s bulimia, stress eating, cutting and even attempts to end our lives. Unfortunately, many succeed on the first or later tries.

More painful however, is our typical response. As outsiders to the drama being played out in others’ lives, particularly those unrelated to us, we condemn and forget to invite God’s intervention. Now do not mishear or misread me – I too am guilty of judging, especially when people watching.

But that’s no what God desires from us.

What God offers us is RESCUE! To remove us from spaces of hopelessness into grace and mercy. Remember the parable of the ‘prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)’? I believe that both sons were experiencing their own sense of depression or hopelessness, albeit at different points.

We could say the younger son faces hopelessness when he realized that life in the faraway land was not all it presented. He was gone soooooo low, he was working and eating with pigs – that was anathema in Jewish culture.

Without a doubt the older son was extremely hurt, possibly depressed by the welcome his younger brother received – he refused to join the party! He even chided his father for his generosity.

If the parable is about us and God however, we must focus on the father’s response to both sons. When the younger brother came to his senses and opted to return, his father received him with joy. The boy had given NO guarantee that he would remain home – he asked to be treated as a servant. That may have been pride, but it was also not assurance of transformation. Nevertheless, his father received him publicly.

He also took the time to ensure that the older brother understood his motives. The fact is – being alive, the father has zero obligation to explain himself to the older son, who was openly upset. But he made the effort to placate his son.

In the telling of the parable, the outcome is open-ended. We have the liberty to shape what happens after the rescue. Saul chose to pursue David to the bitter end, despite knowing that God sent David as the balm for his troubled spirit. Hannah (Samuel’s mom), opted for fasting and wailing in the temple and accepting the priest’s utterance. Judas called it a day, Peter repented and the woman at the well went evangelizing.

In these days when life gets to be too much, I pray we can remember that God rescues the discouraged. When we see others trying to deal with discouragement or hopelessness, may we point them to the One Who rescues, heals and sustains.

(In all cases let’s whisper a prayer for deliverance).

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May all we seek be found in Christ