#robbensonmh

The Incarnation “God stepping into humanity…”

What does this mean?  Why does this ACT of God matter?  How does this change the game for humanity, for me?

Anxiety, worry, all consuming concern weights down, oppresses and subdues the heart, mind and will of man and none can withstand this depressive, debilitating burden outside of God's help!  

Solomon, King of Israel once wrote, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.  But a good word makes it glad."

Anxiety, worry, all consuming concern weights down, oppresses and subdues the heart, mind and will of man and none can withstand this depressive, debilitating burden outside of God's help!  

I want to challenge you to Embrace your brokenness, hardships, limitations, and the closed doors; pressing into God and trusting Him in the struggles, with the un-answered questions, the unknowns, and the hard times…hoping in His Goodness and knowing “He is For YOU!”

This challenge may seem insurmountable, and one you really don't want to take on, but whether you take it on or not, you are in a struggle for life and death everyday.  Ignore it, or embrace?  Your choice!    The ancient Hebrews not only captured this struggle in the Torah, the writers of the Psalms, Proverbs and other poetic books, as well as, the books of the prophets and the historcal books in the Old Testament teach us what it means to embrace difficulty.

Mother Teresa endured a six decades long struggle with a deep, soul wrenching, depression that only her spiritual director knew about. In-spite of this she trusted God and Hoped that He had not abandoned her as she cared for the naked, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the leper, the dying, all the ones the world has deemed untouchable.

Depression is a REAL Human Experience that goes undiscussed, stays hidden and is avoided even in church. Yet the scriptures are full of individuals who faced this struggle and some who even embraced  their oppressive hardship.

Lamentation - Written by an author that witnessed the genocide, suffering, slaughter and enslavement of his own people when Babylon, the New Super Power invade his nation, carrying many, like Daniel away into captivity. Job - Loses everything: his wealth, his 10 children, his health and his friends even turn on him. King David’s son, Absalom - Rapes his sister, steals his throne and is eventually killed against his wishes. King Saul, disobeys God’s wishes, is condemned to lose his throne by a prophet, and is tormented by evil spirits. Question: What can we do, when we are faced with this darkness called depression?

A brief reading through Psalm 42 will give you a glimpse into the life of one who was suffering beyond what most of us in America have ever experienced.  This poem…this song was written to capture the anguish of heart, mind, soul by one of the “Sons of Korah,” a Levitical family. Who was exiled from his Jerusalem, longing for the sanctuary and oppressed by his enemies.  So, how does he deal with the weight of his situation?  You only have to read the opening lines of this poem to learn the key to embracing, "As the dee pants for the water of brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, ofr the living God?  When shall I come and appear before God?"  The psalmist pours out, empties his soul to God and somehow in this simple act of Faith change happens in the depths of our being that cannot be wrought other wise.

Question: How do you feel forgotten by God? Question: What is oppressing you right now, causing you to mourn? Question: What is your soul agonizing over, disturbed by right now? Question: What is God’s word of hope to you this morning, Step into His Presence invite him to be the answer, the savior, Your God.

The psalmist ends this beautiful piece of poetry with these words of comfort for all who are pressed down by depression:

The "Truth" bites! All of us have tangled with truth, if your human that is, and it most often is NOT EASY, but if we deal with it we change, life gets simpler!  But we aren't always looking for simple or less confusing, or less painful living are we?  I often think I like confusion, pain and hardship...how about you?

What I love about the "Truth" is that when I ignore it long enough...when I've run myself to exhaustion...when I've excused, justified and lied myself into a corner...and when I've let the sharp teeth of "Truth" bite deep enough then I finally cry-out "enough is enough" Jesus I SURRENDER!  Jesus I'm ready to listen to your life restoring WILL and live according to your life giving WAY!  The hardened mud in my life that covers the Master Piece that God made me to be must be chiseled away when I don't let Jesus wash it away.  Thankfully Jesus doesn't give up on me, He never stops pointing me to His TRUTH, He never stops wanting to lead me down the road of His WAY, He never stops trying to pour His LIFE into mine, but we MUST be WILLING to PARTICIPATE because He does nothing against our WILL.  

A Hard head and a Hard heart that WILLS against what is:  Absolute TRUTH, The only right WAY (Path), and living a never ending LIFE that is abundant and being restored to perfection REQUIRES "The Hammer of Truth" to bust away the hardened mud that obstructs the view of the beautiful Master Piece that YOU ARE.

How have you been hard headed and hard hearted...running from the inevitable, ever deepening bite of TRUTH in your life?  Look the at areas in life that cause you the most pain, what TRUTH are you not seeing or are you intentionally ignoring?

I was talking to a friend last night that is being choked out by the strangle hold of his addiction to drugs.  He is literally being suffocated to death, though he has so much to live for: a girl who loves him and hasn't left, a new baby on the way, and two other children that need his love and attention, but he refuses to see these life giving gifts in his life.  Why?  His dad walked out on him when he was two, yes, he had a step-father who he calls his dad, yes, his dad suddenly re-appeared a few years ago and apologized for disappearing, but my friend still hasn't acknowledged the reality that he lives out of a mentality of worthlessness.  Why does he feel worthless, because he still hasn't acknowledged and worked through the reality that he was abandoned by the man, his father, who was supposed to be there for him...who was supposed to love him unconditionally...who was supposed to really protect...care for...and provide for him.

His unresolved "Abandonment" and subsequent feeling of "Worthlessness" have caused great pain and suffering in his life.  Crime, jail, homelessness, joblessness and addiction are all the baggage or the bite of the HAMMER of TRUTH that he must face.  His daddy abandoned him, but that TRUTH doesn't make him "Worthless" it just points to the brokenness that requires restoration.  My friend's need can only be met in Christ Jesus...who NEVER abandons, NEVER leaves, NEVER stops loving and always through the TRUTH points to the only WAY (path) that always leads to NEW LIFE, now and FOREVER!