It’s Sunday morning here in Alaska. We survived already this morning– DST, an earthquake, dog poop on the carpet, and snow, and it’s not even noon yet. (Can’t wait to see what the afternoon will bring.)
I had my appointment Friday, and my doctor was blown away. My Bell’s Palsy is diminished by about 70%. He was thunderstruck. And I believe God healed me!
There are some issues though. The BP is still affecting my eye, and the left side of my mouth. I have decided to continue the meds, and start to ease off of managing four blogs. The eyestrain isn’t going to help my affected eye.
I was able to open the service with a meditation from the Word last night at our main service. I managed to do this without a translator, or a sponge, so I survived.
Having so many praying for me, especially early this week during the acute stages was profound. Thanks for mobilizing and standing up for me in the Father’s presence. Thank you!
The hymn A Mighty FortressIs Our God gloriously celebrates God’s power. It was penned by the great 16th-century reformer Martin Luther, who believed God’s power could help believers overcome great difficulties — even depression. Given his pastoral heart, he sought to bring spiritual counsel to struggling souls. His compassion for those souls shines in numerous places, including his sermons, lectures, Bible commentaries and ‘table talks’. In addition, he devoted many letters to counseling troubled folk.
Luther’s writings reveal his knowledge of various emotional difficulties. For example, in August 1536 he interceded for a woman named Mrs. Kreuzbinder, whom he deemed insane. He described her as being “accustomed to rage” and sometimes angrily chasing her neighbor with a spear.
In addition, Luther’s wife, Kate, struggled with pervasive and persistent worry indicative of generalized anxiety disorder. Prince Joachim of Anhalt, to whom Luther often wrote, exhibited signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and he believed he had betrayed and crucified Christ. Conrad Cordatus, a pastor and frequent guest at Luther’s table, exhibited signs of hypochondriasis, a disorder involving preoccupation with fears of having a serious disease.
Besides observing mental difficulties in others, Luther had a compelling reason to affirm their reality. Luther himself endured many instances of depression. He described the experience in varied terms: melancholy, heaviness, depression, dejection of spirit; downcast, sad, downhearted. He suffered in this area for much of his life and often revealed these struggles in his works. Evidently he did not think it a shameful problem to be hidden.
Satan as the “accuser of the brethren,” causes Christians to dwell on past sins. Such thoughts induce melancholy and despair. Concerning a friend’s depressive thoughts, Luther wrote, “Know that the devil is tormenting you with them, and that they are not your thoughts but the cursed devil’s, who cannot bear to see us have joyful thoughts.”Luther recognized a spiritual truth about depression. One can expect Satan’s persistence until faith is destroyed, but in the midst of depression God is with us. He never leaves us alone. In the midst of trouble He draws near to us.
Sometimes the invisible God draws near through visible people, and they become the bearers of God’s comforting and strengthening words to troubled souls. What’s more, God seeks to assure us of His love and esteem. And through His Word, He counters Satan’s lies with His truth.
Some Martin Luther Quotes
Luther’s Seal
“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.”
“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.”
“Christ took our sins and the sins of the whole world as well as the Father’s wrath on his shoulders, and he has drowned them both in himself so that we are thereby reconciled to God and become completely righteous.”
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“A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” by Luther
1. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle.
3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.
You’re probably familiar with Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream— yesterday it sold at auction for 120 million dollars. It is a profound painting, but do you know its inspiration? From the venerable Wikipedia, a quote from Munch’s own diary, written January 22, 1892:
“I was walking along a path with two friends—the sun was setting—suddenly the sky turned blood red—I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence—there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city—my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety—and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”
“… an infinite scream passing through nature.” That’s quite terrifying. With this message, from those who know how things shall be. We have to realize that ‘The Scream’ is a manifestation of a hellvalot of emptiness and confusion. Once understood, we will try to move forward. But the image of a man screaming on a pier, has ‘cut the nerve’ of our attempts to move ahead.
‘The Scream’ is like a razor blade, that is wielding an agenda that opens us up, and drives us to this place of desperation. Rather than turn from the pain, we turn to the place where “we think we understand”. But the panic and frightfulness are not easily subtracted out of our lives. We try to advance, but are shackled by our own confusion.
Looking at this painting, we can identify with the ‘frozenness’ of the image. We turn in refusal, for we understand the darkness. We come to the place that we fully intend to open ourselves up. But the captivity of our hearts becomes open and something that is available and accessible. It seems the ‘horror’ has an influence on our mental health.
‘The Scream’ becomes to be incredibly predictive. Any strength we might have has become empty and hollow, we are left with confusion and disorientation. The emptiness and desperation of being alone on the pier, puts us in a sense of lostness. But this painting can lead us to God. Jesus has taken our horror and absorbed it in Himself.
“Blessed be the(B) God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and(C) God of all comfort, 4(D) who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4, ESV
Being afflicted with pain and suffering manuevers us into the place of being the source of comfort for others. God’s comfort energizes us to touch others. So many hurt. They are overwhelmed by pain and live in misery. A dynamic is at work here. My pain brings God’s comfort. God’s comfort is transmitted to others by me. They are blessed and are strengthened to go on and touch others.
But its all about the ‘proper use of afflictions’. Will we ‘turn’ and become active in the special economy of God? We must accept that God intends our affliction to be the way of blessing for others. When we hurt so bad, we see that grace flows to those who need Him the most.
How Do We Respond to the Pain?
First of all, we cannot escape affliction. It is inevitable. But will it bless us and others? Pain has an intentionally deliberate purpose for us. Since we cannot escape the pain, it would behoove us to take it and manufacture comfort for others. We must learn to make affliction fruitful.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together(A) for good,[a] for(B) those who are called according to his purpose.
Rom. 8:28, ESV
Keeping the ‘valves and lines’ open involves special attention to the sins of bitterness and anger. These two are responsible for a great deal of frustration and impotence in the Christian’s walk.
First, We Need to Praise the Lord.
Coming and then staying in this place is critical. We need to learn to praise from the ‘ash heap’. “Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” 1 Thess. 5:18, CEV. Your heart must not become bitter, you must keep it sweet and responsive. “My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy” James 1:2
Second, We Should Pray.
James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” From the ash heap we should be in prayer. Praying at this time should be as important as praise. Our devotional life needs to lift a notch into these dual disciplines. By the way, prayer is an immense blessing to our our pain. Its like aloe vera to a bad sunburn. Prayer has a soothing and restorative effect on our blistered spirit.
Third, We Should Feed at His Word.
We are instructed, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” Ps. 119:67. When you hurt, really bad it will make your time with the Bible and its promises so precious. When I’m in pain the Word is the most precious thing I can think of. A topical Bible can be very helpful.
“When I am hurting, I find comfort in your Word that leads me to life.” Ps. 119:50
“Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.” Ps. 119:92
Four, We Should Strive to be Patient and to Have Faith.
This is not a wooden or artificial issue. We must deliberately choose this direction, daily. Patience is foundational and fundamental. With it, you will survive, without it things will get ugly quick. “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Rom. 12:12
Faith and patience will bring us a confidence. When we ‘believe’ with a dynamic faith, we will be able to absorb some intense issues. If you have ever driven a car with blown shock absorbers, you will understand.
“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4
Broken Believers 