Turning God’s Pages

Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (NIV)

Do we treat depression resolved that failure is not an option?

At times I feel like we have accepted suicide as a normal causality of society. Every bone in Jesus’ body rejected giving up on outcasts, and trust me, the people he drew to his side bore the marks of depression. He was moved with compassion that the hurting people were like sheep without a shepherd. Do you think Zacchaeus didn’t know he was hated? Or the adulteress women? The leper, the demon possessed? They were in wretched, tortured places!

And Jesus went to those wretched places, he dined with them, healed them, defended their life and forgave them.

Our prisons are filled to overflowing with self-medicators, our mental institutions bed less for the swell of our young ones who feel desperate and alone. The military is losing the war to PTSD. Our counselors and teachers, are ill-equipped to combat the onslaught of fractured lives so many of their students’ experiences. Willing and loving hands are tied, by rules, regulations and law suites, from truly helping where they see the need. Suicide feels hopeless to everyone it touches!

But HOPE changed the course of my own depression and I am one less victim of suicide. And now I have met others that are choosing life, because Jonathan’s life mattered to them! Gaining ground is not impossible, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

I love the movie depicting the Apollo 13 space crisis. America had never lost a man in space and Gene Krantz, director of Mission Control was not about to be the first. He knew the lives of the Apollo 13 crew depended upon his team on the ground working the daunting problem.

They had to:

• Identify the leaders
• Clearly Identify the Problem(s)
• Accurately Assess the Distance between the rocket and q safe landing
• Create Teams to Work Each Solution Area
• Recreate the scenarios
• Call in help
• Communicate with each team member and as a whole
• Adjust to changes
• Throw Failure OUT as an Option
• Do the work to bring them home

I believe HOPE is the first step for man, and the first giant leap for mankind. I’m not losing another man, woman or child to suicide. Does that mean we will never fail? Of course not. What it does mean is that I don’t give failure one second more than I have to by making it an option! I will do whatever it takes to fit a square peg in a round hole.

LETS BRING THEM HOME!