Have you ever stopped and asked yourself what is the purpose of suffering? Do we need to suffer? Why?
Over the next few weeks, we are going to take a look at three men in the Scripture who were familiar with suffering Job is not one of them. I thought it might be beneficial to look at some other personalities in the scripture that get overlooked in the area of suffering, depression, and anxiety. Heman (Psalm 88), the Apostle Paul, and Jesus.
Today we are going to take a look at a man named Heman. His song is found in Psalm 88 (provided at the end of the article). I admire Heman because he was willing to be vulnerable, honest, and real. As one reads through Psalm 88, there is no doubt that this man was struggling with anxiety and depression.
In Psalm 88 we can clearly see three different types of suffering; emotional, relational, and spiritual.
We know emotional suffering today as depression and anxiety. Depression sneaks in on us when we begin to think and dwell on the past hurts and pains we have experienced. Our past emotional injuries produce feelings of depression, anger, or sadness. Juxtaposition to depression is anxiety. When we think about and anticipate future emotional injuries in view of previous painful experiences, this creates a feeling of anxiety.
When depression and anxiety lurk over our life, relational injuries occur and inevitably lead us to relational suffering. This has a negative impact, not only on us, but on our friends, family, and even our relationship with God. Once the damage moves into our relationship with God, we begin to suffer spiritually.
So, what is the remedy? This is not easily answered if honesty is the goal. The only glimmer of hope in the entire Psalm of Heman is found in the first verse, "Oh Lord, God of my salvation." In order to fix the immense brokenness in our lives, we must look to the one who is familiar with our suffering. That is the man, Jesus! Why Jesus? Consider Hebrews 4:16-17, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Jesus wants to give you grace and mercy in the midst of your painful circumstance. All you need to do is humbly approach His throne of grace.
If you are suffering and would like a friend for the journey, please reach out. It will be our great privilege to walk with you through the ebb and flow of this broken world.
Praise Jesus, He is the answer to ALL things!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Psalm 88
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.
Purpose in Suffering?
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself what is the purpose of suffering? Do we need to suffer? Why?
Over the next few weeks, we are going to take a look at three men in the Scripture who were familiar with suffering Job is not one of them. I thought it might be beneficial to look at some other personalities in the scripture that get overlooked in the area of suffering, depression, and anxiety. Heman (Psalm 88), the Apostle Paul, and Jesus.
Today we are going to take a look at a man named Heman. His song is found in Psalm 88 (provided at the end of the article). I admire Heman because he was willing to be vulnerable, honest, and real. As one reads through Psalm 88, there is no doubt that this man was struggling with anxiety and depression.
In Psalm 88 we can clearly see three different types of suffering; emotional, relational, and spiritual.
We know emotional suffering today as depression and anxiety. Depression sneaks in on us when we begin to think and dwell on the past hurts and pains we have experienced. Our past emotional injuries produce feelings of depression, anger, or sadness. Juxtaposition to depression is anxiety. When we think about and anticipate future emotional injuries in view of previous painful experiences, this creates a feeling of anxiety.
When depression and anxiety lurk over our life, relational injuries occur and inevitably lead us to relational suffering. This has a negative impact, not only on us, but on our friends, family, and even our relationship with God. Once the damage moves into our relationship with God, we begin to suffer spiritually.
So, what is the remedy? This is not easily answered if honesty is the goal. The only glimmer of hope in the entire Psalm of Heman is found in the first verse, "Oh Lord, God of my salvation." In order to fix the immense brokenness in our lives, we must look to the one who is familiar with our suffering. That is the man, Jesus! Why Jesus? Consider Hebrews 4:16-17, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Jesus wants to give you grace and mercy in the midst of your painful circumstance. All you need to do is humbly approach His throne of grace.
If you are suffering and would like a friend for the journey, please reach out. It will be our great privilege to walk with you through the ebb and flow of this broken world.
Praise Jesus, He is the answer to ALL things!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Psalm 88
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.