When it doesn't make sense

She has everything.
She was given a wonderful husband while so many her age are still searching for Mr. Right. She has beautiful, healthy children although so many cannot conceive or perhaps they have children with terminal illnesses. She has a new home, though not an HGTV model. She does what she loves for a living while others hate their job day after day.
And yet she is depressed.
As a Christian reading this, it would be quick to assume this woman does not have Jesus in her life. But she does. Very much so. Which makes it even harder for her to understand this illness. She goes through days of feeling hopeless and like she is failing everyone in her path -- including God Himself. Add any minor trial to that mix and she is near breakdown.

I wrote this because I believe there are many women out there who feel like this. Happy but not at peace. For whatever reason they are plagued by chronic depression, taking medicines, therapy, and being told to have more faith. Christians shouldn't be depressed. I wanted to tell you that they do. Proverbs tell us we don't need to understand everything. Maybe it seems as though someone with Jesus in her heart shouldn't feel down, but they do. Jesus never said we would only smile and be happy. He did, however, tell us to trust Him. Trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
You're not alone.
Trust.

We should be singing

Just before I began to type this, my triplet daughter, Hope, spent 15 minutes straight playing her toy guitar and singing hymns and Bible choruses -- every single one she knew. She was in the other room, unaware that anyone was listening. She just sings and sings. It melted my heart and made me think. Just as she sang the verse "God answers prayer..." in the song "God is so Good," it hit me. I never sing aloud anymore. I don't "shout to the Lord" like I should.

The book of Psalms is filled with songs of praise. Why don't we sing? Maybe our voices aren't so good. I know that is how I feel. My husband is this magnificent singer. My daughters all sing with him from time to time. So when he told me -- not asked -- told me we were singing as a family on Christmas Eve at church, I froze. Me too? Really? On stage? With a microphone?
Long story short, I did it. I stood with a microphone and sang "Away in a Manger" with my talented family. What a blessing. I occasionally sing in the car, but not like I used to. I believe the enemy likes to shut our mouths of praise and convince us we don't need to speak or sing aloud the Lord's praises. But the Lord delights in them! Verse 4 or Psalm 149 says it : "For the Lord takes delight in his people;he crowns the humble with victory." He knows when we sing from our hearts -- not to be heard. Much like little Hope.
 So, you know what? I am going to start singing. Maybe not on stage per se, but aloud in my house, in my car...wherever I feel the words tug on my lips. Why not shout to the Lord?
Read Psalm 149.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+149&version=TNIV

Pick it up

Galatians 6: 5 -- Each one will have to carry his own load.
Read Galatians 6

So often I tell my girls to clean up. Their toyroom is much like Fat Albert's Junkyard (I hope you have seen that show or that makes no sense). While shoveling through Barbies, stuffed animals, polly pockets and Pet Shops, they often come to me with the same complaint.

"She's not cleaning up."
"She" would be one of the other sisters. Instead of worrying about their own work they are too busy complaining about what no one else is doing. I could point out scripture like the parable of removing a log from your own eye before you remove the speck from your brother's eye. I could also point out Martha's busy attitude and her whining about Mary was not helping.

Instead, I give you this.
In Galatians it explains how each person has his own "load" to carry. If we are not doing our own work and staying focused we will only falter. Are you working everyday with someone who fails to cooperate...who does nothing while you do everything? It makes you mad and you complain as soon as the person is out of ear shot. But what good does it do you? Carry it. Yes, even if it is more than you want to pick up -- carry it.
This is true in the church. I had someone tell me she wanted nothing to do with one specific church because the church did not carry her son through his problems. Do we expect everyone else in our churches to carry everything? Even our family? Yes, we need to bear one another's burdens, love and comfort one another. But we must pick up some load too. Ask yourself today what is waiting for you to pick up and do. How are you serving? At your job? In your church? In your home? And if you serve in all capacities, are you doing so joyfully or are you Martha -- complaining that you are doing it alone while "so and so" sits by.
Ouch.
I tramped on my own toes.
Time to pick it up.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%206&version=ESV