“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:9-11 (NIV)
The songwriter wrote, “Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my life’s in vain.” It is easy to identify with this songwriter. Dreams dissolve over time. Everything to live for takes a hike and our best intentions are lost in a sea of obligation and responsibility. Everything we want to do gets ignored and everything we don’t want to do demands our attention and action. With the great Apostle we cry, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Rom. 7:25a)”
There’s more to the song: “But then I think of Jesus and what he’s done for me. Then I cry O Rock of Ages, hide thou me.” We have the hope that our story doesn’t end here. “Now faith is the substance of our hoping, the evidence of our undertaking not of our seeing.” Hebrews 11:1 (SyS). Remember Jesus and his sacrifice. Refuse to allow present emotions and thoughts to move us away from our faith and hope. Remember how to be rescued from despair: “Thanks be to God– through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:25b)” Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. And one day, our faith will be finished as we stand beside the sea of glass, harps in hand, singing “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!”
Dear Father, thank you for reconciling us to yourself through Jesus Christ our Lord. Deliver us from despondency, despair and depression. Empower our faith and enable us to rejoice in the hope of Christ. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today by rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ,