The fruit killers of joy are sadness, depression, despair, grief, affliction.
There is such a spirit of despair over this generation it’s saddening.
We have everyone walking around depressed and hopeless.
We have lost all sense of hope.
People don’t understand that the breakthrough they need is found in Jesus.
Jesus can break every chain if we allow Him too.
We all get sad and experience loss. Those feelings are alright in the moment.
We just can’t stay in that place. That is the problem people are staying in that place.
God wants us to live a joyful life. Sometimes we have to learn to rise above our circumstances.
We need to put this acronym to practice.
J-esus
O-thers
Y-ou
There are moments our circumstances are full of affliction and problems, we feel like we are going to break. I have been there
I know there is a spirit of despair that attaches to us and begins to destroy our life. I lived that but then there was Jesus.
Psalms 30
I will exalt you, Lord,for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime;weeping may stay for the night,but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain stand firm;but when you hid your face,I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;Lord, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Depression is all too real for many of us. I had a season where depression took over my life. It was the darkest time of my life. I had thoughts about taking my life . Many nights I sat awake thinking of how much better this world would be without me. I cried in my shower, I smiled around people no one knew the depth of my hurt and despair. I begged God to take me. I am so thankful He didn’t answer my crazy prayers.
I started going to church to make my home stop hounding me. With each service I felt God pulling at my heart. It took several months but I finally surrendered to the Lord. However at this time I was still living a sinful life, I knew deep down I couldn’t continue that life.
I was so mentally broken and destroyed I allowed myself to create a fake happiness for my children which ended several months later and caused pain that is still healing.
Needless to say divorce happened and at that moment I thought God would never use me or love me again.
I am here to say God has restored my heart. He has started healing my deep pain and in those moments that depression and despair tries to creep in I command it to go in Jesus name, every day I choose to stand and walk in the mercy and grace of Jesus. I remind myself that He set me free from all my chains. The hardest part is forgiving myself for what I allowed. I am here to tell you that you can never fall so far that God can’t pick you up and restore you.
Proverbs 4
20My son, pay attention to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and health to the whole body.
23Guard your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow springs of life.
24Put away deception from your mouth;
keep your lips from perverse speech.
25Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.
26Make a level path for your feet,b
and all your ways will be sure.
27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your feet away from evil.
