Session 18
Doing nothing is not an option
From 2 Corinthians: 21-Day Bible Study
Struggles with anxiety, panic attacks, and situational depression can last for years and grow with persistent problems or come for no apparent reason at all. For some, it’s so serious that we contemplate suicide or wish that God would take our life. However, as 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, “Christ’s love compels us.” God will always bring us up from our lowest points; His love truly never fails! (Psalm 100:5)
The answer is not to do nothing about anxiety or depression. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says that Christ’s love compels us, which means action on our part. So what can we do in the midst of anxiety or depression right now? Christ’s love compels us to get up and keep on living. Christ’s love compels us to look in the mirror and see a person who is valuable, a person for whom Christ died!
Christ’s love compels us to become members of a local church so that we do not try to face anxiety alone. Christ’s love compels us to consistently read our Bibles and to focus our minds on His promises instead of our own (often skewed) thoughts. And, Christ’s love compels us not to judge those struggling with anxiety or depression, lest we too are judged (Matthew 7:1-5). Ultimately, Christ’s love compels us to hang in there until He uses our pain for His glory.
The process of healing is never a waste.
The process of healing is never a waste. Our anxiety or depression might be used one day to encourage another believer, drive us to the cross if we are not believers yet already, or refine our faith so that we will have less sin in our lives and more peace and perseverance (James 1:2-3). God would never give anything so painful as these problems to His children unless the blessings coming to us far outweigh the struggle (2 Corinthians 4:15-17).
Reflect:
- What is one thing that Christ's love is compelling you to do right now?
- If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, what is one step you can take today to allow Christ to gain control over your worries?