Jump Start # 524 

2 Corinthians 7:6 “But God who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus”

  This is an interesting passage. The flow of the passage leads to one conclusion and that is the apostle Paul had been depressed. That’s hard for many to grasp. They see Paul as nearly Superman. Always up. Always smiling. Slap him in the face and he’d still smile. That’s not the impression the N.T. gives us. He told the Corinthians that he was afraid. In the verse before our passage today, he reveals that he had conflicts externally and fears internally and his flesh had no rest. The life of the apostles was not glorious as we might assume. Today, we study their lives in great detail. Books have been written about them. We name cities, buildings and babies after them. Not back then. They were horribly treated. They were considered the scum of the earth. They were hunted down, they were misquoted, they were arrested and eventually they were executed. Yes, Paul was depressed.

  There are many things that get us down. The winter here in the Ohio Valley can be gloomy for months. The lack of sunshine affects the moods of some. The slow economy, the inability to find a decent paying job, mounting bills can cause one to be depressed. Dealing with failing health can be depressing. When things don’t go as we would want, that has an affect upon a person. The list of things that can make us blue is long. The affect that these things can have upon us can even be longer. When a person is down they just don’t feel like doing anything. Some stay in bed. Others would like to, but they can’t. They go to work, but they are not productive. Some quit going to church services—the reason, they don’t feel like it. Depression can make a person feel like they are walking around with a cloud over their head all day long.

  S0me depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. Medication is necessary to help a person. Understand that the medicine can help with the moods and emotions but the medicine doesn’t solve the problems that led to the depression. For others, it is a series of bad things happening to them that leads to depression. One thing after another and it gets to being too much for them. They can’t handle it. Some get angry. Some turn to the bottle. Some have an emotional meltdown. Still with others, it is a faith issue. The greater our faith, the less our worries. The greater our worries, the greater our fears and doubts will be.

  There is not a one size fits all solution to depression. It can be extremely complicated. There are various levels and affects of discouragement and depression. Those who witness others struggling with these issues often have a hard time understanding it. Their simple conclusion is to “snap out of it,” which they would gladly do, if they only knew how.

  Our passage reminds us that God was there to help Paul. The verse begins by stating, “God who comforts the depressed…” God doesn’t point fingers and expect you to “snap out” on your own. He is there. He comforts the depressed. He is active to help. God approached Paul’s problems spiritually. In the O.T., God was there for Elijah when he was hiding in the cave. God comes to us. God is help.

  What did God do? He didn’t take away Paul’s problems. That’s the solution we look for and we want. Take away the problem and I’ll be in better spirits. Often, it’s through the problem that our character is forged and shaped. We need problems to build and rely upon our faith in God.

  God sent Titus to Paul. The apostle was concerned about the Corinthians and the well being of that church. That weighed heavily upon his thinking. Titus brought news. The news was good. The brethren were obeying Paul’s letter and things were going well. The unknown can be the worst thing. Not knowing where the kids are…not knowing what the surgery will be like…not knowing what the boss wants…all those things can make the heart anxious and fearful. God brought Titus to Paul. Titus was the comfort.

  Our problems can make us have to change our schedule and our day in order to deal with them. They can occupy a lot of our time. God has a way, if we allow Him in, to comfort us. That comfort comes in many ways. Sometimes it’s the word of God. Sometimes, as with Paul, it comes through other people, God’s people. God sends them to help us.

  Let me share a personal story that just happened yesterday to me. Debbie and I had gone to Tennessee to visit our son. We spent the night there. A terrible thunderstorm went through the area. In the morning I discovered a tree limb had fallen and smacked our car. No glass was broken but it’s dinted in a few places. Bummer # 1. On the way home, my bank called. Someone somewhere got a hold of my debit card number and there were charges on it from Virginia. Many phone calls back and forth while on the road. Bummer # 2. Today, I have to go to the bank to sign some papers and so forth. My schedule didn’t have room for that, but it will now. That’s enough to put one in a bad mood. We were home about 15 minutes last night and off to a Bible study with a group of friends. It is awesome! It was very encouraging! Somehow dented cars and hassles at the bank didn’t seem so bad. Something happened last night that I didn’t even know. God comforted me. Through Scriptures, through friends, through faith, He was there. He helped.

  I realized that as much as God wants to comfort us, we have a part in this as well. If we fight it, reject it, and just decided to be miserable, He’ll let us. But if we work with Him, follow Him where He leads us, often we will feel much better. After the darkest storms at night, the sun often shines the next day.

  God loves His children. He works with them, through them and for them. There is comfort in Scriptures. There is comfort in the presence of others. There is something about just opening up the Gospels and journeying by faith with Jesus.

  Someday there will be no more storms every again. Some day all the bad people who like to steal will be gone. Some day, Heaven will be ours.

  We are one day closer to Heaven today.

Roger