Denying What's There

In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.

Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.

John 18:37

John 18 shows you the handing of Jesus over to be arrested. It also shows you Peter denying Him the way that He said Peter would. It may feel easier to deny the experiences of depression and anxiety than to acknowledge that those experiences are real. But denying these experiences do not change the fact that they are experienced.

He prepared Peter for denying Him. Peter was amazed that He would say this because from Peter's perspective there was no way that he would ever deny Jesus. How often do you see moments of depression or anxiety taking place and instead of addressing them, you deny them? When people approached Peter and said that he was one of the disciples, he ended up denying it just as Jesus had said he would. Peter was protecting himself from the others. While this was part of the journey that Jesus took to the cross, it may also act as a reminder that you also deny things that are real because of fear of what others may say or what others might do if they knew the truth.

John 18:37 shares with you these words: In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.

Depression and anxiety are experiences that deserve acknowledgement because they are what you are experiencing. They are feelings of discomfort, they are moments of worry, they are beliefs of insecurities. The experiences are true. And He reminds you that He will testify to your truth. He will be on the side of truth when it comes to your feelings of discomfort, moments of worry, and beliefs of insecurities. On that side of truth, you are reminded to listen to Him.

Coping with depression and anxiety comes in many ways. One of these ways is through Him. Some of the truths in managing depression and anxiety are that He is beside you in these moments, He wants you to give these feelings to Him, He knows that you are going through this, and He will not leave you in these moments. Depression and anxiety often lie through the automatic negative thinking and self-deprecating thoughts that accompany feelings of depression and anxiety. Some lies that depression and anxiety might lead you to believe are true are that He has left you alone to deal with these experiences and feelings on your own, or that you are not worthy of His love, grace, and mercy because you experience depression and anxiety. These lies are not of Him. Truth is of Him. It is why He was born and came into the world, to bring truth.

In the moments that Peter was denying Jesus, He was there with him, He was alongside him, and He was not going to leave Peter in those moments alone. Many will wonder what these moments of denying say about Peter, but really the wonder should be what these moments say about Him. The same way that depression and anxiety do not define you, denying Jesus did not define Peter. The reason is that these moments are the ways in which He becomes known and even more present in your life. He will not leave you in these moments, the same way that He did not leave Peter. Peter denying Jesus was a sign of how truthful Jesus is.

Scripture:

John 18

John 18:37

Questions:

What automatic negative thoughts make you think that He has left you in your moments of depression and anxiety?

What do these truths: "He is along side you, He wants you to give these feelings to Him, He knows that you are going through this, and He will not leave you in these moments" say about Him that debunk the lies that depression and anxiety tell you?

What would happen if you acknowledged Him and His presence in your depression and anxiety rather than denying the experiences? For example: He is with you in those moments whether you acknowledge them or deny them.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am reminded of the truth that your son shared with Peter. It is this truth that I can use when experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety. He does not leave me in my moments of depression and anxiety. He is sitting with me in those moments. Lord, thank you for sending me someone to remind me that I can rely on you when I feel down or anxious. Thank you for loving me so much that you send your son to die for me. Lord, I pray for those who are feeling alone and worried today. I pray that they can feel the ever presence of love that is found in Him. I pray all of this in your son's name. Amen.