Do Not Be Condemned

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him"

John 3:17

The mission statement of the gospel is found in John 3:17:"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." This is what is currently happening, He came to save the world, not to condemn it. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) is the vision statement. The vision is that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life, through Him. He was sent to save the world. He was sent to be Light. He was sent to clear out the darkness that had engulfed the world. But He did not come with an intent to show disappointment or sentence a punishment. He came to love.

How often do the experiences of depression and anxiety linger and lead to a feeling of punishment or disappointment? They can also lead to questions of why? These experiences are of the world. Depression and anxiety are just one of the many examples of the darkness that the world is experiencing, that He was sent to clear out and save you from. He is the light that has come to save the world. Not to condemn it. Not the way that experiences of depression and anxiety can condemn you. It can be easy to accept the experiences of depression and anxiety because they become the norm. These experiences become expected. These experiences become tolerable because giving into them is sometimes easier to do than to fight them. There are time that the darkness that is depression and anxiety is winning. It is not being dealt with, in a way that reflects turning to Him, and turning the light on in the room.

"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth believes to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth" (John 3:31). He shares with you "Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthy things and you do not believe ; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" (John 3:11-12). It is amazing to read His words in the Bible. It is amazing to apply His wisdom to the things that you experience today. His words become what you know, so that you can continue to share them. So that you can continue to experience them. His words, become your words. And your words, become actions. He prepares you to understand that the ways of the earth will not get you closer to heaven. He prepares to understand that the trials and tribulations that are earthy are not the way, He is the way. He is from above and above it all, including depression, including anxiety, including these experiences. Depression and anxiety are from the earth, and they will remain on the earth. In order to work towards overcoming depression and anxiety, you should focus on living in His way, instead of earthy ways. You should stop speaking of what you know, as the experiences of depression and anxiety, and start speaking of who you know, Him.

The wonderful thing about all of this is that even in depression and anxiety, He has come to not condemn the world for those experiences, but to show love, grace, mercy, and to light the way to something more.

Scripture:

John 3

John 3:17

John 3:16

John 3:31

John 3:11-12

Questions:

Has depression and anxiety ever felt like a punishment? How so?

How has your experience with the gospel changed your experiences of depression and anxiety?

How has your experience with the gospel supported you in understanding other people's experiences of depression and anxiety?

What earthy things do you feel you can prepare to let go of, to be open to more of what He has in store for you?

What can you start speaking about to support healing? As He says "we speak of what what we know" John 3:11.

Prayer:

Lord, Heavenly Father. I come to you in hope and prayer that as those who experience depression and anxiety can find a new hope in you. I love being reminded of the love you have, in sending us your son to take away the pain of the world, to remove the darkness, and to bring light and everlasting life. Lord, I pray that others can experience this same hope, and show others this new light in their life. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to share more about you, as I have come to know you. I pray that others are able to come to know you and can share you. Lord be with those who are in their darkness. Be with others who struggle to see the light. I pray all of this in your son's name. Amen.