Glorify God

"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up"

Romans 15:2

Life happens. And sometimes it happens with depression and anxiety along for the ride. Life is tough. And I hope through time that you learn that while life IS tough, you are tougher because of Him. Romans 15 begins by continuing to address the strong and the weak. This is so important. Humans are just that, human. There are days that strength is achieved and there are days that weakness takes over. But it is not in those strong moments that you live for yourself. Rather, in those moments that strength is on your side, you live for those who are weak. "Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up" Romans 15:2. Be strong for those around you, as a reflection of His love and His power.

It is not by any of your doing that you gain strength.The strength comes from Him. "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement" give you this strength toward others as Jesus showed you on the cross (Romans 15:5) . The successes of your life are because of Him. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" Romans 15:7. It is because of Him that acceptance is even possible, and this acceptance comes with the baggage that you and everyone else carries. When you see people with too much to carry you offer to help them with their baggage. Yet often when it comes to depression and anxiety, individuals do not offer to help carry the baggage that they see their loved ones holding. There are times that you can carry your own luggage as you travel, and there are times that receiving help is appreciated and needed. This is the same in living life. Living with depression and anxiety. Some days the load is easy to bear as you travel through life. And other days the baggage is heavy, awkward, broken, or opens just as you were getting settled. You've all been there, traveling for awhile and the bag you are carrying just isn't cooperating. The wheels get stuck, the zipper breaks, the handle won't go down. These moments are the opportunities for those who are handling life with strength to extend that hand of help. Because Glory to Him. The good days are because of Him. The good moments are because of Him. Being able to offer help, is because of Him.

Depression and anxiety add difficulties to the day to day life that is already a challenge. The strength that you may experience is drawn from Him because He is good. Because He is giving. Depression and anxiety might be out of your control at times, but turning to Him in those moments is absolutely in your control. And He has not fallen short. Look back at all the challenges that have occurred, you have overcome them all to be here today. That is strength. That is survival. That is hope. Living through the challenges that were once the balance between strong and weak. Surviving the days, when survival seemed unimaginable. Glory to God for those moments and for this moment to be experienced.

And you show this appreciation, through glorifying Him. And by using your strength to lift up others. The blessing of life, the blessing of strength, the blessing of survival is because of Him and should be shared with others. It is not for you to hold onto and keep in a box to remember. It is meant to be shared with others. Because it is in sharing it, that it is returned in your own times of need. Depression and anxiety are an experience along a spectrum. They are not the same in every moment. Sometimes they are small, sometimes they are big, sometimes they are somewhere in between. This spectrum is why it is important to be continuously Glorifying Him. Depression and anxiety are not absolute, because of this spectrum. They are ever changing, but He is the same.

Scripture:

Romans 15

Romans 15:2

Romans 15:5

Romans 15:7

Questions:

Who may need your strength today?

Who can you serve because of Him?

How does your weakness challenge you? Can you accept the strength of others during those moments?

How has someone shown up for you? How have you shown up for others?

Prayer:

Lord, Heavenly Father. I am reminded that you are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I am reminded that I am here because you have placed me here. All that I am and have is because of you, and your love for me. Lord, I pray that when I am strong I can show others your love. And I pray that when I am weak that I can accept the strength of others to lift me up because it is through you that these experiences receive Glory. I pray for those who find themselves struggling on the days of weakness, and I pray that they show favor to others on their days of strength. As you have show us favor each day that we call to you. Lord, I know that depression and anxiety are out of my control at times, and I pray that what I can control becomes the reflection of your glory over my life. I am because your son is. Amen.