Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones…

…on this beautiful cool clear sunny Spring morning. I don’t even see any evidence of wind. The branches on the cluster of redwood trees closest to me are hanging absolutely still.

I had better take advantage of this nice weather and get on with my work. The day is nearly half evaporated.

Blessings on your course for the day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Human fathers know the emotional pain and shame of having a son who has as much potential as anyone for becoming a positive contributor to society—for accepting responsibilities, setting goals, working hard, developing skills, seeking wisdom, being known for integrity—but for selfish reasons (perhaps immediate satisfaction and/or conformity to peer pressure) makes stupid choices that rob him of that positive potential—also robbing the father of the natural pride and joy that could have been—and should have been. If these feelings are normal among men, is it not reasonable to believe that Sovereign God feels much the same way when one of His sons of great potential makes choices that cause him to become an obvious fool? Clearly, that condition not only damages the son, and shames the Father, but brings disrepute to the entire family—in this case, the Family of God. That sad reality brings no joy to the brothers and sisters either.

The grief that a father and family have to endure from having a fool for a son or sibling can carry one to the brink of depression. That is the dangerous condition Asaph describes at the beginning of Psalm 77. He admits, “When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted” (v. 2). At least Asaph models the best thing a believer can do—“cry out to God…I sought the Lord” (vv. 1-2)—even when the soul is stubbornly resistant to the comfort He offers.

We are wise to get this truth locked into our craniums (souls) with absolute resolve: DEPRESSION IS NOT A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! In other words, when it creeps up on us and is finally identified for what it is, we need to break and run like crazy into the refuge of “the secret place of the Most High…the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). If not, we are sitting ducks, waiting to be picked off by the depression arrows of the arch antagonist of the Most High—whose aim (he’s an excellent marksman) is “to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Along with that resolve is this banner that should be hung in plain view on the wall of our souls: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). Perhaps we could save space in the layout of that banner for these verses: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! The Lord is near. Do not be anxious (depressed) about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). This approach is true and achievable by His grace, or it’s just a bunch of—well, anyway—you know what I mean.

The main point to establish here is an oft-repeated one—that a personal passionate HEART AFTER GOD renders effective psycho-spiritual therapy to help one properly cope with anything that comes—and doesn’t even come close to inflicting the heart of the Heavenly Father with grief.