Depression in The Military--Really Everywhere--A Plague Upon US
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 02:41AM There was a Time report on depression (suicides) in the military that I read earlier this year. It confirmed what I thought is a very real problem in this nation. This amongst men who are physically strong and mentally so we think--but there is a "problem within"that strength in man will never overcome. We may be one of the richest nation on this earth but we have a tendency to be undernourished spiritually because our physical self takes up so much of our time that our spiritual self is perishing.
Everyone is looking for something bigger than themselves--some may never realize that truth until they are taking their last breath. A very helpful factual book for time of searching is Grant Jeffrey's book-The Signature of God. It can help you with researching if the Bible is true as it will point you to where you can examine its claims as indeed what they dig up finds that it is trustworthy. The book talks among many proofs of the Bible's historicity--of an inscription on the grave of a wealthy Yemeni woman that talks about Joseph and the great famine. English explorer Mr. Cruttenden discovered the tomb in 1850 of a Yemenite woman who died during the time of the Egyptian famine recorded in Genesis 41. The tomb contained the body of a noblewoman who was covered in jewels. Seven collars of pearls surrounded her neck; her hands and feet were covered with seven bracelets, armlets, rings, and ankle rings displaying costly jewels. In addition, her tomb contained a coffer filled with treasure.
However, the greatest treasure of all was an engraved stone tablet bearing the woman’s final inscription, which appears to confirm the biblical account of Joseph’s careful management of food reserves during the seven years of famine in Egypt. The original engraving was photographed and appeared in Professor Carsten Niebuhr’s Voyage en Arabie (plate 59). The Yemenite inscription reads as follows:
In thy name O God, the God of Hamyar, I Tajah, the daughter of Dzu Shefar, sent my steward to Joseph, And he delaying to return to me, I sent my hand maid With a measure of silver, to bring me back a measure of flour: And not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of gold: And not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of pearls: And not being able to procure it, I commanded them to be ground: And finding no profit in them, I am shut up here.
Jeffrey, Grant R. (2010). The Signature of God, Revised Edition: Conclusive Proof That Every Teaching, Every Command, Every Promise in the Bible Is True (pp. 49-50). WaterBrook Press. Kindle Edition.
Many people do not realize the truth of the Bible and the Creator's love for them. Some can't get over the hurt, the pain the disappointment and forget in that brief all important moment that there is a Savior who can help them. Feelings are so important and many fail to realize--it is fleeting. That that feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, despair, aloneness, failure, rejection--all those can disappear in time--sometimes as quickly as after a good night's sleep.
We have all stared depression in the face--it seems to some a constant battle--but some know who their help comes from--Jesus. I dare you to try him start by simply praying "Lord please help me or us" then go to sleep. That simple one step--before you take your life and end the pain--may make all the difference. Tomorrow will come and tomorrow you can read pages out of the Good Book--The Holy Bible--and read hope in its pages and pray for wisdom and discernment for the next step. For that is what it is--a "Book of Hope" for all of us. It can give you that silver shaft of sun breaking through stormy sky, the rainbow after the clouds.
In Matthew 1:21-23 Jesus means Savior. Jesus didn't come to help people save themselves--he came to be their Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Ask him to take control of your life that is out of control. Only he can do it--you and I can not.
By the way, read about Oliver North--he thought he was so strong too--then he met the Savior and life changed. God wants you to have the peace that passes all understanding--yes, you can have that as with God all things are possible. May God bless you and shine his face upon you...
Click and listen to this song and be amazed at where my help comes from. Here is another version.