WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?
WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?
Lately mental health issues have been on the increase all over the world. Only recently, I heard about someone who attempted to jump off a bridge because she was jilted. Thank God she was rescued before she dived off.
There is a popular saying that goes “No man is an island” which came about from a sermon by seventeenth century English author, John Donne; which means that no human being is self-sufficient; that we all rely on one another. As believers, this should be the norm. We are expected to be our brothers’ keepers. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 NIV There is another scripture that says this “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14 NKJV
Sadly, this is not the case today. I heard of a young man who had come to live in Lagos with his wife. And they started a family. Unfortunately the marriage is in murky waters now. His claim was that his wife’s friends led her astray to the point of no return. He came back from work late one night (unexpectedly as he should have been on the late shift) and she had gone out leaving the children at home alone. He found that she had been with someone else. And he has been unable to live with her since then. It was so called friends who quietly led her out of her marriage.
I ask again, when all around seems to be falling apart, “Who are we talking to? It is important to talk to those who will not lead us astray but who will encourage us and not judge us. People who will give wise and not foolish counsel, people who will build us up and not tear us down. Some of them are our spouses, our family members; some are friends and colleagues from work. Some are old school mates and some are our church members. These are the people we call our support system, but exactly how supportive can they be? Some of them have issues they are dealing with that are more serious than whatever we are stressing over; and we do not know this because they bottle it all up inside. Some of them are even envious of what we are complaining about and snigger behind our back. “With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.” Psalms 62: 4b NIV
No matter how bad it gets and we find that we can trust nobody, let us remember that there is this One person that we can talk to about anything and everything. And He will never judge us. His name is Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace. He is a mighty fortress and he will shield us in the time of trouble. We must learn to trust Jesus completely in these last days. “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalms 62: 8 NIV We can talk to Him too about whatever bothers us.
One day, after years of barrenness and being taunted and teased by her co-wife, Hannah poured out her heart before God. “Not so, my lord”. Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:15 NIV God heard her and very shortly after she conceived of her first child, Samuel, a mighty Prophet in Israel. “The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.” 1 Samuel 3:19 NIV King David who God always referred to as “a man after my own heart” but who was not without his own shortcomings, very often poured out his heart before God. But it appeared that the very issue where he kept mute, he fell. He never talked to God about his feelings for Bathsheba or what to do after he had committed adultery with her. He took the matter into his own hands and ended up complicating things by committing murder as well.
Dear friends, our God is, and always will be an ever preset help, in the time of trouble. He is never far away from us. We must learn to talk to Him about absolutely everything. It will save us a lot of unnecessary worry and anxiety.
Once again I ask “Who are you talking to?”
Make sure it is to Jesus.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS©