TELL IT TO JESUS

TELL IT TO JESUS

 

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About a couple of weeks ago and within three days of each other, we were greeted with the news of the suicides (by hanging) of two very famous Americans.

Both of them were actually very successful and quite accomplished in their different careers and business ventures so much so that they had been recipients of multiple awards. So what could have possibly gone wrong? The day following the death of Kate Spade, her husband, Andy Spade, released a statement and mentioned that she had suffered from anxiety and depression. Could that also have been the case with Anthony Bourdain?

According to an article “Anxiety and Depression Together” By Hara Estroff  Marano, published in October1, 2003 in Psychology Today; it was established that – “The coexistence of anxiety and depression, carries some serious repercussion. It makes the course of disorder more chronic, it impairs functioning at work and in relationships more, and it substantially raises suicide risk.”

The horror of suicide is a reality in our word today and what is most shocking is that it cuts across barriers of Age, Employment Status, Faith, Gender, Profession, Race; you name it. So I am wondering where, when and how do things become so unbearable to the point of not wanting to live another day?

I sincerely do not have any answers but perhaps, David, the shepherd boy, turned king of Israel and the author of most of the Psalms we read today can tell us a thing or two. These Psalms were not written while he was sipping on a mug of hot chocolate or enjoying some mouth –watering dessert.  Absolutely Not!! Some of the time he was on the run as a fugitive, other times he was surrounded by enemies who were ready to mob him to death. But somehow David kept his head above water and did not drown. So what did David do? Let us learn from him. David encouraged himself in the Lord whenever he realised he was slowly sinking into a deep dark abyss, he said; “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance”.  Psalms 42:5 KJV Praise was David’s tool of getting out of the abyss of depression.  Another thing David did was to keep talking. He spoke up and spoke out. We need to start talking rather than keeping things in or bottling things up. Yet I realise that sometimes we may not wish for any living soul to know what we are passing through. (So that it does not become a gossip topic or the butt of jokes.) BUT WE CAN TELL IT TO JESUS!! He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He will never judge or condemn us. And His Spirit dwells in us. Let us learn to start talking to Him. When we are told in Philippians 4:6 to “be anxious for nothing, but ask God for everything…” It is an invitation to talk openly and freely to God, holding nothing back. Psalm 34:4 encourages us to talk to God when we are afraid (of the dark, of the future, of our finances or lack thereof, of anything whatsoever.)  “I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4 NLT  And hear what the Master also said- Then Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT Jesus, Himself bids us come to Him. Come with the pain, the insecurity, drop the anxiety at His feet. Come and tell Him what’s going on.

 

I leave us with the words of this hymn!

Are you weary, are you heavyhearted?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that’s well-known;
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do you fear the gath’ring clouds of sorrow?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.                        JEREMIAH EAMES RANKIN 1828 – 1904

COME AND TALK TO JESUS ABOUT IT.

OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS©