Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Drowning in the Flood

I made a mess again.

My depression has dragged me down to what feels like rock bottom. I know it isn't, but perspective tends to dominate the human mind. It's times like this, when I feel the sheer weight of everything, that I feel, not so much that I can't continue, but that I have no will to do so. It's like I've allowed my circumstances to bear down on me so hard that my spirits have been crushed and I've degenerated into apathy.

My thoughts have been immersed in negativity for several days. I've felt lonely and abandoned, and these feelings seem to feed and sustain themselves, causing a downward spiral. I've felt so much anger and resentment, so much fear, and so much loathing for myself and for the world and all the people in it, that it feels like I'm beyond consolation. I've backslidden so far into old, sinful behaviors and attitudes that redemption feels hopeless.

The burden has been so heavy that, moments ago, I felt compelled to fall to my knees. I reread, for the umpteenth time, the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and it became painfully real to me that the way I've been has not been loving at all. I begged God for the forgiveness I knew I already have and will never deserve. But can I forgive myself?

As I write, I still wrestle with this, yet to find a peaceful resolution. To any readers, I'm sorry that this isn't a profound, feelgood, theological or spiritual post. This is a post of despair; of open recognition of my need for God's grace; of a deep longing to truly give my burdens to Christ. These are the thoughts of a human truly struggling with his humanity.

3 comments:

  1. David would disagree about it being non-profound and non-spiritual.

    any Protestant theologian, either from eastern or western tradition, with a good attitude, would disagree about it being non-theological, and with vehemence.

    i have a book recommendation for you.

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    Replies
    1. I always like book recommendations.

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    2. http://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Mind-Developing-Discipline-Challenge/dp/1608680908/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454054845&sr=8-1&keywords=practicing+mind

      Delete