"Finding Motivation: Overcoming Depression and Reigniting the Desire to Arise and Shine"

Finding the tiny new flowers of Spring in the fields brings quiet hope that new life will be emerging everywhere. Taking a toddler for a walk reminds me of this verse as they run ahead spotting the smallest flower . Without words, they are saying ,”Get up, be happy, follow me and see what God has done.”

Many times in the Biblical stories, the answer God gives to those characters who have lost initiative due to depression, despair, drudgery of life’s tasks, or stuck in daydreaming about a better situation , is “Arise “ and just do it.

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah prayed he might die. “Take my life, Lord” he cried as Jezebel was after him for destroying her false pagan prophets. So God sent his Angel to Elijah with a simple instruction; “Arise and eat. “ Several times after that, God found Elijah still stuck in depression saying, “I have been zealous for the Lord but …” and hiding from God’s command. God would ask him, “What are you doing here?” Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation and we stop caring for our health and well being.

I have been there. Have you? I think I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to to overcome depression, despair, and drudgery but it hasn’t worked. I hear those words, “What are you doing here” again. God has to remind me, reignite the desire to “Arise, shine” ; Arise and eat” - find nourishment for your body and soul in me. Get up and find the tiny flowers I’ve sent for your inspiration. Just do the next thing.

Another story of despair is about Jesus’ disciples who after being told by Jesus to “stay awake and pray with me” were found sound asleep instead. When Jesus gave His response to them it was in the form of a question, “Could you not stay awake? “ I have been there too. In my own flesh, I have let others down. Yet Jesus's response to the disciples and to my failure is “Rise, let us be going.” Just do the next thing and trust in Him.

Ephesians 5:14 tells us “Arise from the dead…”. When our spirit feels dead in depression, despair and daily drudgery, we need to stop daydreaming about what God could do through us and let His Spirit give us the power to “Arise” . Oswald Chambers, a great theologian puts it this way. “God does not give us overcoming life- He gives us life as we overcome. “

I could sit in despair at home over many situations in my life . I could try to hide from others and God but He is El Roi, the God who sees. And He will come to me and say gently, “What are you doing here?” “Arise, shine…let us be going…arise from the dead” .

“Arise, let us go from here.” John 14:31

Amen. ☀️🪻🌺🌸🌼