Mental Illness Revisited...

[ILG]

For those who may be interested, when I was in the throes of deep depression, I heard a story. It was about a person in a deep hole. This person prayed for God to help them and whenever he prayed, someone from above would throw a pile of dirt on him. He would get mad and stomp his feet sometimes feeling God wasn't helping at all. He heard the criticism of those who would look down and make fun. Those who made fun often threw more dirt. After years of this, one day, he realized he was able to step out of the hole, using the very dirt thrown upon him to step out.

Faith doesn't mean you will be able to take a flying leap from 50 ft down out of a hole. It just means that you keep on stamping your feet day after day.

One day, I stepped out.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by ILG

For those who may be interested, when I was in the throes of deep depression, I heard a story. It was about a person in a deep hole. This person prayed for God to help them and whenever he prayed, someone from above would throw a pile of dirt on him. He would get mad and stomp his feet sometimes feeling God wasn't helping at all. He heard the criticism of those who would look down and make fun. Those who made fun often threw more dirt. After years of this, one day, he realized he was able to step out of the hole, using the very dirt thrown upon him to step out.

Faith doesn't mean you will be able to take a flying leap from 50 ft down out of a hole. It just means that you keep on stamping your feet day after day.

One day, I stepped out.

One day you stepped out?

Praise Jesus!

Now I'm going to ask you a question, not accusing you, do you think I am throwing dirt?

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

One day you stepped out?

Praise Jesus!

Now I'm going to ask you a question, not accusing you, do you think I am throwing dirt?

Yep.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by ILG

Yep.

Well, I'm not.

Jesus did say as YOUR faith be it unto you?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by ILG

For those who may be interested, when I was in the throes of deep depression, I heard a story. It was about a person in a deep hole. This person prayed for God to help them and whenever he prayed, someone from above would throw a pile of dirt on him. He would get mad and stomp his feet sometimes feeling God wasn't helping at all. He heard the criticism of those who would look down and make fun. Those who made fun often threw more dirt. After years of this, one day, he realized he was able to step out of the hole, using the very dirt thrown upon him to step out.

Faith doesn't mean you will be able to take a flying leap from 50 ft down out of a hole. It just means that you keep on stamping your feet day after day.

One day, I stepped out.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

God bless you, EB and the ministry that you are doing. May He give you wisdom and direction for each situation / person you face. (and I mean this sincerely!)

Thank you.

[Evang.Benincasa]

You know what I'm reading? I am reading a lot of God doesn't always heal, but my question is, why do you all believe that he doesn't always heal?

Is it His fault?

Is it your fault?

Is it just your fate?

Any answers?

[diakonos]

Originally Posted by evang.benincasa

you know what i'm reading? I am reading a lot of god doesn't always heal, but my question is, why do you all believe that he doesn't always heal?

Is it his fault?

Is it your fault?

Is it just your fate?

Any answers?

🔥🔥🔥

[Evang.Benincasa]

2013?

Good grief

[Aquila]

I stepped away to pray and gather my thoughts. And I did something that I don’t do that often, I prayed for “a Word”. However, not just a Word to comfort and strengthen me, but a Word that I could share with others. And I received it. The power of God came down on me and several things were impressed upon my heart and I want to share them here.

As I prayed the Spirit brought this passage to my mind…

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. ~ Matthew 11:1-6

This passage is an enigma for some. Many don’t realize what is happening here. We see Jesus and the disciples out preaching the Gospel. While they are doing this, John (who is languishing in prison) sends two disciples to ask Jesus a question. The question was, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” This question is very troubling. If anyone knew who Jesus was, it would have been John the Baptist. John stood in the waters of the Jordan and baptized Jesus, and when he did John heard the voice from Heaven declaring that Jesus was the Son of God in whom the Father was well pleased. John saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus as a dove, confirming the anointing and Messianic mission that Jesus was to perform. Why was John expressing doubt???

It’s easy to understand really. You see John was in prison and facing a death sentence for preaching the truth… and it wasn’t looking good. No doubt John had believed that Jesus the Messiah would send an earthquake to crack the prison open and an angel to escort him home. However, with the scheduled execution near… there had been no earthquake. No angel awakening John in the night to walk him home. This feeling of being abandoned by God no doubt left John disillusioned and frustrated in his faith. When the messengers return, they bring a message from Jesus. Christ had answered John’s question by saying,

“The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

The words are powerful and revealing. While John languishes in prison Jesus joyously expressed to the messengers that many are receiving healing and deliverance. The blind are receiving their sight, the lame are walking, lepers are being cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to life! And the poor… the Gospel is being preached unto them. However, in all of this powerful and positive testimony, nowhere does Jesus promise John deliverance. Instead, the words of Jesus seem to break from the joyous testimony to say, “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” When John heard these words, I believe he understood the implications and for a moment his heart stopped. Jesus was saying,

“John, you know who I am. John, mighty miracles and deliverances are breaking out among the people as I demonstrate my power. Yes, they are being healed, delivered, and encouraged. But John, hold fast to your faith. Because it saddens me to have to tell you this. I’m not sending an earthquake. I’m not sending an angel for you. John, I know you’ve prayed to be delivered on account of your faithfulness… but John… the answer is,‘No.’ John, you’ll be blessed if you can hold fast to your faith and accept my will for you. You’ll be blessed if… you are not offended by what I’m going to do with your life.”

John felt the sting of Jesus saying, “No, John. While I am delivering others… I’m choosing not to deliver you. Hold fast and do not be offended at this. I know what I’m doing.”

I am also reminded of Paul and his prayers to be set free from his “thorn in the flesh”. This thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan that challenged Paul significantly. Many believe that it might have been an eye disease. Or perhaps some other disability incurred as a result of the beatings he had taken for preaching the Gospel. Many have postulated that perhaps it was a spirit or infirmity that tempted Paul to sin against God. Others have said that perhaps it was a discouraging spirit reminding Paul how so many slandered his name and were refusing to hear the Gospel entrusted to him. The truth is… we don’t know what it was. It may have been one of these things or perhaps a combination of all of these things. Nevertheless we know that Paul tells us that he prayed three times to be set free… to be delivered… to be healed. And God’s answer was…

“7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ~ II Corinthians 12:7-10

God’s answer to Paul’s prayers were, “No Paul, I’m not going to deliver you from this affliction. Because through this, I will keep you humble. And you shall see how my power is made perfect in your weakness.”

Perhaps you’re in the prison of disease, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or some other infirmity. Perhaps you’re in the prison of some situation or circumstance that you can’t change. Maybe someone you dearly love is facing any of these things and you've been praying and believing and you're not seeing God's hand move in their circumstance. You see so many around you being delivered… yet your prayers have gone unanswered for weeks, months, or even years. Perhaps as a result of this…you, like John, are wondering… “Is this Jesus and His delivering power for real? Why isn’t God setting me free???”

Please note, Paul only prayed three times and then committed the situation to the Lord. Release yourself from the notion that you need to “build up enough faith”. Some are telling you that you just don’t have enough faith. That isn’t true. It only takes a little faith to receive a miracle. Faith the size of a mustard seed, according to Jesus. In fact, I can prove to you that you have the faith. How? If you don’t know who Jesus is or you don’t believe He has the power to deliver… then why are you so discouraged and confused??? Clearly, your discouragement, confusion, and disillusionment are signs that you do in fact know beyond a doubt who He is… and you do know beyond a doubt that He can deliver you! If you didn’t have this faith beyond a doubt… you’d not feel so discouraged or disillusioned! So stop believing people who say that you simply don’t have the faith. Instead… put your faith and trust in God. Do not allow yourself to become offended in Him when He says “Not now.”… or… “No. I have a better plan.”

Blessed are you if you are not offended at what God is doing in your life or the life of someone you love.