The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 74
In a Strait Betwixt Two: To Die or To Live!
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
– Philippians 1:23-24
Life as it is often presents various challenges that for some people are difficult to cope with. For persons struggling with anxiety and depression it is almost impossible to survive being imprisoned in their minds. Thus, the continuous challenges of life cause such persons to be so tired that they dream of a way of escape, just to disappear from it all.
Have life’s perpetual challenges cause you to experience great pain that seems to speak louder than the Word of God, of which you are so tired that you constantly thought of dying and going to be with the Lord so you even asked Him to take you? You imagined what it would be like to be in a place where there would be no more sorrow, pain, crying, instead there would be rejoicing, worship, peace. Who wouldn’t want to be in such a place?
There was a battle in the Apostle Paul’s soul when he was in prison in Rome. He was in the midst of two forces like a tug-of-war contesting for his life, pressured by the opponents as they pulled on his heart in two different directions. One force pulled him “…to depart and be with Christ…” and the other force pulled him “…to abide in the flesh…”. However, the choice was his to make. Paul was so consumed by the thought of death so that he could be in a far better place with Christ. Therefore, he was passionate and excited about being like a ship that was loosed from its moorings in order to be free to sail at last. Nevertheless, he chose to abide in the flesh because he realized that his God given purpose on earth had not yet been accomplished. He still had from God other assignments to finish.
Maybe today you are in a strait betwixt two, pressured by the endless challenges of life to die and be with Christ and to live and fulfil your purpose in the earth. However, before you make your choice examine yourself to see if you have already accomplished all that God has created you for in the earth. If you realize that you have unfinished tasks, then it’s not yet your time to depart. Ask God to help you muster all the strength you have in Him to carry on living for His glory.
God bless you!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Abba, I worship and adore You always. Thank you for breathing Your breath into me today. I am grateful to be alive today so that I can finish the work You have sent me here to do, even though I would rather be with You. Please help me to be strong in You and in the power of Your might when life challenges are overwhelming. I declare that I am passionate and excited about living just as I am about dying. Therefore, I live an abundant life in Christ. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ precious name with thanksgiving. Amen!
