How to Combat Isolation and Depression.

Image: View through a window of a river and mountains in the background. Image by Unsplash.

Waking up to the chirping of birds and opening the curtains to admire the vista of the silvery glow to the river and the shadowed mountains beyond gave me pause to reflect on the wonder of God how He guides the dawn to break from hues of purple orange to a gradual lightening of the sky to blue. In just mere minutes, the morning occurred. A workday with new miracles to see!

All creatures are astir and about their work. The birds have left off with their chirping and heralding of the dawn to take their flight and create a stunning display magnificently.

As the early morning sky loses its stark delineation of color bands and gradually melds into the azure-blue we are ordinarily familiar with, so too our resolve can fade to let God lead.

We then need reminders of how he led us in the past to keep our focus on the power of God to guide us. With the dawn past and more light comes more definitions and details. The mountain comes into focus with its trees, and the river reveals its buoy, warning of sandbanks and danger. Our lives, too, after the grogginess of sleep and the wonder of the new day have faded, looms with troubles and cares.

The power and comfort of God were on display as Moses reminded the Israelites on their march from Horeb to Kadesh-Barnea after their respite from crossing the Red Sea (Deuteronomy 1:31). For us, the wilderness experience is navigating the various distractions and deceptions that are determined to undermine our effort to stay on the path. That’s where the everyday miracle kicks in!

When confusion and a feeling of being overwhelmed with the magnitude of all we need to consider for the day threatens, then we should pause and seek the will of God for our day and walk in it. When we get to a place of quiet, beauty, and peace in our daily march to Zion in the daily tasks, we will have experienced a miracle.

God’s leading gives peace and quietness, a respite from the excitement, envy, and jealousy that stirs the spirit. A surety and calmness accompany God's leading. He doesn’t tug us along at force, and there's too much evidence of His providence for that. He guides as we allow. Jesus came to show us the way. He is our good Shepherd (John 10:11).

An everyday miracle

“The just shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17) Claiming God’s promises for your life hinges on how you perceive God. Do you trust God with your daily life? Not just salvation. Yes, many of us trust the faith of salvation, but not the faith of everyday life.

What is the difference? We have an abiding belief that we will be saved, but not a deep conviction that if our child in whom we have invested all our effort, resources, and prayers when failing at their academic work, the path will be ok for them if not the one we envisioned. What will be the fate of my child if they are not the white-collar worker I expected at the end of their academic journey?

Recognize the answers to your prayer through His word, His Spirit, His Providence.

“He leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalms 23:2)

The view of nature from your window is the miracle of today: God leads us!

Life Application

How are you allowing Jesus to lead you today?

If you have not yet done so, please consider accepting the leadership of Christ and surrender your will to His; only then will you see the path of truth and righteousness in what you do today that leads to eternity tomorrow.