By Ching Co
Email: chingten_co@yahoo.com

There is a vast group of God's children today who are experiencing Elijah's struggle after his triumphant encounter in Mount Carmel. He experienced a season of "depression" (1 Kings 18-19).

I am part of this group. For more than a year now and even to this date, I continue to battle with "depression." Like Elijah then, I have chosen to hide in my own "cave"--putting up a normal front before others and only allowing a few people open access to see the real state of my heart and mind.

My mind and my heart continue to believe and trust in the goodness, might, and wonder of our God--who He is and what He is capable of doing. I know His words are true; His promises are Yes & Amen. And I believe that He is able to do anything.

But my feelings are running amok, I feel detached, lifeless, and numb inside. It's like living an out of body experience daily, it's a "you are here, yet you are not there" living. I experience daily all the negative feelings associated with depression, and though I never doubt God's power, I do doubt my own ability to hear and discern spiritual matters.

I feel very isolated and alone and many times wonder if I must have done something wrong that has offended God for Him to allow me to walk through this experience.

It is a very difficult and lonely place. But for some months now, the Holy Spirit has been nudging me to come out in the open about this experience.

You Are Not Alone

He impressed to me that I am not alone, and there is in fact a great number of God's children who, for various reasons, are also standing in this same place where I am standing.

I received my confirmation when the Lord recently allowed me to meet another young sister in the Lord, and she was lead to share with me about her own struggles with depression. We discovered that the timing and the intensity of both our struggles are so similar to one another.

Despite the difficulties we were facing, we found ourselves greatly comforted by each other.

Comforted by the fact that we are not imagining our feelings.

Comforted by the fact that we are not alone in this battle.

Comforted by the presence of someone who can totally understand, identify, and relate to what we are going through.

The Bigger Picture

The Holy Spirit showed me a battle scene, like one from an old movie, where you see soldiers lined up by different groups and with different armor. There was a group riding horses, another group was armed with bows and arrows, yet another group was armed with swords, and yet others with spears and so on.

At the order of their commander, each group attacked at different times. Despite differences in appearance and in sequence of attack, they were all part of one army and fighting one battle.

At this point, the Holy Spirit began to explain to me the parallel meaning of this vision.

You Are Part of God's Army

Despite what I am going thru this season, I continue to be a part of God's army. And no matter what I am feeling now, God continues to use me to fight His battle with the other saints.

My armor may be different, but it is just as effective in breaking down strongholds and destroying the work of principalities in high places.

Stand up and Be Counted

If this message is for you today, Rejoice! For you are not alone. Come out of your cave:

LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.

Stand up and be counted.

Glory to You, oh God, for You never waste our trials and sufferings and You have made us worthy to be partakers of Your kingdom work. Amen!

Sis. Ching Co
Cebu City, Philippines
Email: chingten_co@yahoo.com

Posted on 7/30/07