photo #9211841

DEPRESSION HATES A MOVING TARGET The above words are attributed to Winston Churchill, who often stayed busy laying bricks in order to ease and occupy his mind. One common thing that I've noticed through the years about depressed people is that they often spend way too much time in idleness. The old-timers used to say that an idle mind is the devil's workshop, and they were right.Depressed people often develop the "no-one-knows-what-I'm-going-through" mentality, yet God's word says that they aren't going through anything that thousands, or even millions of others aren't also going through (I Cor. 10:13). The difference is not what we go through, but how we respond to it.Many preachers deal with depression regularly. I could personally give at least a dozen reasons for me just saying, "To ______ with everybody" and moving off to some shack in the mountains, but I'd still have depressing moments, and it would only grow worse. So I must make up my mind to not succumb, but rather to overcome. I can't change the way people use me and disrespect me, but I CAN change the way that I respond to it, and if I respond righteously, God remains in my corner strengthening me and even rewarding me.Strengthening me not only to deal with problems, but also to remain focused on his will and his work. Just as Churchill would occupy himself laying bricks, God allows me to lay bricks in his kingdom. I literally NEVER have "nothing to do." That would be depressing, indeed, but God never lets it happen. There's always a booklet or tract to print, another title to write, another order to fill, another sermon to prepare, another sinner to seek, another seed to sow, another prayer for the throne room, another chapter to read, etc. Men ask me at times if I have a workshop. OH, YES!!! It's called Bible Baptist Publications, and I'd probably be a dead man without it.Our Lord said, "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13), and he said, "Son, go work to day in my vineyard." (Mat. 21:28) This is a hard and cruel world, and it will try to beat you down (John 16:33). Your friends and family might even fail you and keep you depressed, if you allow it, but your Father runs a very important business (Luke 2:49), and there's much work to do! Everyone needs a workshop, and there's no better one than the Lord's vineyard. There are many bricks to be laid. It helps God, it helps others, and it will help YOU to keep moving and not be taken out by depression. You might be hit and wounded, but you will not be destroyed, if you keep moving. I don't know everything, but I know that, because I live it every day. No matter what else fails, the Father's business will never fail, so I stay busy in it every day. Satan's darts will still come, but I will NOT be a sitting target.