"And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him."
Mark 5:1-6

Every time I read this story, I am reminded of my life before I met Jesus.  As you know from reading my writings, I spent most of my life in depression.  People who thought they were doing the right thing would have me committed to a mental hospital.  The doctors and nurses were kind to me; at least most of them were kind.  None of that therapy helped me.  The only Therapy that worked for me was when I saw Jesus and ran to Him and started worshipping Him.

During those years of utter despair and having no desire at all to live, I did not bathe most of the time.  I could not even stand my own smell.  I would go visit my sister and she would ask me if I was going to take a bath.  I would tell her that I would take one when I went home.  Most of the time, I didn’t take the baths.  It is no wonder at all that no one wanted to be around me, I smelled terrible!

When a person is in deep depression, that person doesn’t care about anything and is unable to do the daily things that are needed to be sanitary.  As bad as I smelled physically, I smelled much worse in my attitude and cursing.  What about you?  Do you stink to God and others with your rotten attitude and unforgiving ways?  You may even be going through a depression like I did and are physically unable to take a bath.

Jesus is the Only One Who can help you conquer this devastating illness.  He is the Only One Who understands your heart.  He knows that you want to do the things that you should do, but that you are literally powerless to even get out of bed most of the time.

He does not condemn you.  He is reaching down His Hand of Mercy and Tenderness to you.  He wants to lift you up and place you on His Lap of Kindness and Love.  I urge you to take hold of the Sweet Hand of Jesus and let Him pour His Healing Love into your heart and life.

August 30, 2005