When All Seems Lostਨਮੂਨਾ

**Notice: This content includes sensitive themes that some readers may find difficult:[Topics related to depression, anxiety, or burnout.]. Please take care as you read.

The Harsh Reality

2 Kings 4:1 NIV "The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

​The struggles and the unwon battles of those who passed away are sometimes transferred to those they left behind. The consequences of their choices and decisions don't necessarily die with them; sometimes, they are transferred. The burden we carry and the scars we bear are not always the consequence of our own choice, but those we do life with. It is enough pain that the widow loses her husband, but more painful that she now has to fight for the custody of her children while she grieved. After all, the deceased's debt has to be paid.

The dilemma of the widow is probably what many can relate to: when life seems you're coming out of one problem, but heading towards another, or just when you think life will give you a break, and there you go again, another thing comes up. It may seem unfair, but it's in moments like this that God's grace is made evident.

Suicide, depression, and mental breakdown are not hereditary; they are the results of life's continuous blows, the cascade of problems that just won't go away. Divorce, job loss, death of a loved one, relationship break-up, prolonged sickness, a child suffering from drug addiction, abusive parents, to name a few. The punches of life take their toll, no matter how seemingly strong we are, but we are not meant to be victims of our circumstances.

The widow had an option: withdraw to life's cocoon and hope that fate would take care of things, or stand up and find a way out. She did the latter - she cried out to Elisha. She did not succumb to the power of grief and helplessness; she sought help.

Friends, when life seems unbearable and difficult, run to God. You may not have all the answers, it's okay. You may be wondering, "Why me?", What have I done to deserve this? Perhaps you haven't done anything wrong, but the harsh reality of life is that "winter" comes for us all. You have to be strong, and you have to trust God no matter what. Like the widow, don't call a pity party; trust God to turn things around. Don't withdraw from your spiritual family; let people hold you up in prayer.

When we isolate ourselves in challenging times, it only exacerbates the problem. We become vulnerable to self-judgment and being self-critical. However, before speaking to friends, first talk to God, and let him lead you. The goal is not to seek sympathy; the goal is to find a solution. And with God, nothing is impossible.