Pastor Jesse has some wise words for those dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Please know that feeling down doesn’t make you less spiritual. Take small steps towards happiness… Whether it’s a trip to a sunny spot or finding strength in scripture, every little bit counts. Jesus himself is the brightest light in the world, ready to illuminate even our darkest moments.
Click PLAY for a shining dose of light and love!
What is Faith Filter? We take what’s on our minds, what’s percolating in our hearts, and what’s happening in the world… and put it through the filter of our faith… everything we believe and what God Word says about it!
Guest: Pastor Jesse from Grace Community Church in Auburn/ Host of the Bonfire podcast on Purposely, AND author of the brand new book, The Power Of The Second Thought, How To Live With Indestructible Hope!
Do you have a question about faith that you’d love Pastor Jesse and Erica to talk about on the radio? Connect with Erica at Mornings@SPIRIT1053.com!
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TRANSCRIPTION:
Erica:
It’s been called a more severe form of the winter blues. It can make you feel irritable or unhappy and kind of like you don’t want to hang around people. Talking about seasonal affective disorder or sad for short. Today on faith filter, pastor Jesse, I know people who battle this, and even if you don’t officially have SAD, you do have feelings of sadness at times because the days can get awfully gray and dark and long. So Pastor Jesse, for somebody who is a believer but also struggling with sad right now, what’s your best advice?
Pastor Jesse:
I’d want to encourage people that it doesn’t make you less spiritual, and different factors affect people differently. I see this frequently where people will move to the Sound from another part of the country and they both love Jesus. And one person does fine here in terms of the weather, and the other person it really weighs on them, is difficult and they’re missing the sun. It’s like a friend they haven’t seen in a long time and they’re just feeling really down. So, it doesn’t make you more spiritual or less spiritual. Don’t be too hard on yourself. God already knows how you’re wired and what affects you. And as you think through that and there’s options, right? Whenever you’re going through something hard, there’s always options. Now there’s literally you can go down to the sun and maybe you take a trip in the middle of the winter every year.
Erica:
Yes!
Pastor Jesse:
hat’s just fine. You don’t have to feel bad about that. Enjoy Arizona, California, Hawaii, wherever you want to go. It’s some little things that help, and there’s different levels to it. But at the core, I would say all of us can relate to having circumstances, situations that feel like we’re heading towards despair. And how do you handle those moments, right?
Erica:
Yes.
Pastor Jesse:
I’ll say this encouragement. I had a professor in seminary, Howard Hendricks, and he’s pretty well known, and I looked up to him so much and he was very transparent about the depression he goes through, and how intense it is. And he would be teaching us and so inspiring. And then the mood would swing and he would have bouts of depression that we’re debilitating. And when he eventually died and went to be with the Lord, his son said the thing he admired most about dad was how he responded when he was depressed, and he would see dad go to God, he would see dad trust God. He would see dad open up his Bible and just spent hours in scripture. And David said, why is my soul, why are you so downcast within me? I will put my trust in God. And he saw his dad live that out. Like, I’m going to keep talking to God. I’m going to give God my burdens. I’m going to wait on the Lord. The Lord will lift this. The Lord has gotten me through this so many times. And he said that legacy right there, because his son struggled with depression, he said, “That legacy gave me hope.” So if you are going through something right now where it’s hard or winter’s hard, just know that God is still with you. God is still faithful. God is still good. And if you go to him, make him your go-to. Not sin.
Don’t just find something to numb it. Don’t rebel. Don’t wander. Don’t do it on your own strength. But if you draw near to God and just receive his goodness, don’t go to the word like you’ve got to complete this massive Bible study… Go to the word to listen to the good shepherd, and just receive. Receive encouragement. Wisdom. Strength. Take that posture. Maybe you’ve got a chair, that’s what Howard Hendricks had, a chair that you just go there and you receive. It’s the goodness of God and don’t resist it. And God will renew. It’ll renew your mind and your heart and God will help you through this season. The sun will come back. We know the PNW. It’s glorious. In the summer, the sun will come back. Right?
Erica:
It’s so true. Absolutely. Amen to everything you said. And I was thinking about this time of year, around four 30 in the afternoon when you turn on a lamp in your living room and it makes all the difference. And Jesus, this is why he came. He’s the light of the world. So, I just feel like if somebody’s listening right now and their circumstances are dark or they’re looking outside and it’s dark, that’s something to remember. That’s one of his promises. He lights up our world, Jesse.
Pastor Jesse:
Absolutely. So good. And it’s true. They did research recently and Seattle is the saddest city in the country. The saddest. And if we read that and it’s like, wow, that’s a jolt. You think that’s where I live. But it’s a reminder that not only does God help us individually, but we can shine the light, Erica that you’re talking about. Jesus is the light of the world and he calls us the light of the world. And when people are down a little bit, a few morsels, when I’m leading a funeral, I’m telling you, a little bit of encouragement goes a long ways. As you’re going through something sad, one of the best ways out is to serve other people.
Erica:
Yes.
Pastor Jesse:
And you got to get out of yourself. Don’t just think about yourself. Yes, receive from the Lord, but then also who can you encourage where you live, work, learn, and play. And one note, one quote, one hug, one prayer, right? One time of really listening to someone who’s pouring out their heart to you, shining a little light in that darkness. You’d be amazed how far and deep that light travels and God will help us. But let’s encourage each other. Let’s spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
Erica:
Pastor Jesse, thank you for being the light of the world right here in the sound. We so appreciate you.
Pastor Jesse:
Thanks for all the encouragement that you bring, Erica.
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