Are You Depressed Today?

God lives and works today, but it's not always easy for us to recognize him at work in our lives, especially when things aren't going well, when we're feeling depressed or discouraged. Is that the way you're feeling today? Today's meditation by Basilea Schlink can help you find the solution to your difficulties and help make your depression vanish. One morning, one of our sisters went to Mother Materia and asked to talk with her.

She said she couldn't pray well anymore. She preferred to escape into her work and had become depressed. Mother Materia, who puts a lot of effort, time, and love into her spiritual counseling, this time only spoke a few words to this sister.

Yes, for some time now, I've sensed that you're lacking something, repentance. Pray for repentance, and then we'll get together again. The sister was really disappointed.

She thought this time the diagnosis of her problem couldn't be so simple. She'd been expecting a long, soothing spiritual treatment. But the words with which Mother Materia lovingly hit her on the head were absolutely true.

When this sister began to ask God for light over her sins, God heard her prayer. He gave her light and repentance. He even gave her the courage to confess her guilt.

And then suddenly, her depression vanished. Perhaps you too started to pray this morning and then gave up right away. You told yourself, I can't pray.

Prayer doesn't have any sense. God doesn't hear me. I'm too sinful.

You're wrong, just as that sister was wrong. God does hear prayer. But it's a matter of dialing the right number.

If you try to call up a friend and dial the wrong number, you simply won't reach him. The same is true for your spiritual life. Therefore begin now with the prayer that's a prerequisite to all prayer, the prayer that will always reach the heart of God.

Confess to him how poor and how sinful you are, what you have done wrong, where you've sinned recently, and what has cast a shadow upon your life. Tell God who you are and how you are. Unsparingly call your sins by name before God and yourself.

But also pluck up your courage and make a radical confession to a spiritual counselor. Guilt must be brought to light and confessed. Then you will receive forgiveness, redemption, and release.

I can testify to this for my own life. God loves you and can't bear to see you unhappy. He's waiting for you to come to him.

The arms of God are open to all those who confess their sins. The Bible says that all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents. But this joy isn't something that just stays in heaven.

No, the repentant sinner himself will be the happiest of all. For where there is forgiveness of sin, there's life and blessedness. Repent and tears, my Savior, cheers, Followed by praise and rejoicing, Love and my gratitude voicing.

You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.

If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.