Up the Jordan

I wonder if a Christian suffering depression is something like the Dead Sea found in the land of Israel.  It is a large body of water with no life in it, on it, and very little around it.  It exists from the melted snow of Mt. Herman that once bubbled and bounced down to the Sea of Galilee, which is a body of water alive with activity.  Then those same waters flow down the Jordan with people using and crossing it until finally entering the Dead Sea which has no outlet and becomes a place with little life or joy.

That journey of the water might be a picture of a Christian in an emotional struggle.  At one time they had drank in the living water offered by Jesus and had become His.  They soon found themselves enmeshed in a church family that was full of life (the Sea of Galilee).  Everywhere about them there were people living, laughing, serving, learning, and moving.  It was thrilling and enriching.

In time they moved out of the center of church life to serve in some more remote or less vibrant ways or places.  As the waters of the Jordan, they served a variety of people for a variety of reasons all the time drifting away from vibrancy – unknowingly they were moving toward despondency.  In time they found themselves emptied of life.  They didn’t lose their salvation but the joy of salvation (Ps. 51:12), their purpose/worth and their fulfilling fellowships.  Life became “dead”.

So, what is the answer for someone in the Dead Sea?  It is a return to the Sea of Galilee!  But, to get there will take friends – strong friends!  Those friends are going to have to move their friend back up the Jordan against the current and at times against the will of the one depressed.  It will be a challenging project!

Let’s imagine that journey back to “life”.  Shortly after leaving the Dead Sea the team will come upon a pile of 12 stones in the middle of the river (Joshua’s crossing).  Those stones serve as a reminder that God had done great things, even miraculous things, for people in the past.  For the friend being moved, recount 12 stories from the Old Testament of God’s power and blessings on people undeserving yet loved.

Moving on upstream, the group will move past the place where John the Baptist ministered and baptized Jesus.  There needs to be talk here about the friend’s conversion and public testimony of faith in Jesus when he or she was saved and baptized (when, how and why were they baptized?).  Also, it serves as a reminder that the Holy Spirit came into their life and God declared them His child in whom He was pleased because he or she was placed in Jesus.

Further up the Jordan will be a place where the disciples of Jesus were baptizing followers.  Now is time to ask the one to recount ways that God had used him or her in times past.  As God had before used this one now struggling, it is time to talk about that happening again.  A vision of future service is presented.

A little farther upstream there is the place where the stream Jabbok empties into the Jordan and where Jacob crossed over as he returned to the land he was promised after running from home for the theft of the blessing from his brother.  He crossed the river to set his tents before a pagan city which brought him into great danger and pain.  His crossing was with the wrong destination in mind and serves as a reminder that one can come to the river and not follow it up to the Sea of Galilee thus missing the place of rich blessings.

Lastly, on the trip to the Sea of Galilee, there is a crossing area heavily used between Galilee and Perea.  It is a place that Jesus would have often used.  It is a reminder that the life of the friend will intersect with many lives in the coming days and their witness and service will be valuable to those encountered.  Also, God will be pleased to use the one being helped now in many ways in days ahead to touch the lives of others.

And finally, the Sea of Galilee!  This again is the place of joy, peace, love, fellowship, and LIFE!  May the service of the friends helping and teaching up the Jordan be used by God to restore a Christian to wellness.