Depressed?

Ed McClanahan

Has 2020 been as depressing to you as it’s been to me? Between Covid-19, lockdowns, social distancing, racial unrest, protests, vandalism, and political backstabbing, it’s easy to lose hope in the world. Getting a negative attitude can easily creep into our lives if we’re not careful. But whenever I’m feeling down on my world, thinking about the things endured by the Apostle Paul humbles my pity party.

Paul would’ve gladly traded his life for the garbage of the year 2020 in a split second! Let’s compare what Paul endured to our year. He served numerous unfair prison sentences and was beaten more times than he could remember. He faced death over and over, and was whipped the standard thirty-nine lashes by the Jews on five different occasions. He was beaten with rods three times, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, and even spent twenty-four hours in the open sea! I don’t think I could last twenty-four minutes.

Paul was in constant danger from rivers and floods, from bandits, from his own countrymen, and from foreigners. He faced danger in the city, danger in the desert, danger on the high seas, and danger from fake Christians. He experienced exhaustion, pain, lengthy vigils, hunger and thirst, going without meals and clothing and faced bitter cold. Then for the cherry on top, the Lord gave him a thorn in the flesh. When Paul begged the Lord to take it away, The Lord simply answered, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I think I’ll take the discomfort of the last few months and count my blessings. How about you?