It is God’s will to lift up His children in spite of the various difficult circmstances that would pull us into depression, hopelessness, impatience, and anxiety. Satan, our spiritual enemy, wants to use our challenging circumstances to drag us downward into fear and a feeling of being completely drained, helpless, and stuck. Yet in the middle of our trying state of affairs, the loving Lord declares, “Arise!” He desires that we come to Him and receive a new way of life!
Whether you are a spiritual infant (believing that Jesus died for your sins but struggling with giving Him total control of your life) or a more mature child of God (having a relationship with God in which you understand that He will use even difficult circumstances for your good). God’s directive to get up and come to Him is the same. When we choose to arise and go to Jesus, we empty out our fearful, impatient, hopeless hearts and feel free to tell Him all about our circumstances and emotions. Then He will take our depression and gradually transform us by filling our hearts with His Spirit.
A heart full of God’s Spirit produces love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, patience, and hope. This is the new life He has for His children! This process of trading a heavy heart for a heart full of His love and Spirit will be an ongoing way of life for all believers as we mature on in our spiritual journey. Jesus is the Light, and He wants to give us hearts overflowing with His Holy Spirit, not troubles. When our hearts are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given the ability to shine, to stand out and show forth God’s radiant and unconditional love to broken and hurting people who desperately need this new life that Christ bought for the world!
“Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you- rise to a new life]! Shine [be radiant with the glory of the Lord], for your light has come and the glory of the Lord had risen upon you!” (Isaiah 60:1).
