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NO REPLACEMENT
by
Joanne Lowe
June 28, 2006
“Remember ye not the former
things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new
thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make
a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43: 18, 19
King James Version
For over forty years I wandered in the wilderness of crippling
depression and suicidal thoughts. There wasn’t a day go by that I didn’t
want to kill myself because I thought that I was nothing but garbage and
didn’t have a right to live. During all those years of being locked up
in mental hospitals and attending countless support groups, I found no
peace or relief from my tortured thoughts.
The doctors, nurses, therapists, and counselors all said the same thing
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and thinking negative thoughts. Replace
your negative thoughts with positive thoughts”. I tried doing that; I
tried replacing my negative thoughts with positive thoughts. However,
there was nothing positive that I could find to replace the negative
thoughts.
This world offers nothing in the way of lasting happiness, joy and
peace. Not one time during all those years of anguish and torment did
anybody tell me that Jesus Loves me, nor did they tell me they loved me.
The first time someone told me that I was loved was on August 14, 1980,
the day I made a heart commitment to Jesus.
He put His loving arms of mercy, kindness, understanding, gentleness,
protection, and love around me and drew me close to His Heart. He
whispered in a soft voice that penetrated the hidden corners of my heart
“I Love you, Joanne. You are precious to Me”. There is nothing as
important as extending to people the Love of Jesus. There is an urgency
to spread His Love. Even while I am typing this devotional, there are
people who are committing suicide or thinking about doing it. In the
light of this tragedy, nothing else seems important. We are talking
about people who, if they are not saved (have not made a heart
commitment to Jesus) are on their way to an Eternity without Jesus.
If I didn’t know without a shadow of doubt that I will see Jesus face to
face one glorious day, I would go to bed and never get up again. Without
Jesus, nothing makes sense. Only Jesus can give peace, the peace that is
impossible to put into words. What a privilege to be Loved by the
Saviour of the world!
However, as difficult and heartbreaking as all those years of crippling
depression was for me, it does not compare to the heartache that our
Saviour experienced while He was here on earth. What breaks my heart
every time I think about it, is that His Heart is still breaking today
when He sees the way we treat each other.
Jesus said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these,
my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” So, every time that we are cruel
to people and say critical and sarcastic words to them, we are being
cruel to Jesus. We don’t have any right to ask Him for anything when we
hurt Him like we do. Jesus deserves to be happy! It is time that we stop
breaking His Heart and start treating people like He has asked us to
treat them.
Are you breaking the Heart of Jesus today? Are you saying and doing kind
things to people, or are you being cruel to them? If you are not loving
people to Jesus, then your life is in vain. There is nothing as
important and urgent as putting your arms around people and loving them
to Jesus. When you stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
what will He say to you? Will He say, “Well done, thou good and faithful
servant”?
About the Author:
God has given Joanne two ministries. One is doing Inspirational Writings, the
other is Encouraging Pastors.
http://joannelowe.blogspot.com/
www.heavenwardbound.com
http://www.solidrockbaptistonline.com/page.cfm?id=135
You have my permission to reprint and distribute this article as long as
it is distributed in its entirety, including all links and copyright
information. This article is not to be sold or included with anything
that is sold
© Joanne Lowe 2006
You may contact Joanne by e-mail:
joannelowe8@cox.net
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