This is the ninth in a nine part series entitled “Overcoming Depression-Anxiety: A Suffering Paradigm.” For the various counseling options available from this material visit www.summitrdu.com/counseling.
The complementing studies are also available in a video and podcast formats at the links below:
- “Overcoming Depression-Anxiety: A Responsibility Paradigm”// video and podcast
- “Overcoming Depression-Anxiety: A Suffering Paradigm” // video and podcast
- “Towards a Christian Perspective of Mental Illness” // video and podcast
“After Depression-Anxiety, Now What?”
STEWARD all of my life for God’s glory.
“God has shown me great grace; grace greater than my depression-anxiety. I am learning what it means to live out of my new identity in Christ. That has pushed me to ask the question, ‘How can I be a conduit of God’s grace to others?’ As I have sought God, examined my life, and consulted with fellow believers, I believe this [describe] is what it looks like for me to steward God’s grace now.”
Memorize: I Peter 4:19 (ESV), “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” As you memorize this passage reflect upon these key points:
- “Those who suffer” – This passage will apply to every person many times in the course of their life.
- “God’s will” – Hopefully, at this stage in your journey you can read this without hearing it as God’s punishment.
- “Entrust their souls” – Life is a choice between entrusting our souls to God or seeking to protect ourselves.
- “To a faithful Creator” – If you made it to this point in the study, you have many evidences of God’s faithfulness.
- “While doing good” – Without a returning sense of mission, suffering would drain our vitality for engaging life.
Teaching Notes
To “steward” something means to use it for God’s intended purpose. It is important to remember that what is being stewarded is the life of the group member in general, not the sin specifically.
“The odd thing is that fear and anxiety are running away from something, but they don’t know what to run to. They know danger, but they don’t know where to find peace and rest (p. 63)… It’s as if fear needs to be replaced in our lives, and it is replaced with a simple question, ‘What does my Father, the King, want me to do now?’ (p. 241)… The goal is not the alleviation of anxiety so much as it is the pursuit of God’s purposes. If God’s ways meant an increase in fear and anxiety, so be it, but, of course, the opposite is true. As we apply the gospel of peace, we will know peace (p. 295-296).” Ed Welch in Running Scared
“We will never be transformed into a different person, but we can, with God’s help, become the best version of ourselves, which is the person he created us to be (p. 222).” Leslie Vernick in Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy
“If you are willing to be trained by it, expect depression to be a good teacher. That doesn’t mean you should seek it out, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to alleviate it. But most people who were willing to be taught by suffering look back and are grateful (p. 238).” Ed Welch in Depression, A Stubborn Darkness
Other podcasts on emotions are available at:
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