Required reading
Spiritual Depression
by D. M. Lloyd-Jones (available from Amazon)
- Read Chapter 7, 'Fear of the future'.
My notes and thoughts
Now instead of looking at how the past can cause spiritual depression, Lloyd-Jones examines how fear of the future can cause spiritual depression. To remedy this problem, Lloyd-Jones uses 2 Timothy 1:7, 'For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.' From this verse we learn that we should not fear because:
(i) God has NOT given us a spirit of fear;
(ii) God has given us power to conquer fear;
(iii) God has given us love to conquer fear;
(iv) God have given us a sound mind to conquer fear.
The section on love was particularly helpful. Lloyd-Jones points out correctly how surprising it is that love would help conquer fear of the future. But what he says makes sense: '...what after all, is the main cause of this spirit of fear? The answer is "self"-self-love, self-concern, self-protection. Had you realized that the essence of this trouble is that these fearful people are too absorbed in self-how can I do this, what if I fail? "I"-they are constantly turning in upon themselves, looking at themselves and concerned about themselves.' If we only loved God more, loved the Son more, and loved our fellow Christians more, we simply would not fear the future.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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