Resurrection Healing
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes, we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5
As we enter this week, approaching Easter, I have a flood of feelings and memories that invade my mind. I grew up in Oregon, where Easter was always accompanied by warm spring weather and blossoms on the trees. I would have a new Easter dress every year and loved getting dolled up for church. My mom, aunt, and grandma always worked extra hard to make Easter Sunday so memorable. We had a wonderful meal and an Easter egg hunt for my siblings and cousins.
Because of all the beautiful traditions of Easter, the holiday was always my favorite. Even as a teenager and adult with my own children, I loved Easter. Then one year, everything changed.
My husband and I answered the call to become pastors and moved to Tulsa, OK, for our schooling. This was the first time I moved away from my family, and it was tough on me. As I prepared for Easter that year, I wasn't "feeling" it. I did all of the things - decorated the house, got my kids' new Easter clothes, and prepared the Easter dinner with all the familiar traditions. Although I had all of the right pieces in place, I didn't feel joy and peace. I felt tired and a little sad, which wasn't at all what I was accustomed to.
I didn't have a name for what I was feeling. In hindsight, I was dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression and didn't even realize it. Suddenly, the things that brought me joy didn't do anything for me. How could I feel numb on Easter of all days?
That should have been the first clue that I was dealing with something more than missing my family. Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are often disguised or dismissed as something else.
Renew
21 Scriptures and Confessions for Anxiety and Depression. Download for FREE here.
If you know my story, I went for years feeling this way. From the outside, it looked as though I had it all together, when in reality, I felt numb inside. Sure, there were moments and times I would feel joy and peace, but for the most part, I had gotten used to this altered version of myself.
So, why am I reliving my anxiety and depression story here? Because of Isaiah 53:4-5. Jesus took all sickness and disease upon himself. He paid the price for your sin, and He even took your anxiety and depression to give you peace.
Easter means so much more to me now than getting dressed up and eating a good meal. I always knew that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I understood that we could have healing because of that exchange at the cross. However, I never considered the soul wounds we deal with? Do you think that Jesus wouldn't cover EVERYTHING we need spirit, soul, and body?
Isaiah says, "upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace." He took my anxiety and depression so that I can have real, lasting peace. The peace that Jesus came to give goes beyond your natural understanding. (Phil 4:7)
Just like Jesus, you can be raised from your grave of sin, anxiety, depression, sickness, and disease. At our Good Friday Service, we have an old cross that stands at the sanctuary's front. Everyone in attendance receives a nail - that nail represents our sin and sickness. As that nail is hammered into the cross, it is an excellent reminder that we are to nail our sin, sickness, and anxieties to the cross.
My prayer for you is that you will receive all that Jesus did for you. Psalms 103:2-5 talks about each of the benefits you now have access to because of Jesus dying on the cross. It says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Amen.