Luke 8:26-39
The healing of a demon-possessed man. This is a story near and dear to my heart. As a member of a family who has several people who suffer from depression, I have often found similarities between this demon-possessed man and the feelings some of my family members have expressed having with depression.
While depression is a very visual example, there are so many other things that bind us. Trauma, fear, sickness, oppression, financial crises; so many scenarios where we can feel a lot like this demon-possessed man.
This man had experienced embarrassment with no clothes, chained, living outside…
He had experienced bondage with guards watching him and being chained.
Loneliness in the dark and “taken to solitary places.”
Helplessness at the mercy of the demons. No one could help him. Not even those who loved him most.
Fear, not knowing what this evil demon with no conscience, no care, would do next.
I have sometimes felt the feeling that no one could help me. I have felt hopelessness, fear, a heaviness in my heart when we were about to go through something very difficult with no way out. Many times.
While pain is pain, I read this story and it takes me to a whole other level. Completely bonded, completely powerless, with no sight of relief.
Even the ones who love him most are not coming to help him. His parents, his siblings, his friends… Because they can’t. Because they’ve tried.
What did it feel like as his mom to go to bed knowing that her son was out there in the cold and rain, scared and hopeless. Her little boy, in the hands of a monster.
Even though I can’t relate to that specific situation, I can relate to that feeling of helplessness as a mom. Too many times, really.
Besides the demon-possessed man, I bet his mom was the next most grateful that Jesus had told his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.”
I don’t want to skip over the elephant in the room. I don’t know why God frees some people from what is oppressing them and others He doesn’t. I’m not a theologian, but I’m not impressed by anyone who claims to know everything about God anyway, so I don’t know that it would make a difference.
Regardless of the unanswered questions, I do have hope. As someone who believes that God loves us with an everlasting love, beyond what we could imagine, I trust Him. I trust Him to give me the wisdom and understanding I need to respond to whatever situation I am in. I trust Him to do what only He can do. And I trust Him to know what’s best.
I think that’s the hardest thing about being a Christ follower. That I work on following Him because I don’t know the way, not because I think I know where He’s going.