disruption around the holidays, and sadness in the “bleak midwinter.” One thing that I see persist perennially is a feeling of being downcast. Being down- cast can often be a symptom of a clinical depression, but it can also be a sign of other problems in living (burnout, relational loss or distress, grief, shame, or good reason at all.
In my experience, there are a lot of good ways to go about ministering to the downcast (including, where appropriate, good Christian counseling). One eyes on Christ’s heavenly session. What do I mean by this? This question we can answer with a second, which is: “what is Jesus doing right now?” The an- swer, of course, is that “Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the
throne of grace, and acceptance of their persons and services” (WLC Q# 55). We see then that the Lord Jesus is quite busy still after His earthly ministry! And how might this help the downcast? Besides the reality that meditating on -
(Heb. 2.11-12 ESV) The author of Hebrews here is quoting Psalm 22, which in context this feels
appropriate. After all, this is the psalm that the Lord Jesus recalled on the cross when He himself was the most downcast. Given that, we can identify at least three ways in which we can minister to the downcast from this passage. Interest-
ingly, the NIV translates the Greek word for “one” here as family, which makes sense given the following verses. No matter how we translate it, the wondrous truth is the same: we are numbered among God’s family because we have the
Comforting the Downcast W
By Brian Mesimer
hen you’ve been in the business of counseling or pastoring for a while, anxiety and stress in the Fall as school starts, loneliness and family
same source as Christ. So much ink has been spilled on the reality of our adoption that I won’t elaborate fur- ther here, but it is a wonderful cos- mic reality that can lift the heart of the downcast.
Second, Jesus is not ashamed of you. In my counseling work, I’ve found this to apprehend. Part of this is because we all carry shame and have done shameful things, and part of it is be- cause it seems too good to be true. A look from the risen Lord carries many things, but his gaze does not carry shame. And how could it, if truly we and He come from the same Source? Both the reality of God’s character that Christ is not ashamed to own us as us. What a glorious truth! This is re- ally an elaboration of the last point, but it is a vital picture for those of us who may not grasp it. Consider this: whom do you sing around? Perhaps while in in the car or at home? Usu- ally, one sings around only those who one feels comfortable with, or at home with. Or not ashamed of. It’s the same with Christ in His heavenly session. Because we are His brothers and sisters, He freely moves among us, singing praises to our God. Of course, all this occurs in Christ’s heavenly session, even now. Which is why the downcast Christian might their eyes upon Jesus” in His mercy, His love, and His grace as He contin- ues His ministry. For in heaven, Jesus sings a song of praise with His broth- ers and sisters to God the Father. And you, if you are in Christ, are one of whom Christ is not ashamed.
Dr. Brian Mesimer is the Executive Direc- tor of the Christian Counseling Center of First Columbia and serves as an Elder at Arsenal Hill. The ministry of the Center is to provide Biblically-based clinical counseling and preventative services in order to build vibrant lives and strong families. Residents of South Carolina can reach out for more info by calling 803-779-1995.
10 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
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