By Carrie K. Hutchens
A few minutes ago, I heard a commercial on television about depression and some miracle drug to cure it. I couldn't help wonder if any consider there might actually be a "reason" for a person to be depressed? A reason such as the person just losing their job, or perhaps they didn't have any food in the house and no money to buy any, or maybe they have the money, but no way to get to the store? Then again, maybe the credit card company made a mistake and wouldn't listen when it was pointed out to them. Who knows, maybe the spouse promised something special and failed to follow through. Maybe life happened and it wasn't too pleasant!
It's true that there are those who have medical problems that cause depression, but what about all the others? What about the people who simply had a seriously bad day? Should they medicate a natural reaction away? (Full Article)
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A World Medicated
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Dr. William Osler, considered the father of modern medicine once wrote: “The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals.” This has always been the case even going back to the earliest civilizations. Ancient Sumerian tablets list hundreds of medicinal remedies for ailments still common to modern man. We have taken this phenomenon to the extreme in today’s world. Exactly as Carrie says, we have come to the point of expecting to feel good all the time and if not there must be a pill to fix the problem. This is the source of much of the dissatisfaction with doctors and the health care system. Forget that we can literally perform medical miracles daily, saving lives that only a few decades ago would have been lost prematurely; what can you do about my anxiety and stress? I feel empty, lost and desperate—I need a pill to make me feel better.
Only through adversity do we discover our own powers and those of the Lord.
Psalm 119:71, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
Modern medicine can save lives and relieve suffering caused by a number of diseases. Suffering of the spirit is a matter that should rightly bring us to our Lord for true comfort and healing, for it is only the Creator who can change our hearts and give us hope.
Several years ago I read a book by Philip Yancey entitled "Where is God When it Hurts?"
It said that while we don't enjoy pain, pain has a purpose, and a good one: to alert us when something's wrong, and to motivate us to do something about what's wrong.
When we medicate hurts of the heart and mind without trying to deal with the cause of those hurts, we defeat the purpose of pain...and leave open mental and emotional wounds.
Rather than throw a bottle of pills at the problem every time we feel unhappy, we should instead take a long, hard, honest look at our lives so we can make changes in our attitudes and outlook.
The Bible even makes it clear that we are to manage our emotions, not have our emotions rule our lives. Why else would God command us to love one another, and love our enemies, when such feelings don't come naturally?
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