CHAPTER 11
SCOTTISH CASTLE WEDDING
Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
In August 2000, my nephew Andrew married Carla. The wedding took place in a Scottish castle hotel near Edinburgh, with a church nearby for the ceremony.
Our Canadian family came over in large numbers for the occasion, and Mum booked rooms in a hotel in a nearby village.
This was always going to be a difficult wedding because Philip, my eldest brother and Andrew’s father, was not on speaking terms with any of us.
The ceremony took place on a Friday, and there was an unexpected problem — the organist had forgotten about the wedding! Thankfully, the vicar was able to play the organ himself, so he ended up doing both jobs.
After the ceremony, we headed to the reception. Andrew, being a police officer, had invited many of his large and cheerful fellow officers, many of whom were wearing kilts.
We even had haggis, which for non-Scots is made from sheep’s stomach! There is also a tradition that “real” men who wear kilts do not wear underpants underneath, although I have never tested that theory myself!
The whole day was emotionally difficult for me because it was the last time I ever saw my eldest brother. We are now completely estranged, and that still brings deep hurt and sadness.
I must say honestly that the fault is not entirely his. My own actions caused him deep pain as well.
Years later, I tried to contact him through another person, but I was accused of using that individual to get to him. His response was that, because of the past, he did not want me to contact him again.
The next day, some of us went into Edinburgh, and later we all attended the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Peter especially enjoyed the performance by the ladies from the Australian Institute of Physical Education!
He was a great source of laughter and joy to me. We shared many happy moments together, and I miss him more than words can express.
Devotional Thought
Resentment and bitterness are terrible things. They can hold you captive for years.
I have written these words not to shame my brother Philip in any way. I still pray for him. In fact, the last time I was in the UK, I tried to contact him and only managed to speak with his wife. I gave her my phone number, but I never received a response. Even so, I continue to hope.
For many years I carried resentment against him. After all, I felt that he had hurt me, and I believed I had every right to be angry.
But it was only when I let go of my anger and truly forgave him from my heart that healing began in my own life.
Forgiveness is about releasing the anger we hold against another person. The scars may remain, but only through forgiveness can true healing come.
Matthew 6:14–15
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”
Before we can truly heal, we must forgive.
This is incredibly difficult. Forgiving someone who has deeply hurt you is one of the hardest things a person can do, and it can only truly be done through Christ.
One thing we should always remember is this:
Look at all the things Christ has forgiven you for.
Then ask yourself how you can refuse to forgive others.
FORGIVING OTHERS LEADS TO FREEDOM
CHAPTER 12
WHY ARE YOU CAST DOWN?
Psalm 42:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
I have always been something of a lone wolf, but during the 1990s I went through a very dark period in my life and began suffering from depression for several different reasons.
Throughout much of the 1990s, I was not in church fellowship or walking closely with the Lord, and this was a major cause of my depression, although family struggles and unemployment also contributed to it.
I began taking antidepressants, but for me they became counterproductive. I would take them late at night and then sleep until midday.
They were very strong tablets — Cipramil 15mg. The doctor continued prescribing them to me over and over again. At one point, I even started taking more than the prescribed amount each day. I became moody, angry, and frustrated with almost everyone and everything.
Stopping antidepressants suddenly can be dangerous, and anyone taking them should seek proper medical advice and support before making changes. In my own case, I eventually stopped taking them, but that was a personal decision and experience.
Depression is very real.
Someone once described it as “having no sky at all.” You feel hopeless, trapped, and overwhelmed. If you have never experienced depression yourself, it can be very difficult to understand what another person is going through.
Telling someone to “pull yourself together” or asking “why can’t you just get a job?” does not help.
Depression can sometimes lead people into thoughts of suicide. Many people reach that point because they feel they have no hope left.
But this is the truth:
There is hope.
In the film The Shawshank Redemption, the character Andy says, “Hope is a good thing.” But true hope depends on where you place it. If your hope is in anything other than Christ, then your hope is misplaced.
Devotional Thought
The writers of Psalms 42 and 43, along with many other Bible characters, experienced deep discouragement and depression. One of the clearest examples is Elijah.
Elijah had just experienced one of the greatest victories recorded in Scripture, yet shortly afterwards he wanted to die.
Both depression and suicidal thinking must ultimately be met with the message of hope found in the Gospel. People often feel trapped because they believe there is no hope left, but that is one of the enemy’s greatest lies.
No situation is beyond the reach of God’s love and saving power.
Elijah was deeply exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically. God dealt with him gently and practically by providing food, water, rest, and encouragement.
We all feel low at times. I still battle periods of depression occasionally, but the thing that keeps me grounded is placing my hope and trust in God.
Sometimes emotional struggles can be connected to sin, but not always. In Elijah’s case, physical and emotional exhaustion played a major role.
James 5:16–17
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
If you struggle with these kinds of thoughts and feelings, you need supportive people around you — trusted believers who will pray with you, encourage you, and walk beside you.
Knowing that God loves you is wonderful, but we also need the warmth, support, and understanding of caring Christian fellowship within a healthy local church.
You also need to bring your struggles honestly before your Heavenly Father. There is hope. God loves you deeply and does not want your life to be consumed by despair.
When we meet people who are struggling, we should not behave like Job’s friends by immediately trying to explain away their suffering. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is simply listen.
Many people who suffer from depression have experienced rejection, trauma, loneliness, or deep personal pain.
To anyone reading this who feels cast down: I understand those dark places. I have experienced moments where I felt overwhelmed and hopeless. But God has been my hope, my rock, and my refuge.
The greatest answer to these struggles is a genuine relationship with God through Christ and the presence of the precious Holy Spirit within your heart.
Jesus gives this invitation:
Matthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
MAKE JESUS YOUR HOPE
SCOTTISH CASTLE WEDDING
Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
In August 2000, my nephew Andrew married Carla. The wedding took place in a Scottish castle hotel near Edinburgh, with a church nearby for the ceremony.
Our Canadian family came over in large numbers for the occasion, and Mum booked rooms in a hotel in a nearby village.
This was always going to be a difficult wedding because Philip, my eldest brother and Andrew’s father, was not on speaking terms with any of us.
The ceremony took place on a Friday, and there was an unexpected problem — the organist had forgotten about the wedding! Thankfully, the vicar was able to play the organ himself, so he ended up doing both jobs.
After the ceremony, we headed to the reception. Andrew, being a police officer, had invited many of his large and cheerful fellow officers, many of whom were wearing kilts.
We even had haggis, which for non-Scots is made from sheep’s stomach! There is also a tradition that “real” men who wear kilts do not wear underpants underneath, although I have never tested that theory myself!
The whole day was emotionally difficult for me because it was the last time I ever saw my eldest brother. We are now completely estranged, and that still brings deep hurt and sadness.
I must say honestly that the fault is not entirely his. My own actions caused him deep pain as well.
Years later, I tried to contact him through another person, but I was accused of using that individual to get to him. His response was that, because of the past, he did not want me to contact him again.
The next day, some of us went into Edinburgh, and later we all attended the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Peter especially enjoyed the performance by the ladies from the Australian Institute of Physical Education!
He was a great source of laughter and joy to me. We shared many happy moments together, and I miss him more than words can express.
Devotional Thought
Resentment and bitterness are terrible things. They can hold you captive for years.
I have written these words not to shame my brother Philip in any way. I still pray for him. In fact, the last time I was in the UK, I tried to contact him and only managed to speak with his wife. I gave her my phone number, but I never received a response. Even so, I continue to hope.
For many years I carried resentment against him. After all, I felt that he had hurt me, and I believed I had every right to be angry.
But it was only when I let go of my anger and truly forgave him from my heart that healing began in my own life.
Forgiveness is about releasing the anger we hold against another person. The scars may remain, but only through forgiveness can true healing come.
Matthew 6:14–15
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”
Before we can truly heal, we must forgive.
This is incredibly difficult. Forgiving someone who has deeply hurt you is one of the hardest things a person can do, and it can only truly be done through Christ.
One thing we should always remember is this:
Look at all the things Christ has forgiven you for.
Then ask yourself how you can refuse to forgive others.
FORGIVING OTHERS LEADS TO FREEDOM
CHAPTER 12
WHY ARE YOU CAST DOWN?
Psalm 42:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
I have always been something of a lone wolf, but during the 1990s I went through a very dark period in my life and began suffering from depression for several different reasons.
Throughout much of the 1990s, I was not in church fellowship or walking closely with the Lord, and this was a major cause of my depression, although family struggles and unemployment also contributed to it.
I began taking antidepressants, but for me they became counterproductive. I would take them late at night and then sleep until midday.
They were very strong tablets — Cipramil 15mg. The doctor continued prescribing them to me over and over again. At one point, I even started taking more than the prescribed amount each day. I became moody, angry, and frustrated with almost everyone and everything.
Stopping antidepressants suddenly can be dangerous, and anyone taking them should seek proper medical advice and support before making changes. In my own case, I eventually stopped taking them, but that was a personal decision and experience.
Depression is very real.
Someone once described it as “having no sky at all.” You feel hopeless, trapped, and overwhelmed. If you have never experienced depression yourself, it can be very difficult to understand what another person is going through.
Telling someone to “pull yourself together” or asking “why can’t you just get a job?” does not help.
Depression can sometimes lead people into thoughts of suicide. Many people reach that point because they feel they have no hope left.
But this is the truth:
There is hope.
In the film The Shawshank Redemption, the character Andy says, “Hope is a good thing.” But true hope depends on where you place it. If your hope is in anything other than Christ, then your hope is misplaced.
Devotional Thought
The writers of Psalms 42 and 43, along with many other Bible characters, experienced deep discouragement and depression. One of the clearest examples is Elijah.
Elijah had just experienced one of the greatest victories recorded in Scripture, yet shortly afterwards he wanted to die.
Both depression and suicidal thinking must ultimately be met with the message of hope found in the Gospel. People often feel trapped because they believe there is no hope left, but that is one of the enemy’s greatest lies.
No situation is beyond the reach of God’s love and saving power.
Elijah was deeply exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically. God dealt with him gently and practically by providing food, water, rest, and encouragement.
We all feel low at times. I still battle periods of depression occasionally, but the thing that keeps me grounded is placing my hope and trust in God.
Sometimes emotional struggles can be connected to sin, but not always. In Elijah’s case, physical and emotional exhaustion played a major role.
James 5:16–17
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
If you struggle with these kinds of thoughts and feelings, you need supportive people around you — trusted believers who will pray with you, encourage you, and walk beside you.
Knowing that God loves you is wonderful, but we also need the warmth, support, and understanding of caring Christian fellowship within a healthy local church.
You also need to bring your struggles honestly before your Heavenly Father. There is hope. God loves you deeply and does not want your life to be consumed by despair.
When we meet people who are struggling, we should not behave like Job’s friends by immediately trying to explain away their suffering. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is simply listen.
Many people who suffer from depression have experienced rejection, trauma, loneliness, or deep personal pain.
To anyone reading this who feels cast down: I understand those dark places. I have experienced moments where I felt overwhelmed and hopeless. But God has been my hope, my rock, and my refuge.
The greatest answer to these struggles is a genuine relationship with God through Christ and the presence of the precious Holy Spirit within your heart.
Jesus gives this invitation:
Matthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
MAKE JESUS YOUR HOPE
CHAPTER 11
SCOTTISH CASTLE WEDDING
Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
In August 2000, my nephew Andrew married Carla. The wedding took place in a Scottish castle hotel near Edinburgh, with a church nearby for the ceremony.
Our Canadian family came over in large numbers for the occasion, and Mum booked rooms in a hotel in a nearby village.
This was always going to be a difficult wedding because Philip, my eldest brother and Andrew’s father, was not on speaking terms with any of us.
The ceremony took place on a Friday, and there was an unexpected problem — the organist had forgotten about the wedding! Thankfully, the vicar was able to play the organ himself, so he ended up doing both jobs.
After the ceremony, we headed to the reception. Andrew, being a police officer, had invited many of his large and cheerful fellow officers, many of whom were wearing kilts.
We even had haggis, which for non-Scots is made from sheep’s stomach! There is also a tradition that “real” men who wear kilts do not wear underpants underneath, although I have never tested that theory myself!
The whole day was emotionally difficult for me because it was the last time I ever saw my eldest brother. We are now completely estranged, and that still brings deep hurt and sadness.
I must say honestly that the fault is not entirely his. My own actions caused him deep pain as well.
Years later, I tried to contact him through another person, but I was accused of using that individual to get to him. His response was that, because of the past, he did not want me to contact him again.
The next day, some of us went into Edinburgh, and later we all attended the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Peter especially enjoyed the performance by the ladies from the Australian Institute of Physical Education!
He was a great source of laughter and joy to me. We shared many happy moments together, and I miss him more than words can express.
Devotional Thought
Resentment and bitterness are terrible things. They can hold you captive for years.
I have written these words not to shame my brother Philip in any way. I still pray for him. In fact, the last time I was in the UK, I tried to contact him and only managed to speak with his wife. I gave her my phone number, but I never received a response. Even so, I continue to hope.
For many years I carried resentment against him. After all, I felt that he had hurt me, and I believed I had every right to be angry.
But it was only when I let go of my anger and truly forgave him from my heart that healing began in my own life.
Forgiveness is about releasing the anger we hold against another person. The scars may remain, but only through forgiveness can true healing come.
Matthew 6:14–15
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”
Before we can truly heal, we must forgive.
This is incredibly difficult. Forgiving someone who has deeply hurt you is one of the hardest things a person can do, and it can only truly be done through Christ.
One thing we should always remember is this:
Look at all the things Christ has forgiven you for.
Then ask yourself how you can refuse to forgive others.
FORGIVING OTHERS LEADS TO FREEDOM
CHAPTER 12
WHY ARE YOU CAST DOWN?
Psalm 42:5
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
I have always been something of a lone wolf, but during the 1990s I went through a very dark period in my life and began suffering from depression for several different reasons.
Throughout much of the 1990s, I was not in church fellowship or walking closely with the Lord, and this was a major cause of my depression, although family struggles and unemployment also contributed to it.
I began taking antidepressants, but for me they became counterproductive. I would take them late at night and then sleep until midday.
They were very strong tablets — Cipramil 15mg. The doctor continued prescribing them to me over and over again. At one point, I even started taking more than the prescribed amount each day. I became moody, angry, and frustrated with almost everyone and everything.
Stopping antidepressants suddenly can be dangerous, and anyone taking them should seek proper medical advice and support before making changes. In my own case, I eventually stopped taking them, but that was a personal decision and experience.
Depression is very real.
Someone once described it as “having no sky at all.” You feel hopeless, trapped, and overwhelmed. If you have never experienced depression yourself, it can be very difficult to understand what another person is going through.
Telling someone to “pull yourself together” or asking “why can’t you just get a job?” does not help.
Depression can sometimes lead people into thoughts of suicide. Many people reach that point because they feel they have no hope left.
But this is the truth:
There is hope.
In the film The Shawshank Redemption, the character Andy says, “Hope is a good thing.” But true hope depends on where you place it. If your hope is in anything other than Christ, then your hope is misplaced.
Devotional Thought
The writers of Psalms 42 and 43, along with many other Bible characters, experienced deep discouragement and depression. One of the clearest examples is Elijah.
Elijah had just experienced one of the greatest victories recorded in Scripture, yet shortly afterwards he wanted to die.
Both depression and suicidal thinking must ultimately be met with the message of hope found in the Gospel. People often feel trapped because they believe there is no hope left, but that is one of the enemy’s greatest lies.
No situation is beyond the reach of God’s love and saving power.
Elijah was deeply exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically. God dealt with him gently and practically by providing food, water, rest, and encouragement.
We all feel low at times. I still battle periods of depression occasionally, but the thing that keeps me grounded is placing my hope and trust in God.
Sometimes emotional struggles can be connected to sin, but not always. In Elijah’s case, physical and emotional exhaustion played a major role.
James 5:16–17
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
If you struggle with these kinds of thoughts and feelings, you need supportive people around you — trusted believers who will pray with you, encourage you, and walk beside you.
Knowing that God loves you is wonderful, but we also need the warmth, support, and understanding of caring Christian fellowship within a healthy local church.
You also need to bring your struggles honestly before your Heavenly Father. There is hope. God loves you deeply and does not want your life to be consumed by despair.
When we meet people who are struggling, we should not behave like Job’s friends by immediately trying to explain away their suffering. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is simply listen.
Many people who suffer from depression have experienced rejection, trauma, loneliness, or deep personal pain.
To anyone reading this who feels cast down: I understand those dark places. I have experienced moments where I felt overwhelmed and hopeless. But God has been my hope, my rock, and my refuge.
The greatest answer to these struggles is a genuine relationship with God through Christ and the presence of the precious Holy Spirit within your heart.
Jesus gives this invitation:
Matthew 11:28
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
MAKE JESUS YOUR HOPE
Arabic
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek
हिन्दी