Are You Lost in the Crowd?

By

David L.Mulherin

Would anyone notice if you were to fall over dead? What if the group that saw you fall over dead were family members or close friends? At one time in my life I didn’t want to be around anyone and it didn’t matter who. I would beat myself up over whether or not anyone even cared if I was alive. The pain that comes with this is so unbelievable that I can’t even begin to explain. All I know is that this pain hangs around and stays with you day and night. No matter what you do, the thoughts stay with you. At some point you begin to think that life is no longer worth living. You begin to believe that the world won’t miss you.

Too many times these have been my thoughts and I have just wanted to die. I don’t know what kept me from dying, but I do know that I am thankful to have never taken matters into my own hands. The reason I could not take my own life is because I know the pain and grief that my family and friends would have to go through.

Strange isn’t it? Here I am feeling that no one loves me and could care less about me and at the same time I’m worried about how much pain they would suffer because of my decision. This was my way of life starting at age fifteen and lasting through age thirty-five, when I was saved by God’s grace. I suffered for twenty years and didn’t know why. Some people call it depression and tell you to get medical help. Others say that it’s simply a frame of mind and that I should change the way I think. To tell you the truth, they’re both right. On one hand, you do need medical help. On the other hand you also have to change the way you look at life, even with that help. You must change the way you view others. More importantly, you must change your idea of how others perceive you. God’s perception of you and your perception of you are still the two most important opinions out there and you must not lose that perspective.

Even today I have to keep myself in check because I tend to pick up on what I perceive to be negative vibrations from people. It’s odd because a person doesn’t even have to know me for me to sense these things. If you notice, I said that I must keep myself in check. That is a very important step, but it’s not the only one.

I don’t want anyone to think that what I am about to say is down playing doctors or lessening the help that they offer. Many individuals are helped everyday by doctors and the treatment they prescribe. With this in mind, let’s look at how you can change your view of life and your perception of how others see you.

To begin, you alone cannot change your life, no matter what you do or say. That’s right. You may have already tried and could even right now be working on changing your life. Don’t feel alone. I have walked in your shoes. No matter how much I tried to change, I always failed. When I failed, that just made matters even worse. When I finally stopped trying to do it myself and put it in God’s loving hands, I found that He was all I ever needed. This may seem to be a cop-out, but you have not walked in God’s footprints. You will not begin to understand the power of His love and the joy it brings until you allow Him to hold your hand and quiet your thoughts.

The first step is to open your heart, mind and soul. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your friend. There is something you must do next and if you’re not willing to do this then you’re not ready for Jesus. You must ask for forgiveness. You see, you’re a sinner and so was I. But like me, you have to face-up to this fact. The bible teaches that we are all sinners fallen from grace (Romans 3:23). Jesus came into this world to free us from sin and show us how to live a righteous life so that we may have eternal life with Him.

The next step is to indulge yourself in Jesus and His word. This is not as easy as it sounds. The reason I say this is because you will begin to be severely tempted as soon as you make a commitment to follow Christ. You must read His word (bible) daily. Learn to enjoy spending time in prayer with God. Prayer is time spent listening to God and talking with God. Your prayer time should be a quiet time where you cannot be disturbed. Talking with God is like having a conversation with your best friend. Both don’t talk at once. Someone has to listen and with God there will be more times where you will just sit and listen. There will also be times to speak.

It’s only through Jesus Christ that you can truly change your life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Jesus takes your sin away and He says if you will follow Him “His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Christ is the most important medical help you will ever receive. He is the only one who can truly help you change your way of thinking. Until you take that first step, you will not fully understand my words and you will never experience the changes that Jesus can bring into your life. Take a step of faith and see God for who He really is.

February 24, 2003

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