Martin suffers from depression. The congregation where he preaches has gone through an agonizing split. His only child recently lost a costly battle with cancer. Many stresses and debts are destroying Martin’s marriage. His wife blames him for their troubles. Martin cannot take any more pain. He feels drained and numb, unable to give any more. He wants to quit his Christian work, leave his marriage, and find a new life. He already feels attracted to a lady who seems like an angel from heaven, sent to sympathize with him. He tells other leaders of his plan to quit. But, knowing his struggles, they are praying hard.
The elders gently remind Martin that his emotions are not God. He faces a simple choice: to follow the feelings of his own heart, or to follow the will of God. God obviously wants him to continue serving as a Christian. God plainly tells him to remain faithful to the marriage of his youth (Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:9). Like Job, and Jesus in Gethsemane, Martin must do what he knows is right, even when his emotions are crying out in protest and turmoil. Martin remembers that agape love is a deliberate act of will that chooses God’s way over one’s own desires. If he has the energy to choose wrong, he also has the energy to choose right.
An elder counsels Martin: “You can control how you act, even when you seem unable to control how you feel. Take the right actions now, and the right feelings will grow later.” Martin chooses to love his wife. Instead of brooding over his own grievances and unmet needs, he attends to her needs. Instead of reacting to her criticism, he chooses to treat her kindly. Instead of dwelling on his losses, he lets them open doors to comfort other sufferers (2 Corinthians 1:4). Gradually God heals the wounds. Martin emerges spiritually stronger through his struggles (1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-4).