Shortly after my granddad died, my grandmother experienced an extended bout with depression. Elizabeth Kubler Ross claimed that depression is one of the five steps of grief. However, depression can become a chronic condition requiring medical and psychological intervention.

     The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for persons whose loved ones have died. For some, the pain of grief can intensify during the seasons when families gather together for special occasions. While many of us are celebrating, there are others who are suffering silently.

“If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15, NIV).

     At times the Scriptures appear contradictory. The passage above is just one example. Jesus’ statement apparently conflicts with the idea that we are all saved by grace through our faith in Christ. In other words, God does not forgive us because of the good things we do but as a result of our dependence upon Jesus for our salvation. How, then, can it also be true that God will not forgive us when we refuse to forgive others?

“At just the right time when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6, NIV).

     Sometimes we make life harder than need be. I once met a young woman named Julie who struggled over her relationship with God. She hadn’t been to worship in several months. When I inquired as to her reasons she replied, “God would never accept me the way I am. I need to get my life together before I can approach Him.”

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

     Forest Gump is one of my favorite movies. Gump is befriended by his former military commander, Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Forest rescues Lt. Dan from further injury in the midst of a fierce firefight.