In 2001 I slipped into a severe depression. I had battled depression twice before but this one was the worst of all. When the smoke and dust cleared 8 long years later and I started to come out of it, a lot of damage had been done in my family. Surveying the wreckage of what used to be a thriving marriage and good relationships with my children, I was very tempted to despair again, but God helped me to persevere. There were a lot of challenges in attempting to rebuild so many fractured relationships, but, perhaps the hardest was trying to lead my family after falling flat on my face for 8 years.
Now I don’t pretend to be a clinical expert in all of this, however, the Lord did teach me a few things, through His word and other believers that I think might be helpful if you are struggling to rebuild credibility after failure.
First and foremost, commit everything you are and everything you are not to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is the source of everything you will need to walk the difficult path ahead of you. But you can’t be half in and half out. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13.) But you have to be “all in”.
Realize that this process is going to take time…lots of time. By God’s grace, decide you are in it for the long haul. It took time for the damage to be done, it will take time for relationships to heal. “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3)
Realize that, however long it takes for your wife’s heart and your children’s hearts to heal is worth the wait. “A brother offended is harder to be won than taking a strong city.” (Proverbs) However, “do not be weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
There are a few more things that will be important for you to remember and we will look at those next time. Just remember Jesus said “I will never leave you…”