Has life thrown you a couple of curve balls that knocked you over? Are you in a place where you do not see a way out and the word “struggle” has become the defining word for your life?

Yes? Then consider what I am sharing here with you.

I am going to start off by telling you what you do not necessarily want to hear…you must get up. No wait, I should rather say, “You get to get up, so do it!” Nothing and no-one that knocks you over has the power to keep you down, but you have all the power to get up. Are you gonna do it? If you choose to stay down or depressed you only have yourself to blame!

This might sound and probably is a little harsh, but that is how I learnt the hard way. When the course of my life took a turn I did not ask for and when the wonderful plans I had for myself of a great sport career where shattered, I came face to face with depression. For almost a year I had many tea parties with depression and self-pity and was all too happy to entertain my two companion and often allowed them to overstay their welcome.

Even though I thought I was dealing with my issues, I was merely postponing the inevitable. It was only when God reminded me that I am busy ignoring everything Jesus had done for me, that I opened my eyes.

I had a choice, first of all I had to start spending time in God’s Word instead of my defeating thoughts. Secondly, I had to decide whether I was going to ignore Jesus and everything He had done for me on the Cross and remain down and useless for His kingdom or was I going to get up again and become useful?

I did not have to get up, but I got to, because of Jesus.

The truth over my life in this regard says this:

Galatians 2:20, “I am Crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (KJV)

I had every reason to get up and dust off the traces of depression over my life and say goodbye to self-pity. If I did not do that, I chose to ignore the victory I already had over both of them because of Christ’s crucifixion on the Cross. As easy as the decision may seem, it was one of the most difficult things to do as it was so much easier to just back down than being brave and claiming the victory that was mine.

If you are facing a difficult time and consider yourself down and out of the race of hope, consider your victoriuos position in Christ and choose right! You do not have to, you get to!