Next, she mentioned a book by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones called Spiritual Depression that really helped her. She gave a brief overview of the book explaining how Martyn Llyod-Jones laid out why people might be discouraged in their walk with Christ, citing that a false view of justification may be a cause. When Jessa read this point in his book she realized that was exactly what she was struggling with. “Repentance in faith in the life of a true believer is continual and ongoing. We’re continually repenting of our sin and trusting in Christ,” she said as she explained justification and sanctification. “The main reason for [my] spiritual discouragement was I was mixing up sanctification and justification, I didn’t have gospel rest.” Jessa said that she wasn’t “resting” in her justification, and after reading his book she described it as an “ah ha” moment.
Thank you Christ for saving me from my sin. I’ll take it from here. Which is not at all how the Christian life works.
Making a Vow
Jessa’s third helpful point was aimed at not making unobtainable (she called them “youth camp”) vows. Striving for holiness (in Christ) doesn’t take vows to make this happen, that it can actually have a negative effect in our Christian walk. She quoted Ecclesiastes 5:5 and gave examples of the two things we should vow to do in our life 1)vow to follow Christ; 2)if you marry, vowing their loyalty to one your spouse. “Youth camp” vows, such as vowing to evangelize every week, reading your Bible everyday for a certain amount of time, or vowing to not commit a certain sin, which should be a believer’s desire, can lead to a failure we bring upon ourselves and cause us not to look to Christ as we should. Jessa said “it really released my soul, that I had placed myself under [unobtainable vows].” Further, “it didn’t make me less desire to be in God’s Word.”
Song Lyrics
The last thing she listed was a handful of song lyrics that have helped her in hard times and her struggles with doubt.
“Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
Christ the sure and steady Anchor In the fury of the storm When the winds of doubt blow through me And my sails have all been torn
“His Mercy is More” by Matt Papa
What love could remember, no wrongs we have done Omniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sum Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
“He Will Hold Me Fast” by Keith Getty
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast. I could never keep my hold through life’s fearful path; For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.
‘Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul‘ by Anne Steele
Dear refuge of my weary soul, On Thee, when sorrows rise On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, My fainting hope relies To Thee I tell each rising grief, For Thou alone can heal Thy Word can bring a sweet relief, For every pain I feel
“Not in Me” by Sojourn Music
No list of sins I have not done, No list of virtues I pursue, No list of those I am not like Can earn myself a place with You. O God, be merciful to me– I am a sinner through and through! My only hope of righteousness Is not in me, but only You.
I Still Have a Long Way to Go
Jessa closed her testimony with these encouraging words:
I share my journey of faith not in saying that I have arrived, I still have a long way to go. We are in this journey until we die and our lives are over and then in an instant we’re changed in the likeness of Christ and we’re made perfect. In this life though we experience hardships we experience trials, there are mountaintops, there are valleys, and yet we keep holding to the anchor, we keep running after Christ, and Christ holds us fast. So I hope this is an encouragement to you and I pray that you will rest in Christ and his work of righteousness on your behalf.
