Armed Against DepressionSample

Day Four: Boots of the Gospel of Peace

Even though combat units are moved all over the world using various modes of transportation, every soldier knows after being dropped off, there will be a lot of walking. And it is likely the hikes will be long and over rough terrain.

There are various types of places soldiers must journey through: jungles, deserts, forests, and mountains. In every topographical landscape, each warrior needs to have the right kind of footwear to be able to navigate safely. Boots must have good tread, be made of hardy materials, and be multi-functional, whether used for walking, climbing or fighting. Without the right type and size boot, a soldier is prone to injury which will make it impossible to complete their mission.

The boots described in Ephesians are referenced to be built by the “gospel of peace.” You are carrying the best news of all time: that there is an all-loving God who gave everything to be in relationship with the people of earth. This foundational part of your uniform directly supports you. You are at peace with the God of the universe, and he is in love with you!

Depression will try to convince you that you do not have a purpose in this world, and you are worthless. On the contrary, you are a soldier fitted with the greatest love story of all time and on a mission to bring it to the individuals around you who are struggling and in desperate need for hope.

Each of us in God’s army might be deployed in different terrains with different challenges, but regardless of the battles we face and the demographic of people we are serving, we are fitted with the same type of boot. This mission isn’t a competition between believers but in partnership with each other.

The passage says we are armed with “readiness.” The good news doesn’t require that you have all the answers, or that you have a pretty story that ends in victory. God knows what you can offer, and there are days when he knows the best you can offer is to pray while you lay in bed.

Maybe you are feeling worthless because you believe your contribution to the cause isn’t impressive. The truth of the gospel is that you are at peace with God, he is in love with you, and there are days just getting out of bed is an act of worship.

Keep the gospel firmly on your feet and get ready to run to those who need hope. You are more valuable than you can even know!

To do: Take time today to make a list of people who you see hurting or in need of a friend. Ask them how you can pray for them and support them.

Jesus, thank you for the gospel which gives us a relationship with you that can never be broken. Open our eyes today to see who needs our care. Show us who might need something even as simple as a word of encouragement. Allow us to see through any lies that keep us from knowing our value.