Living in the Garden of Grace: Has Depression Taken Over?
Reflections on David Kuykendall’s Living in the Garden of Grace
Lessons from Cain
The story of Cain provides a striking picture of humanity's struggle with sin. As the first person to inherit the sin nature, Cain's life reveals the failures of living according to the flesh. His descent into jealousy, anger, and depression serves as a cautionary tale for us all: “And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5b).
This downward spiral began with Cain’s decision to offer the fruit of the ground instead of the blood sacrifice God required. His disobedience, driven by pride and a spirit of competition, led to God’s rejection of his offering. Rather than turning to God in humility, Cain allowed jealousy to fester, culminating in depression and ultimately violence against his brother Abel.
Understanding the Source of the Struggle
While Cain’s actions arose from his sin nature, believers today have a key distinction: our old man—the sin nature inherited from Adam—was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). This means we are no longer enslaved to the sin nature. However, sin still dwells in our members (Romans 7:23), and we contend with the flesh, which represents the residual patterns of self-reliance, pride, and a "know-it-all attitude."
Cain’s failure highlights what happens when we operate from the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit. While his sin nature drove his rebellion, our battles often arise when we give the flesh an opportunity to express itself, allowing sin in our members to exert its influence.
A Shared Struggle and a New Reality
Many believers experience similar symptoms of living according to the flesh, such as jealousy, anger, and even depression. These struggles remind us that, though the sin nature has been crucified, we must actively reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (Romans 6:11).
Cain’s response to rejection was to trust in his own understanding, leading to deeper failure. By contrast, as believers, we are invited to yield to the Spirit, who empowers us to overcome the residual effects of sin in our members and the influence of the flesh.
Freedom Through the Exchanged Life
The key to overcoming depression and other struggles lies in living out the exchanged life. This involves:
Recognizing the Truth: The sin nature has been crucified. We are no longer enslaved to it (Galatians 2:20).
Yielding to the Spirit: By presenting ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13), we allow His Spirit to guide and empower us.
Walking in the New Creation: As new creations in Christ, we are no longer defined by the flesh or sin in our members. Instead, we are empowered to walk in freedom and victory (2 Corinthians 5:17).
While the flesh seeks to drive us toward self-reliance and fear, the Spirit invites us to rest in God’s sufficiency. This is the path to peace and joy, even in the face of challenges.
A Prayer of Trust
Lord, thank You for crucifying the old man with Christ and freeing me from the power of sin. I acknowledge the lingering presence of sin in my members and the influence of the flesh, and I yield these to You. Fill me with Your Spirit, and lead me to walk in the truth of my new identity in Christ. May Your life within me bring peace and freedom in every circumstance. Amen.
A Final Thought
Cain’s story reveals the tragic consequences of living out of the flesh, but it also reminds us of the hope we have in Christ. As believers, we are no longer defined by the sin nature but are free to live in the Spirit. By resting in Christ’s finished work and walking in daily dependence on Him, we can experience the joy and victory of the exchanged life.