Defeating the darkness of depression isn’t easy. It doesn’t happen all at once (although I’m sure there may be times when God uses such a miracle for His purposes). For me, it seems to be a life-long journey. The good news is that things get better.

Even though I feel as if I’ve been on a roller coaster lately, I’m not going to complain. Today is a good day. And even the bad days that have come this week have brought me to new understandings.

They’ve also shown me that when I’m in the misery of despair, if I choose to seek God’s counsel, He will speak to me. God gave us free will and so the first thing we must realize is that God will not force Himself on us. We must make the choice.

Most of us would do just about anything to flee the feelings of depression or anxiety. Too often, we’ll rush toward something else for comfort – it may be in money, careers, possessions, land, corporations, or other investments. It may even be in the intangible realm of family. Those things don’t last. God’s word does.

The bottom line is that in order to escape the darkness, you have to know where to look for the light. Oh, it’s there. It may only be a tiny pinpoint in the shadows. It’s the Bible on the shelf.

That is where you will find hope. Most bibles contain reference tools to direct us to those scriptures. But there are times when looking through a concordance just isn’t going to work. It’s hard to see the small print as tears overwhelm us, and harder still to even open the book, if our bodies are wracked with deep, soul-wrenching sobs.

The best way is to know where those scriptures are. A wounded spirit can find comfort in the Psalms as the writers’ words cry out from the darkest of places. Do you know which ones?

Other resources can help. It may be an inspirational book that has spoken to your heart. Or it may be a Godly self-help book that touched your soul. These too can guide us – as long as the path leads to the Truth of God’s Word.

For me, I’ve copied devotions onto my laptop. I no longer print out things like this because I’ve found that when I’m lost in the darkness of depression, I can’t remember where I put them.

I have a folder named “Spiritual Things.” It contains a lot of stuff, but I know that I can find something that will comfort me. Folders and documents are organized in such a way that I know I can find words of wisdom and guidance. It’s very important for me to mention that the things I seek are those that are totally based on God’s word. They contain scriptures I can then look up on my laptop.

Then, when the tears have slowed and my body is no longer shaking, I find comfort in turning the worn and heavily marked up pages of my Bible. There’s evidence there of God’s presence in my life. I know that for sure because the notes I’ve made document all He’s shown me before. So not only do I find the light of God’s Truths, my faith increases with the knowledge of how my Father has been faithful to me in the past. There is security in that.

If you are struggling with depression or anxiety and searching for encouragement or comfort, please leave a comment or email me. I’d love to share the Truth of God’s love with you.

I’ll leave you with Paul’s words of encouragement to the Ephesians (“The Message, The Bible in Contemporary Language,” by Eugene H. Peterson)


Ephesians 1:11-14

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.


Ephesians 1:17-19

But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

Blessings, Francine

What's Peace?

So many of us think happiness is peace. Yet, definitions are only words.

Peace is the opposite of turmoil. And I think most of us would agree peace is much better than turmoil.

If you look up happiness in the dictionary (The AMERICAN HERITAGE Dictionary), the first thing you find is that the word happiness isn’t specifically listed. You have to look up the word happy, which is defined by some simple one-word definitions: Lucky; fortunate – cheerful, willing. I suppose happiness is a state of being lucky, being fortunate, being cheerful, or being willing.

To me, that implies a choice of sorts.

In that same dictionary, the word peace is defined as 1. The absence of war or other hostilities, 2. An agreement or treaty to end hostilities. 3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmony. The last definition is Serenity; peace of mind. The definitions of peaceful, peacefully, and peacefulness aren’t found either, only listed beneath the word peace, i.e., implying that same “state of …,” or choice.

If you accept my interpretation of these words, that they are a choice, why are so many of us unhappy or un-peaceful? If we are free to choose, I choose peace.

If it were only that easy.

In truth, it is that easy. But, in reality, we find that our thoughts are consumed with a lot of baggage filled with anxiety and worry. We’ve carried it around with us for years and years and it’s become second nature. We’re used to carrying it around. In fact, many of us have learned to throw off the weight only to find ourselves uncomfortable with the newfound freedom that comes with discarding the baggage of our past.

We are creatures of habit. We become used to certain behaviors and to change those behaviors means moving into the realm of the unknown. While our anxiety may be slowly killing us, we find more comfort in the known. Stepping into the unfamiliar means stepping out of our comfort zones. And human nature calls us back into that with which we are accustomed. So we pick up our baggage once more.

It’s the reason why abused people remain in abusive relationships and why alcoholics and drug addicts remain addicted (although you could substitute alcohol and drugs for any number of obsessive addictions – food, sex, porn, power, materialism – you get the idea).

There is only one way to break the cycle of habit or addiction and it’s supernatural – it goes beyond human nature.

But before I give the answer, I’d like to ask another question.

When people are sick, they usually go to a doctor. If they are uneducated, they usually seek to be taught. If they are hungry, they eat; thirsty, they drink. In other words, they choose to seek that which will satisfy. Sometimes they don’t find the right answers immediately. Their need of these things usually drives them to find the right solution.

Yet when it comes to healthy, emotional decisions, we can easily get caught up in the little things. Things we think will satisfy easily distract us. They never do. And we remain in painful situations, be they mental or emotional. Why can’t we be as determined about our emotional health as we are about physical needs?

We forget there is another dimension to consider and that’s the spiritual. Oh, we can look at horoscopes, talk to mediums, have our palms read, and any other supernatural solutions, but refuse to go straight to the source.

The Creator of the universe designed us to work a certain way. Most things are created for a purpose. I’ll keep it simple because that’s what works for me. A coffee cup was designed to hold some type of liquid – something other than a solid. A plate was designed to hold something solid – other than a liquid. I can use a cup for some solids although it isn’t the most efficient. And I can use a plate for some liquids, but it is even less efficient.

The same goes for us. God created us for a purpose and until we know what that is, we aren’t as content as we could be. We definitely aren't as content as we were meant to be.

If you desperately want that supernatural peace that goes beyond your human comprehension, you can have it.

It’s a matter of choice.

Please feel free to leave a comment, especially if you have any questions about how to find lasting peace.

Blessings.

Beginnings

Everything has a beginning and this blog is a first for me.

Actually, I know very little about blogs, but I know there are a lot of hurting folks around and my heart's desire is to help others.

Life is full of problems. Nothing is perfect. But for some, our problems invade our hearts and our minds and create anxiety. It isn't that we worry all the time. For many of us, much of what's going on is really subconscious. Unfortunately, it doesn't stay that way and is often exhibited in anxiety or panic attacks. It's a heartbreaking way to live.

But I know that there's an answer.

I'm not a doctor. Nor am I a psychologist. My experience is life as I've lived it for more years than I care to admit. But I know that much of our anxiety comes from our past.

We can't change the past but other things can change. And that's what I hope to do here in this blog ... to give others hope.

If you feel as if you're all alone, please know that you aren't. I hope you'll visit regularly and that maybe by sharing, we can find the peace that God has for us because His peace is supernatural and that's what makes the difference.

Blessings
 
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