On the outside, you seem like such a happy, bubbly person, but peel back the layers, when you’re all alone and no one’s looking- you’re a mess.
A crying, distressed, depressed mess. But you don’t just go around telling people that. It’s private and they wouldn’t understand, wouldn’t care, and then you’d hurt even more. Carrying around the pain that you do is hard enough, but if you found out your friends didn’t care, it’d be worse.
I have suffered in massive, pain-staking, down-on-my-knees-in-tears trials for the last 15 YEARS of my life. Each day presenting new and old problems. I and my children were abandoned by my husband, basically left for dead (he stole my debit card and everything!), fell in love with someone else, who only strung me along and cheated on me while we were engaged.
Man after man God brought into the trial to save me (Ryan, Ben, Noah, Jake, Hunter), only failed to do the right thing and led to more pain, financial loss, and misery.
On top of all that, I’m constantly harrassed online by people who believe the lies about me when they have no clue who I am or what I’m about but think they know me so well.
Abused by my own son, in my own home on a continual basis and when I try to do good works for the Lord out of a pure heart, I’m condemned and attacked by those I’m trying to help, or those who are jerks and I refuse to help because I know they’re jerks and I’d rather help someone nice who is in true need. I’m a single mom; I only have so much energy and resources to help so many people here in person.
Friends have turned against me.
The world has mocked me and my pain openly.
My previous church abandoned me, believing a lie stemming from my ex-fiance.
And when I do the will of God, to change this blog into a Christian website as God has asked me to do, my audience leaves and stops supporting me, rejecting the truth and Word of God, which only leads to further financial difficulty as I am a single mom with no family (or church) to help me.
And yet…
And yet, I do not give up.
I keep going, I keep fighting to survive.
Why?
Because of Jesus Christ.
Because if HE wins, then I win and I believe He does win. Since He is on my side and me on His side, I’m on the winning team and eventually, in His perfect timing, He WILL save me out of my trial, just like He will save you. ❤️
Listen, I know what it’s like to hurt to the depths of your soul. I know what it’s like to feel so distraught that every day you cry out to God, “Just kill me. Put me out of my misery. Let me die.” To have thoughts of wanting to end things because it feels like there’s no hope, nothing will EVER change, and you’re dead already inside, what’s the point of going on?
Even more so, some well-meaning Christians who know no pain say Christians don’t get depressed, which only feels like they’re slapping you in the face and mocking you. We have Jesus inside us so we are always joyful, they say. And while that IS true, to some extent, truly godly people experience pain, suffering, and yes, even depression the same as the world does.
That’s the point…
Like the world.
When we are feeling depressed, we are focusing on our world, on life from a worldly perspective. When I am sad, depressed, feeling like I can’t go on, it’s because my focus is on my situation and not on God in that moment.
- Who conquered the grave?
- Who parted the Red Sea?
- Who moves mountains in your life to help you on a daily basis?
- Who helped David fight Goliath and win over him?
- Who caused the Israelites to see the promised land after they constantly disobeyed God?
- Who shook the walls of Jericho and made them fall down?
- Who saved Abraham from killing his only son?
- Who saved Jonah from death inside the belly of a big fish after he repented?
- Who holds your hand now?
God does!!!
God knows the pain you’re going through. He lived it on Earth.
There’s pain and suffering everywhere but Jesus comes alongside of the broken and hurting. He comforts us, holds our hand, and asks us to trust Him.
Whatever you’re facing today is truly horrific and I get it. I know your pain. I feel your pain. But when we focus on God, walk in the spirit, and look at things from HIS point of view, it helps. It won’t magically take all your pain away, but it changes your perspective so that you can then walk, hand in hand, with your Lord and Savior with confidence.
He WANTS to comfort you. He WANTS to heal your pain. He loves you!!
He made you, knows all things, knows what you’re struggling with.
He wants to help.
Go to Him, not like you have before asking Him to spare you, but asking Him to show you things from HIS perspective. Asking Him to help you get through this because that would glorify Him.
Being willing to suffer for Christ is never easy, but usually it’s necessary to refine us and mold us into the people He wants us to be. Ask Him to show you how to glorify Him.
Read the verses below, write them on your heart, know that you’re not alone.
Millions of people suffer every single day, but not many of them know how to get out.
God brought YOU to this post to show you the way. To light the tunnel and lead you out, if you will only follow after Him.
So that’s my question for you today…
Will you humble yourself before the Living God with a teachable spirit, desiring to please Him, and learn from Him? Asking Him why you’re suffering, preparing your heart for whatever the answer is? Will you do that now?
I’m doing the same on my end, as I’m writing this letter, since I know these are not my words, but the words from our Heavenly Father, teaching us ALL how to love Him more.
30 Bible Verses for Overcoming Depression
1) Psalm 143:7-8
“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
2) Psalm 34:17-18
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
3) Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
4) Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
5) Psalm 40:1-2
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
6) John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
7) 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
8) Psalm 3:3
“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”
9) Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
10) Psalm 32:10
“Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.”
11) 2 Corinthians 4:18
“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
12) Psalm 42:11
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
13) Isaiah 40:31
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
14) Deuteronomy 31:8
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
15) 1 Peter 4:12-13
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
16) Psalm 9:9-10
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
17) Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
18) Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
19) Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
20) Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
21) Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
22) Psalm 55:22
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
23) Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
24) Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
25) 1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
26) Psalm 27:14
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
27) Psalm 30:5
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
28) John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
29) Psalm 37:23-24
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”
30) Psalm 30:11
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,”