Philippians 4:6-7
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God, through Paul tells us in the above verse to not be anxious about ANYTHING. It seems like a tall order for most of us but it is a command. When the Lord tells us to do something, that is an order or a command, when we follow through and do it, that is called obedience.
Philippians 4:4
New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
The verse above commands us to ALWAYS rejoice or be joyful. How does this happen? I can only tell you how it happens in my life. Coming from a past that was plagued with depression and anxiety, I speak from my own experiences. Philippians 4:6-7 was what I had always considered to be my "life verse". My world consisted of so much anxiety that as a new believer, almost 16 years ago, the words of that verse just popped out at me! I have to tell you that if you are someone who has never experienced anxiety or depression, consider THAT all joy because it is HORRIBLE. I will take my MS symptoms over the symptoms of anxiety and depression any day. I had been on and off medication most of my life to help control my symptoms. When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I had more peace in my life just knowing that my sins were forgiven yet I still battled depression and anxiety. I hadn't had a relationship with the Lord long enough to trust Him through my trials. I was used to trying to deal with my issues myself. I didn't know how to cast my cares onto Him. I think we would all agree that the longer we know someone and the longer they prove themselves trustworthy, it is much easier to trust that person. Over the years, Jesus proved Himself trustworthy and faithful over and over again to me personally in my life. This verse hung in my cubicle at my last job. Before starting my busy workday, I would lift up a quick prayer for the Lord to be with me and help me through my day. Then I would glance and look at my verse hanging there and the word that always stuck out more than any other in that verse to me was the word "thanksgiving". I began to realize that through any storm that came my way, there was always something to be thankful for. Isn't it true in your life too? People always say things like, "it could be worse" but we don't ponder about the things in our lives that are already good and maybe even wonderful. Through listening to teachings, reading books and praying, I started to focus on thankfulness. I continue to practice this today. It is easy to sit around and stew over things we can't do anymore or "stuff" that we don't have, but I am choosing to be thankful and I am choosing to be joyful. Joy is not the same as happiness. I don't feel happy all the time. In fact, my MS can make me quite miserable at times BUT it doesn't take away my ability to be thankful for the multitude of blessings in my life and it can't steal the joy or peace that I have because it comes from the Lord. When He blesses me with His peace, I accept it as a wonderful gift. The problems in life will NEVER end. The aggravations that get under our skin, will NEVER end. That is a promise from God too.
John 16:33
New King James Version (NKJV)
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus says, YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. Why don't we cling to those words as well? We have a habit of clinging to all the things that sound wonderful to us but when God tells us that we will have tribulation or that we will have to suffer, we don't want to hear that.
The bottom line is that when we become thankful, truly thankful for EVERYTHING, and for me that includes my MS, we begin to think more like Jesus instead of the world. When we can start looking straight into the eye of an oncoming storm and cry out to Jesus and KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM, we can get through ANYTHING because He is with us. If you are a christian, HE LIVES IN YOU. He can't get any closer. He is a whisper or a thought away. Take advantage of His proximity today and always. If you don't have Him living in you and you desire to, call on His name.
Romans 10:13
New King James Version (NKJV)
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”[a]
My prayer for anyone reading this today is that if you don't know Jesus as your Savior, just talk to Him. He can hear you. If you do know Jesus, thank Him today and rest in the peace and joy that are ours when we trust Him at His Word.
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Committee
How many of you know and are on the same committee as I was on? You know the one with all the voices in your head keeping you from sleeping because they are up all night having a meeting in your head about your kids, your finances, your health, your job....you can fill in the blanks....
For many years the committee kept me awake too many nights to count over the course of my life. The weird thing is, is that they retired this year during one of the most difficult times of my life. Last year at this time I was a typical "40 something" going to work every day and feeling like I was on the perpetual hamster wheel of life. The job, the kids, the cooking, cleaning, laundry, caring for pets.... and the list goes on and on, just like your list.
On a Tuesday after feeling nauseated for days, I left work 15 minutes early because I was literally sick to my stomach. A tall co- worker was standing in my cubicle talking to me and it was making me even more nauseated to tilt my head to look up at him. I literally couldn't wait 15 more minutes to leave work on time. The day I left early, I didn't realize I wouldn't be back. My nausea turned into non-stop vomiting and it spiraled out of control to complete chronic, spinning vertigo that would not leave. I was couch ridden for months. I needed help with the activities of daily living such as bathing and I even needed assistance to go to the bathroom. It was a living nightmare that I had no relief from. I was too sick to even pray. I was in survival mode. I actually was hoping that I would die and be put out of my misery.
Most of you know this story so I won't continue with too many details but the long story short is that this wasn't an ear problem like I had hoped. After many doctors visits, with my throw up bucket, and LOTS of testing, it was determined that my "ear" problems were not stemming from my ears. It was a central problem coming from the most primitive part of my brain, the brainstem. My MS is what had been causing this chaos. Over the course of the year, the vertigo morphed into chronic dizziness upon any movement with episodes of vertigo if I moved my head in a weird way or when I lay down to sleep. When I began to come out of the "fog" sort to speak, I realized that my anxiety and depression that I struggled with throughout my life had been lifted. How could this be? I'm going through the worst physical trauma I've ever experienced and I'm at peace? YES!!! My prayers from many years ago were being answered at THIS time, HIS time. How odd but true. I had so many people praying for me at that time and they may not have "seen" a healing but there was one. I am in no way saying that I never experience anxiety or depression. I do like any normal person, but I don't lose sleep due to it. I do not take medication to relieve myself from it and I don't stay up all night because of any committee meetings. That is God. He does what He does, when He chooses to do it or not do it. Who can argue with God? (Romans 9:20) I don't understand His ways, they are not the same as ours. (Isaiah 55:9). Don't stop praying, pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 3:17). You may be surprised at what He does.
Exodus 14:21
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Notice where it says "all night". God is not sleeping. He is up in the night taking care of us so we can rest and sleep. He was dividing the sea so the people of Israel could just walk through. He does that for us too!!!
For many years the committee kept me awake too many nights to count over the course of my life. The weird thing is, is that they retired this year during one of the most difficult times of my life. Last year at this time I was a typical "40 something" going to work every day and feeling like I was on the perpetual hamster wheel of life. The job, the kids, the cooking, cleaning, laundry, caring for pets.... and the list goes on and on, just like your list.
On a Tuesday after feeling nauseated for days, I left work 15 minutes early because I was literally sick to my stomach. A tall co- worker was standing in my cubicle talking to me and it was making me even more nauseated to tilt my head to look up at him. I literally couldn't wait 15 more minutes to leave work on time. The day I left early, I didn't realize I wouldn't be back. My nausea turned into non-stop vomiting and it spiraled out of control to complete chronic, spinning vertigo that would not leave. I was couch ridden for months. I needed help with the activities of daily living such as bathing and I even needed assistance to go to the bathroom. It was a living nightmare that I had no relief from. I was too sick to even pray. I was in survival mode. I actually was hoping that I would die and be put out of my misery.
Most of you know this story so I won't continue with too many details but the long story short is that this wasn't an ear problem like I had hoped. After many doctors visits, with my throw up bucket, and LOTS of testing, it was determined that my "ear" problems were not stemming from my ears. It was a central problem coming from the most primitive part of my brain, the brainstem. My MS is what had been causing this chaos. Over the course of the year, the vertigo morphed into chronic dizziness upon any movement with episodes of vertigo if I moved my head in a weird way or when I lay down to sleep. When I began to come out of the "fog" sort to speak, I realized that my anxiety and depression that I struggled with throughout my life had been lifted. How could this be? I'm going through the worst physical trauma I've ever experienced and I'm at peace? YES!!! My prayers from many years ago were being answered at THIS time, HIS time. How odd but true. I had so many people praying for me at that time and they may not have "seen" a healing but there was one. I am in no way saying that I never experience anxiety or depression. I do like any normal person, but I don't lose sleep due to it. I do not take medication to relieve myself from it and I don't stay up all night because of any committee meetings. That is God. He does what He does, when He chooses to do it or not do it. Who can argue with God? (Romans 9:20) I don't understand His ways, they are not the same as ours. (Isaiah 55:9). Don't stop praying, pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 3:17). You may be surprised at what He does.
Exodus 14:21
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Notice where it says "all night". God is not sleeping. He is up in the night taking care of us so we can rest and sleep. He was dividing the sea so the people of Israel could just walk through. He does that for us too!!!
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