Anxiety & Depression #8: How then, Should we live?
For those of you who have read the blog and reached out to me, thank you so much for listening and reminding me that I am not alone. I am so thankful that God has used this to encourage others. I wanted to wrap up this series on Anxiety & Depression with one final post.
I used to think that depression was a death sentence when the counselor told me "you might struggle with this for the rest of your life." I could not fathom life "working" very well for me. I felt so debilitated, marooned, and helpless. I felt like I had a black mark on my life and I was being punished. By the grace of God, I no longer see it that way. God, who is greater in both power and understanding, saw fit to allow this trial in my life, and I can honestly say that I am thankful. It was my struggle with depression that first drew me to His feet. It was my struggle that really pushed me to seek accountability, community, and the desire to teach and disciple. My struggle is part of who I am. This does not mean I do not ask God to heal me. I know he will completely some day. But until He does, I believe I can "suffer well" for His glory.
One of my favorite sermons from John Piper about "suffering well" is on Psalm 42. I would encourage you to listen to it by clicking here. He talks about how troubles are sure to come in this life, but we can choose to run to God again and again. . . even when it feels like He is not listening. Even when it does not make sense. Even when you do not know what to do next, He is the source of our exceeding joy and He WILL meet you there. I promise you that.
I felt like I should write about my journey because I know people out there are going through the same thing. Some of you are getting the help you need but some of you are resisting it. Some of you just want it to "go away." Let me lovingly ask you to consider that God might have you here in this struggle until Jesus comes back. What are you going to do with it? Like all hard seasons that last a lifetime (chronic illness, living without a loved one, raising a child with disabilities), we have to ask ourselves: "How am I going to live in light of this affliction KNOWING that some day it will all be over and God will ask me to give an account of how I walked through it?"
Recently, God has been showing me that I do not need to rush through hard stuff. A friend once said "we are going to stay in this season until God teaches us what he needs to teach us because I don't want to come back." Have you ever considered that maybe that one "black mark" in your life is something that God is going to use to do an incredible work in you? Did you know that He can turn your greatest tragedy into your greatest triumph? I have seen Him do it!
For those who are in Christ, our eternity is set in Jesus. Fight to keep that eternal perspective and remember the HOPE to which you were called. Remember your GLORIOUS inheritance. Remember the INCOMPARABLY great power that God has given to you by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1). And if you are not seeking and savoring Christ, I pray that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened and you would see Jesus for who He really is: all-satisfying and all powerful; 100% all about your Joy and His Glory.
I love you, friends
-Lys
I used to think that depression was a death sentence when the counselor told me "you might struggle with this for the rest of your life." I could not fathom life "working" very well for me. I felt so debilitated, marooned, and helpless. I felt like I had a black mark on my life and I was being punished. By the grace of God, I no longer see it that way. God, who is greater in both power and understanding, saw fit to allow this trial in my life, and I can honestly say that I am thankful. It was my struggle with depression that first drew me to His feet. It was my struggle that really pushed me to seek accountability, community, and the desire to teach and disciple. My struggle is part of who I am. This does not mean I do not ask God to heal me. I know he will completely some day. But until He does, I believe I can "suffer well" for His glory.
One of my favorite sermons from John Piper about "suffering well" is on Psalm 42. I would encourage you to listen to it by clicking here. He talks about how troubles are sure to come in this life, but we can choose to run to God again and again. . . even when it feels like He is not listening. Even when it does not make sense. Even when you do not know what to do next, He is the source of our exceeding joy and He WILL meet you there. I promise you that.
I felt like I should write about my journey because I know people out there are going through the same thing. Some of you are getting the help you need but some of you are resisting it. Some of you just want it to "go away." Let me lovingly ask you to consider that God might have you here in this struggle until Jesus comes back. What are you going to do with it? Like all hard seasons that last a lifetime (chronic illness, living without a loved one, raising a child with disabilities), we have to ask ourselves: "How am I going to live in light of this affliction KNOWING that some day it will all be over and God will ask me to give an account of how I walked through it?"
Recently, God has been showing me that I do not need to rush through hard stuff. A friend once said "we are going to stay in this season until God teaches us what he needs to teach us because I don't want to come back." Have you ever considered that maybe that one "black mark" in your life is something that God is going to use to do an incredible work in you? Did you know that He can turn your greatest tragedy into your greatest triumph? I have seen Him do it!
For those who are in Christ, our eternity is set in Jesus. Fight to keep that eternal perspective and remember the HOPE to which you were called. Remember your GLORIOUS inheritance. Remember the INCOMPARABLY great power that God has given to you by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1). And if you are not seeking and savoring Christ, I pray that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened and you would see Jesus for who He really is: all-satisfying and all powerful; 100% all about your Joy and His Glory.
I love you, friends
-Lys
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