I’ve noticed for quite a while that there is an abundance of information on social media and online about depression and anxiety and the issue is growing more and more pervasive. However, this is not a new problem, we just have more access now to stories of how people are choosing to deal with it whether through therapy, support groups and medications. Sadly, many people believe the only way to cope with their suffering is suicide. When human hearts become so overwhelmed and captive to immense pain, death can seem preferable to living.
Believe me, I’ve been there and I know how enveloping and dark those feelings can be. When things get to this point, we may sincerely believe that there’s no other way out. But I want to tell you, there is another way and I want to share my experience here, with the hope that, if this is you, you will exchange peace and rest for the turmoil you’re currently going through. I pray you’ll take the time to continue reading…..
If you subscribe to my blog, you know that God is the center of everything for me and this subject is no exception.
First of all, God is a beautiful creator, not an evil taskmaster who requires our perfection. He is a loving Father who desires for His children to be in awe of His creation and find joy in our lives. Just as joy is a beautiful emotion, sadness can also be beautiful because it can bring attention to areas of our lives that God wants to heal and help us grieve in a healthy way as we walk through difficult times.
However, when sorrow becomes despair and seeks to bury us in depression that leads to self harm, it becomes a crisis that we must give our immediate attention to. I personally believe it’s not negative emotions themselves that harm us, it’s how we navigate through them AND what we believe about them that brings the harm. Let me explain what this might look like:
- Being consumed and swallowed by our emotions because of past traumas and pain without any teaching to understand or deal with them because our parents or mentors didn’t have the tools or understanding.
- Being taught that negative feelings are wrong, bad, or demonic by religion.
- Fighting against our feelings instead of acknowledging them.
- Abusing substances to cope with our feelings and numb the pain.
These are just some of the ways we cope with negative emotions, but I’ve found a better way. And believe me, I’ve been influenced by all the ways mentioned above and they only brought me more pain. But when I started understanding that Jesus is touched with the feelings of my infirmities and is sympathetic towards me and my pain and not mad at me (Heb. 4:15 – 16), it changed my life!
When I began turning to God with my pain and negative feelings, I began to find rest in my heart. We’ve all heard that God loves us. And we’ve heard it to the point that it has become trite and has lost it’s impact. His love encompasses, all or our life not just whether or not we go to church, or don’t sin, or love our neighbor or pray or read our Bible or any of the other reasons we’ve heard for doing right by God. He cares about our inner life and our pain. (Ps. 139:3)
God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!
PSALM 139:3 | THE MESSAGE
I chose to use The Message (paraphrase) translation because it paints the perfect picture of how God views my life. He is invested in every part. He is not blind to my pain and anguish. He actually welcomes it and desires for me to bring it to Him. If, while I was an enemy of God, He demonstrated His love by sending Jesus to die for my sins, how much more, now that I am reconciled because of His death will He not give me life, through Him (Romans 5:10).
Our pain is a very serious issue to God, so much so that He sent Jesus to experience it, so He could understand every nook and cranny of what it’s like to be human; to be us. I would say that is an eternal investment. God is committed to our healing to such a degree that He sent His only Son to bring it about (Isaiah 53: 4-5).
Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.
ISAIAH 53: 4-5 | AMPC Translation
Our healing begins with bringing ALL of our feelings, sorrow, grief, anger and guilt to Him. How do we do that? Simply find a private place; bedroom, car, bathroom, wherever you can feel free to talk to God and pour our your heartache. You may not even know what it is that is burdening your heart but you feel depression or anxiety weighing you down. Pour out your heart in words or tears and be honest with God about your feelings; ask all of your questions, pour out your anger, even if it’s toward God. He can handle it and He wants you to know it is safe to tell him.
If you don’t believe that’s true, just read the book of Psalms. David poured out his anguish, fear, anger and questions to God all the time and God heard him and answered. He will do the same with you!
Acknowledging your feelings is the first step to healing!
So often, we ignore, deny and run from our emotions and the way we feel, when the best thing to do is acknowledge and feel them. It’s the pain we are running from and when we face it, that’s when the healing process can begin. It’s so hard, but it’s so true! Honor your emotions and take them to God and watch what He is able to do.
This is only the first step. The healing process takes time and intention and I want to walk with you and help you experience it for your life. I want you to have access to a resource for your healing process that God took me through to heal from childhood trauma and abuse, negative emotions and depression that changed my entire life.
It is a process that I walked out personally and privately and then I felt the leading to write it out and share it free with anyone who wants it. It contains my personal journey along with journal entries that I wrote while going through it. These entries are raw and honest and I guarantee they will help you feel less alone in your struggle. It also includes scriptures and action steps to take to bring healing.
This healing process is written as a devotional that walks you through a healing process one step at a time and is available to you for the asking, FREE! Just sign up below to receive it and you’ll have access to my newsletter and email to contact me whenever you want, to ask questions and tell me your experience and how God is using the process to bring you healing. I would love to hear your story and inspire you in any way I can.
My passion is to help you, if you’re hurting, to find healing and wholeness and to connect you to the God Who loves you and is able and willing to heal you. If that’s you, sign up below to receive instant access to the devotional. I hope you’ll take advantage of it.
If you’ve already signed up and have received the devotional, and worked though it, I’d love for you to share in the comments below and let me know how it’s helping you! Thanks!
Much love, Crisie
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