God says, I want to redeem your suffering into beautiful things. I can make beautiful things out of ashes. Nobody else can do that. I can take the most awful, horrific, terrible circumstances and bring life into them.
Pain, Suffering, Hardship.
These things have been a part of my story and I have a strong feeling, that they’ve been a part of yours as well. Pain is unavoidable and intertwined in the broken world we live in. For a long season of my life I felt the darkness and weight of depression and anxiety. This struggle began as a result of some of the experiences and events happening during a season of my life but it gradually became constant and lasting. Anxious and sad thoughts took over my mind and made everyday situations difficult to enjoy.
Most days I felt unmotivated, tired, scared and alone. My chest felt heavy and breathing took effort. I would wake up in tears and went to bed crying out to God asking why I felt so down about life.
It was during my low lows where I began leaning on God more than ever before. As I prayed and called out to Him, He did not rescue me from my struggles or fix everything in my life right away, but gradually He restored my joy. Along the way He opened my eyes to the deeply rooted struggles of my heart and the sin, bitterness and guilt that was causing some of my pain. I am sharing this because I wholeheartedly believe that God is a healer, He is a very present help in times of trouble, He gives us new life and teaches us so much in our painful and dark seasons (if we let him).
Sometimes growth is digging up bad roots and replacing bad soil so more beautiful, wonderful things have room to grow. Being cut down hurts so extremely bad. Facing our problems and demons head on is such an ugly sight, but it’s needed. This next season that is waiting for you is worth it. Every tear shed, every painful wound found on your heart. It’s worth it. You will heal. -Taylor Tippett
In many ways I am grateful for the times of hardship that I went through. Not that I would ever want to experience them again, but I can live life today with more appreciation, compassion and love for life and others. Depression and anxiety still loom over me at times but when I have rough days or weeks I know that He is still with me.
Jesus is no stranger to suffering; He feels our pain and helps us carry it. He has not forgotten us.
His loving presence sustains us.
God placed it on my heart to write this blog because I find myself constantly being comforted by other people’s words whether it’s in a book, social media post, blog, when I’m talking to friends, and of course, in the Bible. I find inspiration and hope in other people’s stories and experiences. It’s nice to be reminded that we are not alone in our sadness and pain. My prayer is that I can encourage someone in their current or future struggle.
There is a book I read a little while ago called, My Name is Hope by John Mark Comer. The author’s writing on the topic of anxiety and depression is AMAZING. He offers practical and spiritual knowledge and truth in a unique and concise way. I think it applies to everyone because we all deal with dark times to some extent. I still find myself referencing it from time to time. I highly recommend it!!
Yes, there days, months and for some of us years, of morning. But it’s only for a night. It’s only for a time. There is a light breaking over the horizon. Hope screams at you everyday. She calls you, invites you and refuses to shut up. Over and over she says…
“Joy comes in the morning.”
And the morning is coming soon.
-John Mark Comer
God renewed my strength, He gave me a firm place to stand and put a new song in my heart. His hope and healing was unlike anything else but there were certain decisions and choices I had to make and I believe we all need to make on a daily basis that help us escape darkness. I sought the help of medication and also made sure that I was taking care of my self (eating right, exercising, surrounding myself with support etc.)-which wasn’t always easy. This is something that Comer’s book speaks about and I believe it’s important to acknowledge.
We may feel content when everything in our lives is in place but our happiness becomes complete when we pursue Jesus and come to know Him.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.
~Elena
