Hurts, heartaches, horrible depression, and more
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| Art work by Betty Fraley |
I have been mentoring, encouraging, and learning from
friends with bipolar disease and severe depression, a life long depression, or
a deep hurt that plagues them every day, every hour. God keeps sending these folks to me and I
hurt for them. Their daily lives are
plagued with unrest, hurt, despair, and unimaginable mental and emotional
pain.
It puzzles me why God sends these people to me because I
know nothing about how to fix them. I do
pray for them. I try to write
encouraging messages or share positive thoughts and views with them. However, I am so inept, so insecure in this
ministry that I totally lean on God. I
am weak. Weak in a way that I just don’t
know what could keep these folks encouraged or how to experience daily joy. My only answer is Jesus, the healer, the
provider, the counselor, and the one who is always faithful. How do I impart that answer into them?
Spending over twenty years as a Young Life teacher and
counselor taught me one clear principle.
Begin where they are. Relate to
their life this day. Sometimes that is
so hard for me because God wired me as a positive, mostly happy woman. I forgive quickly and don’t hold
grudges. Nothing I do; God just made me
that way. I can find silver linings in
most lessons and experiences in my life.
However, when I talk with these friends, those silver linings are more
difficult to find and explain. So, I am
back to all I know to do. Pray.
I do know that scripture makes it clear that grace and truth
are Jesus’ provisions to us. He has a
plan for our lives. He’s got my hand and I’ve got His. That is all I know to impart to my hurting
friends. He’s got their hand and all
they need is to hold tightly. I think my plea today is for us all to be
sensitive to others. We don’t know their
story, hurts, or pain. Be diligent to
pray for those the Lord brings to you.
That’s all I know. Pray and pray
some more.
I couldn't even get through the first sentence without the flood gates opening. Why does God put on the most sensitive people pain that a sick brain has trouble healing? I have yet to understand why God made me like this and all I have is faith that it is for His reason. My cliffs have been very difficult to climb lately. I look around and see others with their own walls to scale as well so who am I to say that my cliff is harder than the next. What is God preparing me for? What is it that I have that He could possibly use through the emotional trials that seem to never end? When it ends, which at this point I'm not sure that it will, I hope that my edges are softer, my balance is surer and my gifts are stronger. I have wanted to give in to this unbearable load that I'm carrying so many times. All I can do though is keep walking until the day is done, take my meds, go to bed, sleep soundly and listen to my alarm wake me to another day. I'm blessed everyday with kindness, love and understanding from my family and dear friends. Without all of them, including you, I have no reason to wake up listening to my alarm.
ReplyDeleteOne day I will have succeeded in learning to be the woman God wants and He will give me the gift that I desire, He promised. I will still have this same brain but it will once again be healthy and I will be able to share through my spirit and words the reflection of God. Ooooeeewwww, that might just be a wonderful title for a book. I'm going to write that down!!
I love you dearly my friend. God gave us each other and that is a miracle.
Sensitive is a blessing and curse. I know we understand more and feel more, but we suffer despair and hurt more intensely. You are holding on and still climbing. That is success, Laura. You are wonderfully and divinely made by God, and I love you. Thanks for reading and responding.
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