Think
29 Apr 2010 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic, darkness, faith, focus, God's love, God's truth, hopekeepers, illness, Julie Munroe, pain, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, rest ministries
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true. . .” (Philippians 4:8)
I am sure we have all read this verse many times. It has edified and encouraged, it is also hard to read at times, especially when gaining control of our thoughts seems out of our control.
Depression is an illness, it is a disease that, left to its sinister ways, can destroy and degrade a life. Depression is made that much harder to cope with when you are not able to take the drugs that help so many others.
I have personally suffered varying forms of depression. It sneaks up on you like a dark damp fog rolling in off the bay. Sometimes you can even see it coming, but it fools you into thinking that the darkness won’t be so bad this time.
PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is a dramatic form of premenstrual syndrome. Most women get grumpy and irritable at certain times, but 3-8% suffer severe deep dark holes of depression and anxiety that are (can be) short lived each month, but left unchecked can be dangerous to themselves and others.
When you are unable to take medication to help this sort of depression due to your own bodies inability to tolerate the chemical input, dealing with this type of rolling depression becomes all the more difficult.
But God has made a way (in His Word). Learning to identify the darkness as untrue and focusing on God’s truth –even when the dark feelings do not leave, even when your emotions are trying to tell you its truth and you are battling to believe God’s truth, keep pushing back.
Tell yourself the truth, even if it makes no difference or sense to the ‘feeling’ of truth. Believe the truth of God’s Word over the feeling and emotion in your thoughts.
GOD loves ME
I AM His child
My emotions and thoughts may be real to me now but this will pass or change.
You may not be able to change how you feel at that time but you can tell yourself Gods truth which will help you to believe you will feel change in time. Gods’ truth will always win.
About the Author:
Julie Munro lives in New Zealand and is mother to a wonderful daughter who is pursuing a career in Radio. Julie lives with “invisible illnesses” that God is using to teach her lessons she many never have learned.
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Apr 29, 2010 @ 12:55:06
Hi Julie – you address such a real issue that many of us deal with. Depression seems to fall off the radar screen in many of our churches as if there is some strange level of afflictions and/or disease that others want to address.
You describe it so well when you say it feels like a gray fog creeping in. I deal with it at times and hate that feeling that can stay – invade the sacred body God has created.
As you so well express, it creeps and it invades our feelings – yet God is more than our feelings and like other pain and challenges I believe He is as close as always. There is no darkness in Him – so we cling to Him and his Light even when we cannot see the light or even feel Him – He is with us holding us close.
Amen to your insightful words. Bless you as you deal with this part of your challenges.
Love,
Lynn
Apr 29, 2010 @ 17:45:48
Julie,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about depression. I know just what you are talking about when you say “your body can’t tolerate chemicals so you can take medication when you need it so badly”. I have what is called Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and I am to the point where I almost have to live in a bubble. I am facing two surgeries, and my doctors have to talk among themselves in order to know what to give me as far as for pain, anesthsia, and as you said, the depression that all this can bring on as I wait — and even afterwards.
I certainly will be praying fervently for you Dear One. Hold tight to our Lord Jesus hand. He is our only hope.
Blessings ~ Alice
Apr 30, 2010 @ 10:03:48
Hi Julie!
I appreciate you dealing with this subject so directly. Depression is so misunderstood and there is still a stigma attached to people who suffer from this horrible disease. Sad to say, other Christians often tell those of us who live with it things that make it worse. Even if they “mean well”.
I can hardly remember a time in my life when this hasn’t affected me to some degree. I’m so thankful that I have had enough experience to know that I will eventually feel better. At times in the past, the pain has continued for a very long time, but in more recent years, I may feel quite a bit better in just a few hours or the next day.
Telling ourselves the truth, as you have said, is very important, but not easy. Often I say, “That’s the depression talking. I may feel that way but it’s just not true.”
I pray that you, Lynn, Alice and I will remember that, like the sun that’s behind the clouds, our loving Lord is still with us, even when we don’t sense his presence. What a comfort that is!
Grace & peace to you,
Beth