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Ironically, yesterday’s Gospel reading was about the hemorrhaging woman I talked about in my post about the statue of Jesus in the Hopkins’s administrative building with the inscription: “Come, all you who are weary.”
It was a perfect reading for me yesterday because I was feeling fearful all day–unable to locate exactly what was triggering so much anxiety, but feeling panicked all the same. There was such a relief when I got to the part where Jesus turned around, saw her, and said: “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
In my devotional, “Magnificat,” Father Simon Tugwell, O.P. writes:
Faith punctures the self-sufficiency of our world, so that there is room for God to be God. Perfect charity is when that puncture has become all-embracing, so that we are nothing but space for God to be God. All that we find in ourselves is God being all in all. … And by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we too are drawn to be displaced from ourselves, so that we might live “no longer for ourselves but for him,” and that God may be at the center of us, “more intimate to us than we are to ourselves.”
Somehow I always forget–when I’m in that panic spot–that I’m never truly alone. God is always with me, and especially on the darker days when I doubt the power of goodness and love.
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6 Ways to Stay Resilient in Stress
posted 6:00:24am Jan. 31, 2012 | read full post » |
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
Meet others on the journey in
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
posted July 8, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I forget He is there, too, Therese, during those times of difficulty in my life, until I am reminded in some way, either through a friend or stranger’s words that will help lift me out of the doldrums.
posted July 8, 2008 at 7:17 pm
i think we all get lost in the moment and it takes sopmething or someone to remind us that God is always there if we just reach out.
posted July 9, 2008 at 4:48 am
I think it’s human nature to forget that He’s always there, especially when things aren’t going well I know I do. There are even times when I feel abandoned, but I’m(FINALLY) learning that those are te moments when I’m leaving my “bott prints in the sand.” He doesn’t abandon us when he sets us down to rest for a minute or twoelse we’d NEVER get up.. Thank you for reminding me of that essetial truth; I needed reminding.
posted July 9, 2008 at 11:24 am
I really enjoy Beyond Blue and hearing about God and how he help us if only we would trun to him evertine we are trouble.
I too suffer with depression but with my faith in God and a good Doctor whom seem to understand I cope alright.Sincerely Sally
posted July 10, 2008 at 9:32 am
BUT HOW DO YOU GET PAST THE FEAR THAT IS SOOO INTENSE-ALMOST PARALYZING-TO LET GOD TAKE OVER AND RID YOU OF THAT FEAR???? FOR THE PAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN NEAR PANIC WITH FEAR AND CAN’T SEEM TO SHAKE IT NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRAY, CRY, SCREAM, BEG GOD TO HELP ME–TO TAKE IT AWAY???
posted July 10, 2008 at 10:00 am
Brenda,
Hang in there and stay the course. Remember that God often works through other people. So, be looking for the help you need in what others say and do. You will be OK, just keep trusting. Stay the course.
Love and Blessings
posted July 10, 2008 at 10:23 am
Fear can be crippling – for some people it can motivate, and for others it can immobilize. Brenda – it appears that you may need to see a therapist or at least speak to your doctor. Faith is a great healer, but so is anti-anxiety medicine. I’ve been on it for years, and it’s been a god-send.
posted July 10, 2008 at 10:53 am
Brenda: Don’t give up . . . there is a solution. I have suffered with episodes of anxiety and depression over the years. Medication has helped, counseling has helped, a support group has helped and my belief that Jesus came to heal us (Luke 4:18) helps. Last night a very unusual thing happened to me. I woke up at 4:45 am with gripping fear. It was awful. I just yelled at the top of my lungs “Satan you get out of here in the name of Jesus! I belong to Jesus. He is Lord of my life!” And the fear went away and I woke up filled to overflowing with the awesome love of God. Keep crying out for help, Brenda, and you will find it. God bless!
posted July 10, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Having faith is something that I have had since I was a little child. I know God/Jesus is always there and he never leaves us. Right now my husband and I are going through a difficult time. He is a new Christian and having faith is very new to him. We have moved around, wandering if you will for the last 10 years, having no “roots”. If is really taking it’s toll on both of us. We have been praying everyday, sometime 20 times a day that the Lord will lead us back to my birth home in Texas. I have faith that God will answer our prayers, but my husband is constantly trying to figure out what’s going to happen next, trying to workout details and scenarios in his head and driving himself crazy along with me. I tell him all the time “Let Go and Let GOD.
We both recently started taking anti-depressants I know that sounds CRAZY. Right now we have jobs where we are, but in September we won’t, so he is in Panic mode as September approaches and we have no jobs and no where to go.
I apologize for going on and on, but I feel like I am all alone, and I know I’m not. I know that the Will of God will never take us where the Grace of God will not protect us. Please keep us in your prayers.
Thanks,
TRK
posted July 10, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Sometimes, when I’m working, (and I deal with a wide variety of “personalities”, those I work with), what I see and hear, can be really scary, if I let it get to me. When I am uncomfortable, and I feel like the world may be closing in, I close my eyes, and bow my head. Just the words,” Lord, guide me.” These give me strength, and I know, I can handle anything, the people throw at me !! Of course, there are times, that require more effort…. In my mind, I curl up in a ball, on the floor, making myself as small as I can. “Lord, guide me, please Lord, hear my prayer.” And soon, I feel that strength again. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer !!
posted July 11, 2008 at 10:47 am
I TO WAS FULL OF FEAR BECAUSE I TRY TO FIND MY ON WAY OF DOING WHAT ONLY GOD COULD DO ,SO WHAT I HAVE LEARN ,WAS THAT GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL NO MATTER WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH ,SO HANG IN THERE HE THERE ,ALL WE MOST DO IS TRUST IN THE WORLD IN NOT LEAN TO OUR ON UNDERSTANDING .AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH HIM WITH PRAY,IT WORK EVEN WHEN THING LOOK BAD,HAVE A BLESS DAY,
posted July 12, 2008 at 10:31 am
I have that problem too,espicaly when there is so much on my mind,i just start to panic and having chest pain,i always forget to pray and knowing that god can move mountains.I suffer from anxiety and i worry alot too.but I have learn to pray or just talking to god when i’m down.I just talk to him like i am talking to my mother,and i know he understand.I must say you all made my day.
Thanks