That’s Beautiful. It’s those moments that we know He is there…that he shows himself, and gives us hope. I love that.

Therese,
I always read your Mindful Mondays, and other articles on Beliefnet I can find you have written. Your thoughts going to recieve help at a huge, never ending hospital must have been overwhelming. Listening to you find comfort in the words of Our Creato is awesome!
I have never posted a comment before, though not new to Beliefnet & Beyond Blue, I have not quite figured out how to use it to help, be helped, to exsist amoung others just like me.
Thank you for your words, they are calming knowing I am not the only one feeling those good and bad days.
May your days become more peaceful as you have led other to…

Beautiful! I feel calmer just having read it! Thanks, Therese.

We seem to be getting ahead when out of the blue, my husband’s job is cut and we find ourselves in the out-of-work line once more. How do we view this setback? How do we once more look to the future? We are not young and just out of college, but should be at the age of retirement.

Therese,
I’ve never commented here before but was spurred to do so today.My depression is more of the everyday garden variety and while currently fairly well under control, I always find hope, lessons and inspiration from your frank, insightful, compassionate postings. Thank you.
What spurred me to write to you today however is not to express my appreciation, although that is certainly worthy of a post, but to support you during what you’ve expressed is a challenging time. I have a good friend who is bipolar and has been diagnosed and medicated for many, many years yet she has never been able to stay balanced for very long. Please try and focus on how far you’ve come and the amazing inner strength you’ve demonstrated that, along with proper medical assistance, has led you from the depths in the past.
Nothing ever stays the same, not the good, not the bad and for every day that it takes everything you have to get out of bed, for every moment you view death as a relief, remember “this too shall pass”.
Sending “feel better” energy your way and again, thank you for all you do for the rest of us.

This post left me singing a song by Rebecca St. James called Quiet You with my Love. I highly reccomend it for anyone who was touched by this post.

I usually get emails from beliefnet but I found myself lately not reading them until today, and until today I found myself compelled to respond to the article. I fully can relate to how depression can rob of you of any passion and joy you may have in life. I’ve spent so many years suffering from depression that I sometimes wonder will depression will always have a hold on me because I’ve just accepted it as a part of me long before I decided to get the help I needed and even then I was unable to continue the therapy because of insuance issues. As of today, I do feel a lot better most days because I’ve discovered that I can have a closer relationship with God despite the road my life was traveling. I do have those times where I still feel weighed down by my everyday life issues with friends, family, money, etc. but I at least know something now I was unaware of before- God is here with me everyday and I am blessed even on the worse of days and I can feel His love wrapped around me. I have made up a saying (so I think) that gets me through a lot of my tough times. Today may be bad, but tomorrow is always greater.

I am suffering! My husband does not understand and is not, at times, very patient with me when I am “deep in the blue!” I have been offered meds, however, I do not want to be stuck with taking meds for the rest of my life, which, by the way, is what I was told by a physician I would have to do. My husband also disagrees with medication. I sometimes have several melt downs in a months time and frankly, I dont know if I will make it from one day to the next. I have two BEAUTIFUL children. One might think that this would be enough to change my outlook on life but unfortunately, it does’nt.
Scared and Confused,
Renee

I am not one to believe in coincidence, so I realize know that this universal love has reached out to me to help me overcome this roadblock I am hiding behind. My husband of 25 years became withdrawn and depressed, he then formed a friendship with a much younger woman (who supposedly was my friend, too), then decided to leave our marriage to be on his own and try to find some joy in life. This idea was fueled by this so-called friend. Then he took almost a year before we would be divorced, but yet he still needed me in his life, we still dated, we were contemplating a reunion, when he took his own life saying he could not live with the agony and guilt he felt every single moment of every single day. I lost him again, permanently this time. So how is this article inspired to be there for me? The saying on the Jesus statue is the only biblical reference I had in his memorial service program. I found this scripture, by someone’s loving hand and it reached to me. I have been stuck behind a roadblock for over a week now, crying, lost in despair, wondering why I have to continue to go on, and now I read this article. This was his hand, once again taking care of me. Thank you for helping him to remind me that I have made it through a lot of pain and there is light ahead, there is actual happiness possible, there may even be love again, this hole may not always be so large and painful, it may shrink or be filled again.

Renee,
I know it seems like medication is a bad thing at times; but sometimes it is a good thing, too!
I have an aunt who has been on anti-depressant meds for as long as I can remember. She would feel good – so she wouldn’t take her meds – then get really down in the dumpsand just couldn’t function. Sometimes – some of us are born with certain hormones or something missing or too many of another that we need to get that “balance”. If meds help you to enjoy life – - you will enjoy your 2 beautiful, wonderful children and your loving husband. Life is just too short to be depressed. I know there are times I go through stages, too, not knowing how life is going to turn out. But praying always helps, too.
How about you pray about it for a couple of weeks and listen to God to see what you should do.
Good Luck!! Remember – your children need you – they want their mommy!!!

This story is very touching. The matthew verse put tears in my eyes. I walk a Messianic Jewish path. Yes I believe in The Lord. Who you call Jesus was truly named Yahushua=Hebrew Yeshua=Aramaic. We beleive all of the scriptures apply to all believers Genesis to Revelation. The ten commandments states this from Hebrew to English:
Exodus 20:4 You shall not make unto you a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 you shall not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I, YHWH your Elohim am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 6 and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
Statues are clearly graven images. I’m not here to bust anyone down, but discern YHWH’s expectations. He clearly doesn’t want to be made into a graven image, or anything He created made into a graven image or any likeness of a graven image. He wants to be in your heart! Thin about this, read it yourself and ask The Lord for His wisdom!
May YHWH strengthen you, protect you and shine His face on you.

i was treated yesterday for mrsa disease with reading about some of the effects mu immune system is weak and it can move to another part of my body i am a prayer worrier and i have a group from my church we are pentacosta would you send a prayer chain for me evelyn

i would like to know how to attack this from the lord message

Thank you, Renee, for your posting. I totally understand what you say in regards to your husband not understanding. Whenever I try to talk to my husband about how I feel, and how deeply, he cannot comprehend and I think he does not want to listen becaasue it scares him. Physically I am tremendously strong, mentally…tremendously not so much and getting weaker. I think he wants and needs me to be something I feel I will never be. My emotions run like the current after a heavy rain. I am at a breaking point today and needed him to listen but again, no luck. I am glad i once again stumbled on Therese’s blog…always when i need it most i think. I know I need God more in the forefront of my life and hoping to make that connection again as I need to stop relying on my husband to give me the happiness I long for…….

Dearest Renee,
Please consider trying the meds. If you were diabetic, you would use insulin, wouldn’t you? If you had an infection, you would take an antibiotic. Antidepressants correct a neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain. It is a PHYSICAL problem. It is NOT your fault.
You do not have to take the meds forever. Many people take them for a few months, until their brain is back to normal, then taper off slowly, and then do fine without the meds.
Who cares if your husband is in favor of meds or not? Is he a doctor?! Also, if you don’t like the doctor you saw, see somebody else.
Please try it, for the sake of your children AND your husband, as well as yourself. And get some talk therapy, too.
This is a medical decision that you need to make. You wouldn’t neglect a broken leg, would you? Get the help you need, please?

Renee,
Sending you my love!!!
And love to all other sufferers out there, too!!!

My husband has been through my episodes of major depression as well as the good times when the meds work. Recently, he has become much more distanced when I have issues and need his support. I think at this point he is burned out or doesn’t know what to do anymore. A few years ago when I was really down at about 2am I was listening to the song by Garth Brooks “To Make You Feel My Love” I suddenly realized it was Jesus sing that song to me when I needed it most. Listen to the lyrics. Others have agreed with me.
My loved ones have let me down. But they are only human and I understand that. But everytime I hear that particular song, it takes me to that moment when I heard Jesus speak directly to me. It can help me at the lowest points when I feel so alone. He will not let me down.

I have bipolar disorder and take medication for this mental disease! Years before(Back to 1994) the hardest time in my life was getting off booze and drugs! There was something wrong with me that taking away the chemicals that were killing didn’t cure. I never knew that i had this problem because i had been covering it up for years with alcohol and drugs.I am trying to go to college for a B.A. to become a drug and alcohol councilor and had hit a wall. I’m told that i need to take a test called Acuplacer for writing skills and algebra fear hit me and i know that the extra classes i need to take i already that i need and am trying just to bypass this test.The university will not let me do this. Now i am trying to get more courage to do as they ask of me. Faith is hard when your not given it to begin with. also have dyslexia and that is areal hard wall to go around,under or over. Right now it seems that i must at least try getting the test out of my way. This has been a good reminder of where i am and what direction i want to go. THANK YOU!

Thank you for this treasure of insight.
Some times i feel like i may be bi-polar, or having a stroke LOL, and it seems like my direction has become diluted by daily pressures and expectations. I have pure empathy for actual bi-polar recipients.
Every human has a particular, personal and specific set of challenges in place for them and them alone no matter when and where they
live(d). I was praying one day and became so convinced of my own shortcomings that ( I must have made Jesus concerned ) HE said this to me,” Why are you afraid and full of fear? Don’t you know that you are in me, that I am in you and that in me is no fear at all? Don’t you know that when you do this, what you are saying is that you believe your senses more than you believe in me? that you believe your imaginings more than you believe in the fact that I am. Together we will win victory after victory after victory because, in me there is no defeat at all.”
I don’t usually hear voices and I understood this to be a warning and reminder that He is intriquately involved in the life of all of us and that He desires that we acknowledge it through allowing Him to comfort us when we are troubled, encourage us when were scared and uplift us when we are distrought. He requires that we trust and come to Him in sickness and health.
Luk 8:50 — ” But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying,
Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
John

I have been “sick,” for 32 years. have been variously diagnosed as Paranoid Schizophrenic, Schizo-affective, Malingering, and now finally correctly as, Bipolar.
In all this time I have been a Psychiatrist’s Delight – well several Psychiatrists, necessitated by various moves, and have been remarkably productive.
By God’s Grace I have a wonderful son, who is a fine young man. My family is extremely supportive, and I have had wonderful Physicians.
Despite early intervention, by ECT the the one constant in my life has been my meds. My mantra is “Compliance! Compilance! Compliance!!”
All of you out there. If I can do it you CAN! Hang in there.

I FEEL AS THOUGH I’VE BEEN ALONE,ALTHOUGH I KNOW I’M NOT.I’VE TRIED MED’S AFTER MED’S AND I’M STILL FIGHTING THIS MONSTER DAILY WITH WHAT SEEMS LIKE NO RELIEF.I’VE SEEN MY CAREER SUFFER,MY FAMILY,MY FRIENDS,MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER,WHERE DO I GET HELP? GOD HAS BEEN MY STRENGHTH THROUGH IT ALL,HOWEVER I NO I NEED HELP.BUT I DON’T NO WHERE TO START.

As many have said families get burnt out or are tired of there lives revolving around how you are going to be that day. I have reached that point in my life. One day I decided I have Bipolar but that is not who I am and turned it over to the lord. Sure I hit that wall but I have support outside from my home and relatives, I see a therapist, a Psychrist, and caseworker though a state agency though my state. I have been going there since 02 and in between had a nervous breakdown and I call it locked up in a ward for a week did ok tried meds after meds and last July had to go to a respite faclity. My husbands response was maybe we need a divorce. My point is Once I accepted it and realized it was not my identity but a part of me an illness that I will struggle with for the rest of my life. I try to do things that Therese has suggested in the past as well as other things to keep my mindfulness and awareness to see the signs and the new meds Iam on are helping finally. I can say that my home life isn’t the best but inside is getting better and I know I will hit that wall again and until then I will live…not worry until I need to!!!
God Bless you Therese and everyone else and know the Lord is always there just ask for him and he will be there for you.
Leeann

I am a widow of almost 6 years and I would like to encourage the people all over the world that are going throught a hard time. God proformed wonderful miracles in my life and please do not give up!! Keep praying morning, noon and night, because the Lord is merciful and kind and he listens to his children’s prayers!! Only the Lord can remove all sadness and unhappiness and give you true peace, a peace beyond understanding and a peace that is supernatural and beautiful!! Keep praying for the people that you have encountered, family members and friends that may not feel the love of God the way that you do, because can change us in an instead as he did with Paul. Keep reading the Bible and when you encounter those dark days as I have, tell the Lord that you are scared and frightened and he will comfort you and heal you and protect his children form all evil, even when you may be having a not so good day! Remember the Lord is our “Light and Salvation”. Love You, my brothers and sisters and I, and millions of other prayer warriors are praying for you!!