By Faith

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Hebrews 11:6

The trials and turmoils of the world can be a place that leads you to seeking rewards from everyone, everything, everyplace, except Him. It may seem that you find yourself searching for validation, security, and acceptance from worldly places. These places will not follow you into eternal life. BUT, faith in God, belief in Him, acceptance of His son. Those are the rewards that lead you to eternal life. To a life far more beautiful and rewarding than the one you currently seem to be seeking. You think that the world you are seeking is valuable, but it is not in comparison to the one that God has in store for you.

Depression and anxiety are real experiences. They are also invisible to the visible eye, except for the warning signs like, lack of motivation, excessive worry, sleep changes, low mood, limited interest in previously enjoyable activities. But for the most part, depression and anxiety are silent and unseen. They are however, very real. They are real experiences that change people's lives. The challenges in getting out of bed, the darkness that one feels inside, the excessive worry over things that cannot be controlled. These are very real experiences. Sometimes it is hard to talk about it because maybe people will not understand, or maybe people will try to solve the problem, or fix it. Though that is sweet, kind, and a wonderful thing to try, it falls short of what is really happening. Each person is different, in what they need and how those needs will be met. But unlike a broken bone or a scrape, a gapping wound or bruise, depression and anxiety are essentially invisible. And therefore they require a different kind of treatment, a different kind of care.

At times it can seem that God is like that too. At times you may wonder where He is. Especially when the challenges of depression and anxiety become part of life. But through faith and setting your focus on Him there are great rewards.

You may find that during periods of depression and anxiety it can be challenging to find God in the world that is so dark and lonely. One of the ways that you can find God is in the little glimpses of light. Maybe you find Him in the times that you catch multiple green lights when you are on a time crunch. Or the smallest moment of peace, lightened shoulders, and less jaw clenching. The moments that you pray for something and then He delivers, no matter how small. It can be anything that becomes a reflection of God being present in your life.

Questions:

Where do you find God in your life?

What limits your faith in Him?

Can you trust God? Why or why not?

Does any mistrust in Him, become reflected in your mistrust of others?

Prayer:

Lord, I know that depression and anxiety are areas of darkness and that You are the light. Lord at times I feel that my faith in You is challenged by my inability to see You, but if I look closely I can see You in the daily things that I do and the blessings that I have. Lord let me see You in all that I do, so that I can find You when I feel down and worried about things that are not in my control. I have a desire to be with You. And I have a desire to keep my faith, even when worldly things get in the way. Lord lead me closer to You during my trials, when I want to seek validation from others or negative coping; let me be reminded of the light that You are. It is through You Lord that I find healing. In Jesus' name, Amen.