He is the way

"Jesus said to him,'I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

John 14:6

You are reminded that Jesus is the way. He is the light of the world. The challenge, when experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, comes when trying to understand what to do and why things are happening. Sometimes you seek answers, without truly understanding the circumstances. The one thing that remains in these moments, is Him.

You find yourself reacting to the world, rather than responding to Him.

As you reflect on depression and anxiety you may wonder how to navigate the symptoms and experiences. These things that may be completely new to you, or all too familiar. There are countless examples of coping with depression and anxiety. However, He calls you to cast these experiences on Him. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." Not to carry them with you through your life. He requests your burdens so that you may find rest. Matthew 11:28 (ESV) "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Where do you go when experiencing these things that do not reflect the joyful person that you once were? To Him. Philippians 4:6 (NIV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." He asks that you present your experiences to Him (even if only for a little while), because He cares for you, He love you, and He wants the best for you, in every experience of your life. Even the ones that do not make sense.

Too often symptoms of depression and anxiety become the focus of your life, or the focus of others. While it is necessary to find ways of managing and coping, there is a setback in focusing on the problem, rather than the solution or even the successes. Because while some symptoms may go away, focusing on them may prevent you from experiencing the life that you want to experience. And are meant to experience. What you focus on you will go towards. If you focus on your symptoms, then that becomes the focal point of your attention, the make up of your mind, and the direction that will guide all your decisions. If the focus remains on Him. Then He becomes your attention, the make up of your mind, and the direction that will guide all your decisions. This is even the case when symptoms become overwhelming and at times unmanageable. By changing the focus from the symptoms you are able to distract yourself for a period of time to regain a sense of control. And since many times depression and anxiety makes one feel a lack of control, being able to regain a sense of control would be renewing. Romans 12:2 speaks to this renewing: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." As you may come to find, you must control your symptoms so that that your symptoms do not control you.

When symptoms are out of control and unmanageable that is when pulling in all the lines of defense are important. But don't forget that while you have an army of support surrounding you, you have an even bigger army of support through Him.

God is the way. Jesus reminds you in scripture that He is the way. John 14:6 (ESV) "Jesus said to him,'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" It is through Him that you get to a place where all things are right. While here in this moment of depression and anxiety or the troubles of the world, imagine focusing more on things that are right than that are wrong.

Scripture:

1 Peter 5:7

Matthew 11:28

Philippians 4:6

Romans 12:2

John 14:6

Reflection:

Where do you find your focus when experiencing depression and anxiety?

How might your experiences with coping be different if you turned your attention to Him?

What are ways that you react to the world? Respond to Him?

Prayer:

Lord, I come to You in prayer as I see that depression and anxiety keep others away from You. Lord I know that You have called me to lay my burdens on You, to cast my anxieties on You, and to find rest. I see the success in following Your word, Lord. I see the washing away of pain, and stress, and anger, and frustration, and loneliness. Lord, but I also see that it is hard. It is hard to fight these battles, when they come from at times out of no where. And even when prepared, Lord, I know that I cannot fight them alone. I prayer for all those that feel that they are alone. I pray for all those who do not know the grace of Your love and Your desire to take away the pains. I pray that those who continue to fight the fight, find comfort in You Lord. I pray that they find peace in Your wide open arms. Because I know that You are for me, not against me. I prayer this in Your son's name. Amen.