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As Mark journeyed towards discovering his life purpose, he struggled with both anxiety and depression. He used alcohol to temper his fears and give him a false strength. He began to fit in but at a “cost” and that resulted in “loss.” His own words served to confirm the deep seeded nature of the lies from the outside that served to lessen his value.

His earnest desire for change and his continued seeking for that change brought an answer from God. The “No” God said proved to be the answer he needed. The attacks used against him became the weapons he turned into a ministry to reach out to others in the same condition.

He would look for his strength and finally determined that he needed to lean into the strength we all find in a walk with God.

“He had a Plan for me, and God proved He is faithful.” – Mark

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Thoughts to Consider:

• Take some satisfaction in the discovery that you were not meant to fit in with the world. We are meant to stand apart as leaders and examples.
• Even though we have been in the grip of life’s problems we can have the will to carry on if we rely on God’s strength.
• There are many examples of great men and women of faith to model ourselves after.
• We should pray and listen when we ask for God’s help. The answer can come in many forms.

Words to Live By:

“The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you” Psalm 32:8 (NLT).

“If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12: 6-10 (NLT).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV).

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).

 

Dr. Ron’s Perspective:

Have you ever found yourself so worried about something that you couldn’t sleep at night? You tossed and turned in bed, watched the alarm clock to see how much time was left before you had to get up in the morning, and then worried how you would survive the day. Perhaps there were other times that you felt so ‘down’ about something that it was hard to get out of bed and carry on with the day. Sometimes there’s just so much to worry about, and it can seem so hopeless. It’s easy to get ‘down’ and wonder if one will ever feel better again. Depression and anxiety can take a toll on our spiritual, physical, and emotional lives. Everyone has something that they are dealing with. That’s part of life. It may seem unfair, but life has a lot of stress.

So if you are feeling depressed and/or anxious, what do you do? Is there any hope when life seems unbearable? There is a lot of useful information on the Internet that talks about strategies for coping with depression and anxiety.

There is one strategy that will be addressed in this Perspective. Rather than focusing on therapy/counseling, medications, relaxation, or many other strategies which are often recommended by professionals, the role of God can also affect depression/anxiety

God can play an important role in our overall view of life and how we approach life. This means first believing that God is real and not a fantasy or something made up just to help us feel better. Trusting that God has a plan or purpose for our life can give life meaning in the face of despair. It sometimes takes time to discover the purpose, and our patience will be tested.

Once you believe that God is real and you start trusting Him, listening to God for direction on how to live your life is important. Following God’s plan for your life will help you with any depression and anxiety. There is hope in God’s intervention in your life. If you trust God, but your faith has been shaken for some reason, try to refocus your trust. God understands your dilemma, and it can be comforting to know that He does want you to feel better.

There are numerous examples on this website where individuals confronted tragedy, yet found Hope and Inspiration from their relationship with God. So keep in mind that you are not alone in your journey and that God can help you with any depression and anxiety.

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Recommended Resources:

Real People, Real Stories, Real God®