Anxiety and depression

[katburnell]

I have struggled with both anxiety and depression for such a long time, and even now as a Christian, I still do. It's honestly been one of the hardest struggles that I am currently going through.  I recently just came back to my faith, (I have walked away for a few years), and even now, I still sometimes do not feel the presence of God. I just desperately want Jesus to help me, but I feel so unworthy of anything good. Days that I struggle with sin, I feel very bad, and it's so hard to pray during those times. 

I'm always hoping that I can grow in my faith and learn to trust God more, but it's very difficult sometimes. I also understand leaning on faith and not feelings is important, but that can be hard sometimes as well. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my struggle, as I'm sure many people deal with this as well. 

[Marilyn C]

1 hour ago, katburnell said:

I have struggled with both anxiety and depression for such a long time, and even now as a Christian, I still do. It's honestly been one of the hardest struggles that I am currently going through.  I recently just came back to my faith, (I have walked away for a few years), and even now, I still sometimes do not feel the presence of God. I just desperately want Jesus to help me, but I feel so unworthy of anything good. Days that I struggle with sin, I feel very bad, and it's so hard to pray during those times. 

I'm always hoping that I can grow in my faith and learn to trust God more, but it's very difficult sometimes. I also understand leaning on faith and not feelings is important, but that can be hard sometimes as well. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my struggle, as I'm sure many people deal with this as well. 

Hi kat,

So glad you can share for we all go through life`s trials and share some of what has helped us. I think it wouldn`t be very nice to suffer from `anxiety and depression,` probably feeling like you can`t go on, or that you are not worthy etc.

I have never suffered those but have numerous medical conditions. And I know that through it all God is with us taking us through and making us stronger in the weaker areas. 

Now it is common as we are young in walking with the Lord that we rely on our feelings (as you said) as to how we are. Feelings come and go and can be an indication of something at that time or a response to wrong thinking. We can be overwhelmed by them or we can address them. You see we are not to be ruled by our emotions. They are just a guide to a situation or wrong thinking. We are to do something to address that.

If you are feeling `down,` then do like David did which he tells us in the Psalms. he encouraged himself in the Lord. How do we encourage ourselves? Well, we thank the Lord for who He is - Saviour, creator, loving, kind, faithful, compassionate, tender hearted, etc. Then we thank the Lord for what He has given us - food, shelter, clothes, family, friends, safety, etc. 

The main thing is to get yourself from being ruled by your feelings to where we begin to grow up and let our spirits rule. And our spirit`s need to have `food,` nourishment, and that is by reading God`s word, listening to songs about the Lord, (see Worthy music). 

It is a step at a time as you journey on. Praying for you, Marilyn.

[Marilyn C]

I might just add a bit more.

Jesus knows we will sin, as we are learning to trust Him more and not rely on our old ways. It takes time and the devil wants to discourage us and whisper in our ear how bad we are. But Jesus knows we are weak and it is just at that time instead of looking at our weak self we are to praise and thank the Lord that He forgives, that He knows, that He will teach us, that He will guide us, that He is well able to carry us. 

Look to the Lord and thank Him, not looking to our weak selves.

[farouk]

57 minutes ago, katburnell said:

I have struggled with both anxiety and depression for such a long time, and even now as a Christian, I still do. It's honestly been one of the hardest struggles that I am currently going through.  I recently just came back to my faith, (I have walked away for a few years), and even now, I still sometimes do not feel the presence of God. I just desperately want Jesus to help me, but I feel so unworthy of anything good. Days that I struggle with sin, I feel very bad, and it's so hard to pray during those times. 

I'm always hoping that I can grow in my faith and learn to trust God more, but it's very difficult sometimes. I also understand leaning on faith and not feelings is important, but that can be hard sometimes as well. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my struggle, as I'm sure many people deal with this as well. 

John 14.1; John 14.27; Hebrews 12.2; Romans 8 - entire chapter.

[Gracejj]

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Mathew 11 tell us what to do in these kind of situations,  we need to go to Jesus. Share your heart to Him. Let Holy Spirit minister your heart. When you have sinned and the weight is pulling you down and you feel like flesh is over powering you. Don't run from His presence instead constantly put yourself in His presence,  when you feel like running away run towards Him. When you feel like not praying pray even harder. Bring all thoughts and feelings and surrender to Jesus, dont try to do it by yourself,  give it to Jesus. He is always close to you. 

Shalom.  :)

 

[Marathoner]

On 8/16/2024 at 10:57 PM, katburnell said:

I have struggled with both anxiety and depression for such a long time, and even now as a Christian, I still do. It's honestly been one of the hardest struggles that I am currently going through.  I recently just came back to my faith, (I have walked away for a few years), and even now, I still sometimes do not feel the presence of God. I just desperately want Jesus to help me, but I feel so unworthy of anything good. Days that I struggle with sin, I feel very bad, and it's so hard to pray during those times. 

I'm always hoping that I can grow in my faith and learn to trust God more, but it's very difficult sometimes. I also understand leaning on faith and not feelings is important, but that can be hard sometimes as well. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share my struggle, as I'm sure many people deal with this as well. 

When it is understood that what we face is an organic affliction, it changes everything. Those feelings are a cycle, coming and going like the tide, and it's easy to be imprisoned by them. It is this flesh that is perishing, and it's our place to not only bear with this affliction but overcome it in Jesus Christ. How do we do that?

By enduring, my friend. We press on come what may, walking through the darkness and misery with our Lord who never leaves us. Never forget this, katburnell: you are blessed, and this affliction doesn't define us. Rather, it makes us who we are in Christ. The day will come when you encourage others just as He encourages you. Until then, endure! 

I've lived with this for most of my life. The Lord has done many things in me, but He left this intact because were He to remove it --- He most certainly can --- then it would change who I am. That's something not many come to understand... what we endure makes us who we are in the Lord. 

Edited August 19, 2024 by Marathoner

[enoob57]

On 8/16/2024 at 11:57 PM, katburnell said:

I still sometimes do not feel the presence of God.

One of the most vulnerable aspects of our makeup is when we are 'born again' we are made up of two conflicting natures... flesh and s/Spirit... everything here is under the influence of flesh because the prince of this air is satan. 

Ephesians 2:2 (KJV)

[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

But because you have asked Jesus to enter into you and save you ... He did 'in s/Spirit' you now have a keepable aspect of new life where what God says 'IS' the reality and not what our senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hear proclaim! This is most vital that we understand- it is not because of our senses we believe but because of our faith in God's Word (Bible) and that God cannot lie

Titus 1:2 (KJV)

[2] In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

and THAT trumps our feeling by 1000 percent... I do not depend on my own self of feeling but on what God has said... If we do not take this narrow and straight path we are left to the wiles of satan and he fooled the sinless ones!

To try to help you see this know that we, Adam and Eve, gave the control, they were given by God, of this place here to satan... It happened when they followed the words of satan instead of the words of God as God had given it to mankind

Genesis 1:28 (KJV)

[28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

So, this conflict is in every Christian here.... but know God say this to you

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

As God cannot lie and has written this to you then know your feeling of Him not being near are lie!
I hope this shed light on the battle you are in and you learn to trust God's Word who cannot lie more than you trust your feeling which is in direct connect to this world and it's darkness and lies... prayers for you!

[farouk]

On 8/19/2024 at 6:11 AM, Gracejj said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

 

@Gracejj Great passage there; similarly, John 14.1-27.

[farouk]

Hi @katburnell Similarly, Psalm 46 is very encouraging.

[farouk]

On 8/19/2024 at 6:11 AM, Gracejj said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Mathew 11 tell us what to do in these kind of situations,  we need to go to Jesus. Share your heart to Him. Let Holy Spirit minister your heart. When you have sinned and the weight is pulling you down and you feel like flesh is over powering you. Don't run from His presence instead constantly put yourself in His presence,  when you feel like running away run towards Him. When you feel like not praying pray even harder. Bring all thoughts and feelings and surrender to Jesus, dont try to do it by yourself,  give it to Jesus. He is always close to you. 

Shalom.  :)

 

PS: @Gracejj Isaiah 25.4 is another really good verse: "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."