With permission, I’ve decided to anonymously share some of the correspondence I’ve had with readers about their struggles with anxiety and/or depression over the coming weeks. I think some of you may be able to relate with these individuals who are currently battling fear and darkness, and it is my hope that you find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in this. And I also thought my responses may be of some use to you as well.
To those readers who aren’t struggling in this area, I’d like to encourage you to hang in there with me for a few more weeks! I’ll be back writing as I had before long. Thank you for patiently waiting this topic out!
Dear Laurie,
I am 40 and I have struggled my whole life with anxiety, phobias, etc. I have been “coasting” using meds etc for 15+years. I haven’t driven on the highway in 5 years! I am a Christian, but have a lot to learn!! I obviously have not been growing in my faith! A couple months back I had one of my worst panic attacks ever in the salon…it’s been a downward spiral ever since. I think I am depressed too and also take meds so I can sleep.
The elder at my church that I have been praying with gave me your info. Thank you soooo much for addressing this issue. I have 2 little girls and a wonderful husband who are suffering with me. So hard to put on a happy face in front of my kids and co-workers.
I am learning that the enemy has quite the stronghold in my mind!! For years I begged God to take this thorn in my flesh away, but I am realizing He is not going to take it away. Would you take that as a sign that there is something else He has planned? I just can NOT imagine God would want me to live like this forever!!I have one question…..I know this is a process but how on Earth did you make it day to day? I am trying to take it one day at a time, but there has been no joy in over 2mos!
This sure robs you of your confidence!!
Any practical advice would be appreciated.
Again, thank you for addressing this!!
– Anonomous
Oh my gosh Laurie…thanks for the quick reply! You know as an anxious person, you just want answers yesterday! I have a Rubbermaid tub full of self help books…ahhhh!
What does it mean to press in? Are you just talking about praying, reading the Word, etc? I feel like I have been doing that for the last couple of months but things actually seem to be getting worse?! Is that possible?
What did you do on a daily basis as the fear seemed like it would swallow you whole?
Thanks…I promise those are my last questions!!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
Yes…that makes sense and I have been speaking scriptures out loud when I am able (it’s hard to do at work). Do you still have to pull your cards out from time to time or is your anxiety completely behind you? I so desire that joy! Have no clue what it feels like to be fearless!!
Thank you!
I always use the cards but not usually for anxiety anymore. On occasion I can feel the anxiety wanting to poke its ugly head but it’s never gotten back to the point I was at back then. The only think I have every once in a while is more of a temptation to get anxious but I’ve learned how to not allow myself to got there. Honestly I think it will always be Satan’s temptation for me. But every time I sense it coming I just press in as I’ve told you and it goes away. I’ve learned not to pay it much attention. I think when I focus on it that’s when it can get worse, so I don’t. I recognize it and just lean in more toward God and choose to trust him.
Hi Laurie,
I was reading the end of Job and in the commentary it says that Job was restored spiritually and materially. It goes on to say that we may not be fully restored in this life but in the life to come. I am discouraged by that. Does that mean I may just have to live with this anxiety and panic in this life? As a wise godly woman, how do you interpret that?
Thanks
My thoughts: I think it’s important to look at what the Bible says about this as a whole. When we look at the stories of Joseph and Job and David and Saul (Paul), etc. we see God’s truth that he works ALL things for good for those who know and love him (Romans 8:28). All things! Not just some things. So as we go through life, when we find ourselves in a bad place, we can understand that God intends to use it for good. NOTHING is wasted by God. He uses it all to bring us to a good place. We need to trust that he knows what’s going to make our story the best in the end. His ultimate goal for all of us is for us to grow closer to him. Sometimes achieving that end (which would be for our ultimate good and satisfaction) takes some pain. But God doesn’t allow pain for the sake of pain. Just as we discipline our children from a good heart to teach them what’s best for them, so too does God.
So there will be pain in this life, but that doesn’t mean God leaves us there. When looking at the stories above, God allowed things to happen and some of them feel into deep darkness and depression, but God pulled them out. I don’t believe God ever intends for us to say in the darkness forever. Jesus IS LIGHT! Why would he allow us to remain in the darkness forever? For a period, yes, I get that. That has purpose, but not forever. We may still struggle from time to time, but I don’t think he intends us to stay in the pit for our lives. Scripture tells us that Jesus came to give us life and life to the full. It says that Satan is a thief and intends to steal our joy, but God is our victor!! The closer we are to him, the more we open our hearts to him, the greater his light can shine upon our darkness and completely irradiate it altogether.
Paul talks of a thorn that he begged God to take away from him, and I do believe that God doesn’t always take away all our struggles in this life. This is not heaven, but He also says that he has not given us a spirit of fear but a sound mind. He speaks of light and darkness and how the light has overtaken the darkness. I believe all this points to God’s desire to allow us to experience true life this side of heaven. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. I’m pretty sure these fruits negate a lifelong sentence of depression and anxiety. You can’t have joy and peace especially when you’re in that dark pit!
Now, that’s not to say that you won’t struggle from time to time! But I don’t think God intends to keep you there. God tells us he will give us double for our pain. He tells us there may be weeping in the night but that joy comes in the morning. He gives us example after example of his people who were brought low, experiencing the darkness of depression, only to abound and experience abundant blessings!
So again, PRESS IN!!!!!! You’ve got this!
Laurie
Laurie, your posts lately have been so encouraging. Thank you so much. They meet me right in the place where I am and I have no doubt that God orchestrated it that way. To the beautiful lady who is suffering. Oh, I feel your pain. I’m in the same spot. I’ve been asking the same questions.
For me I have found that it’s about trusting Him. Do I trust Him to work all things out for my good? Do I trust that He knows my suffering and wants to heal me? Do I trust that I mean something to Him? I say I trust Him but I have not emotionally been living this way. So I completely agree with everything Laurie says. I know it, living it is the difference. But knowledge is power – and knowledge comes from reading His word – God is power.
I also need to find my worth in His eyes. Literally, everything Laurie has mentioned, I know is necessary for healing. I know I’ve cried my heart out lately and every time I do that and then open the bible, God answers some of my questions. I have been journaling and blogging my experiences. Especially notating my questions, my thought processes and then places where I believe He moved to talk to me. Whether through the bible, through interactions with people and elsewhere. On the days I struggle (and trust me I’ve been an emotional rollercoaster, up and down, day to day and sometimes hour by hour or minute by minute…it.is.a.process.) I look back and realize He has been there and so He must be there now.
Nothing happens overnight, that’s the hardest part. That’s where the trust comes in. Patience. Hope. Belief. Don’t we want to receive His word and expect that in the morning it will all have come to pass already… But it doesn’t work that way. Because God’s timing is not our timing and His timing is perfect. We can usually see it in retrospect though.
I am praying for you sweet lady. Together we will get through this.
-Sheri
Oh, I’m so happy to hear that!! Thank you! I’m praying for you!
“I believe it is God’s intention to heal you” – are you sure He intends for everyone to be healed?
No, I don’t believe we can ever presume to know God’s will completely. But I do know that He says He will work ALL things for good for those who know and love Him. That is a promise!
To this beautiful sister in Christ, I will add you to my list of those to pray for. I know that this journey with depression and anxiety can feel overwhelming at times. I know it can place a deep-seeded fear in the heart and mind telling you life will never get any better and will probably only get worse. I have been there and felt that. I can also tell you that we serve the most compassionate God and he is holding you. He feels what you feel and wants you to open up your heart and mind to him. Pressing in to him and his word can be the most freeing experience of your life. It is a daily surrender to him. It means admitting to him and yourself that you cannot do it alone and you need him and his love. In Philippians 4:8 Paul tell us: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”