Much Needed Rest

Just a few days ago I was deeply upset by something that had happened, but in order to carry on with what I was doing, I pushed the feelings away, although the incident remained at the forefront of my mind.

However, just a few hours later, while walking with my dog, I had a stressful incident with a stray dog that kept pestering mine in an unwelcome manner. Not having fully dealt with the previous incident, it became like ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’, but once again I pushed the feelings away as there were other people around, although I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

The following morning, I woke up feeling depressed, weepy and stressed. I struggled most of the morning, feeling wretched and unsettled. As I prayed and tried to praise the Lord, He didn’t chastise me with words like, “Snap out of it. Buck your ideas up. Only babies cry. Nobody wants to know you if you’re depressed” or any other unhelpful comments of a similar nature. He lovingly and gently reminded me of today’s verse. As I began to bring all of the situation to Jesus (which I should have done sooner), I felt the awful feelings began to disperse, leaving me in a much brighter, happier and restful mood and able to enjoy the remainder of the day.

Despite victory on Saturday, for some unknown reason, when I woke on Sunday morning, I felt just as bad as I did when I woke up the previous day. I was discouraged and defeated wondering why this had happened. The words which came to me a short while later were “trust in the power of prayer”, which I believe were from the Lord. My prayers are certainly not powerful, but we have a powerful God who can accomplish anything. Nothing is too difficult for Him. He hears our faintest cry and our feeblest prayers, even the ones we can’t think of the words to express. He really does care, and He fully understands all the unwanted emotions which can trouble us. Reflecting on these truths and saying sorry to God for not fully trusting Him and also acknowledging that it`s not my power I`m relying on but His power, resulted in the depression lifting again a short while later on.

I`d like to share some verses which I find so encouraging.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God (Psalm 42:5).
The Lord is close to the broken- hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.(Psalm 34:18).

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal(2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

If life for you is difficult at the moment, come to Jesus. Tell Him exactly how you feel and let Him lift the heavy burden from you.

Prayer: Father God, I praise and thank You for Your loving care and how You understand me so completely. You care about my emotional as well as my physical needs and nothing is beyond Your ability to help. With You all things are possible. Help me to trust You more and more each day. Amen.