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Last week I had the opportunity to talk with Patty Mason on an episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective Podcast called Hope for Freedom from Depression – Episode 45. But we just barely scratched the surface, so I invited Patty to join us on the blog to share a bit more of her story including her new perspective on life, depression and faith.

Read to the end for a book giveaway!

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A New Perspective of Life, Depression, and Faith
By Patty Mason

At the peak of life, I felt despair. How could this be? I had everything I set out to accomplish since I was eighteen-years-old—a husband who loved me, three beautiful, healthy children, a nice home, and a successful career—yet I was depressed.

For months, I wore a mask that told everyone around me I was fine, while behind the scenes I tried to fix myself. Finally realizing I needed help, I turned to family, friends, and eventually doctors to get better to no avail. Believing the darkness was never going to end, I became suicidal. Since I was abusing our oldest daughter, and spent my days sleeping, screaming, and crying, I convinced myself my family would be better off without me.

On the day I planned to take my life, I cried out to God. Sobbing through every word, I laid my heart bare and allowed myself to be vulnerable. I had exhausted every earthly option I could think of. God was my last resort. “Help me,” I cried, “No one can help me. Only you can help me.”

That was the day God reached into the darkness and pulled me out, and when I came out of that well, I came out a different person.

You see, prior to the depression, I knew of God. I attended church and believed in Jesus, but I had no relationship with Him. Going through the depression brought me to a place where I finally started to cry out to Him. I believe God used that dark season in my life to get my attention, so He could reveal His heart and draw me to Himself. When God delivered me, it brought me to a place where I not only wanted to know His healing touch, I wanted to know Him. Getting to know God has taken me on a journey that changed everything—my perspective on life, depression, and of God.

LIFE

I used to think life was about more—getting more, doing more, being more. In an attempt to “be somebody,” to find happiness, I pursued everything I thought would fulfill me as a person. A man, family, achievement, money, success, but none of these things gave me what I was looking for. Once I accomplished everything I set out to find, do, and be, it only left me feeling empty and void of life.

Now I see life as a gift from God. We are created in the image of a God who loves us and desires intimate fellowship with us. Life is not about striving to get more. It’s about intimately knowing and making known the One who created us. When that happens, when we come face-to-face with Him, we discover the life, purposes, and plans He has for us in Christ.

DEPRESSION

I used to think, if I tried hard enough I could shake off the bonds of depression. Having a get-fixed-quick-mentality, I thought, “If I could just get a pill I’d be fine.” And when the depression deepened, and suicidal thoughts filled my mind, I began to believe there was no hope, and no other way out of the darkness then to die.

I used to think depression was the end, but now I see depression as an opportunity for a new beginning with God. Depression was not the end of the story; it was only the beginning of a life that was transformed to bring hope to others.

GOD

I used to think God was something our family did on Sunday mornings. I thought God was somewhere up in heaven watching and waiting for us to mess up. Due to childhood abuse, I believed God was angry, harsh, and would treat me the same way others did. I think that is why I made Him my last resort. I was afraid to come to Him.

Now I see the heart of a God who longs to have intimate fellowship with me. He is not angry or harsh, or anything like what I had made Him out to be. He is a good Father whose unconditional love only wants what is best for me.

Because of this shift in perspective, I began to see there is always hope, even when situations appear hopeless. I began to see that no matter what I go through, I am never alone. God is always with me, loving me and caring for me, even if I don’t feel His presence. I began to see there is a reason for everything I go through. Every day I am given is a gift from God, and even the days that are boring or mundane, they are all filled with glorious purpose.

About Patty Mason

A wife, mother, grandmother, author, national speaker, and founder of Liberty in Christ Ministries, Patty Mason has shared her story of God’s redeeming grace and deliverance from depression before numerous audiences, in several books, blogs, and magazines, such as Lifeway’s “Living More,” as well as radio and television programs, including American Family Radio, Moody Radio, and The 700 Club. She currently lives in Nashville, TN, with her husband of 31 years.

Stay connected with Patty Mason:

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Website

Book Giveaway!

In conjunction with this post and the podcast interview, Hope for Freedom from Depression – Episode 45, Patty Mason is giving away a free copy of her book, Finally Free: Breaking the Bonds of Depression Without Drugs.

Leave a comment below sharing with us one thing you’ve learned about the hope that is available for those who experience depression and you will be entered into the contest.

You could also share this blog post on Facebook or Twitter then comment here to tell us where you shared it and you’ll also be entered into the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and announced next Monday, March 2, 2019, here on this post. Continental United States only.