Nobody wants to be the poster child for depression. But now that I have gone through that and am on the other side, I’m thankful for my experience. Truly thankful.
As a doctor, as a neuropsychologist, I was always filled with a lot of compassion and empathy for my patients. Now that I have journeyed through the dark night of my soul myself, I have even more compassion for others. Even more empathy. I can step into that place and say, “Me too.”
I really do get it. I really do understand. Now I have a much better appreciation for so many in the Bible who suffered. Not that my suffering was as great or as prolonged as theirs, but to read the stories of Jonah, and Elijah, and Job, and David. I have a better appreciation for what they went through.
Even in hard times, you can rejoice because you are not alone! God is with you!
I have found that even when you’re in the valley, whether it be the valley of depression, or cancer, or relationship difficulties, you can still rejoice. If you had told me that when I was in depression’s pit, I might not have believed it myself. But even now, after having received a diagnosis of cancer, I am rejoicing.
“I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and you knew the anguish of my soul” (Psalm 31:7).
Isn’t it a comfort to know that even as he was suffering, David was able to rejoice because God saw him, He knew him, He knew what David was going through.
I want to encourage you today. Maybe you’re not going through depression, but you’re going through some other difficult circumstance. I’ve been there. Cancer. Job loss. Relationship heartache. Caring for parents or an ill spouse. Raising children. So many I know are experiencing many difficult, hard circumstances. But we can rejoice despite the circumstances because God is there and He knows the anguish we are going through.
People have commented many times, “Michelle, I don’t know how you’re getting through all you’ve been going through. I don’t know if I could do that.”
My answer is always the same: “I don’t know how I would get through this without God. I don’t know how people make it through such difficult life situations if they don’t know God, if they don’t have Jesus as their personal Savior.” He is my strength when I am weak. He is the rock on which I stand. He is the strong tower I run to.”
So I can rejoice, because I have Him. My hope is in Him.
Rejoice! You are never alone! God is with you!
Can I tell you a little secret? When we rejoice despite our suffering, it makes the enemy mad. I love making the enemy mad. There’s nothing better.
So rejoice. Even if you are in the pit of depression, or cancer, or financial woes. Rejoice because you have a God who knows you and sees you, and He is with you. You are not alone in this.
Rejoice. That pleases God, and it shifts your focus back to Him and off your difficult circumstances.
Even in your heartache, you can still rejoice. Rejoicing may not change your circumstance but it will change your attitude about it.
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Related Reading:
Never Alone: 15 Bible Verses to Assure You When You Feel Alone
Depression doesn’t have to become a permanent part of life.
There is hope.
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
Hope Prevails and the Hope Prevails Bible Study are must-reads for anyone suffering from depression or knows someone suffering from depression.
“As a counselor, I have read many books on depression, but I have never read a book that deals with the spiritual aspect of healing as thoroughly as does Hope Prevails. Dr. Bengtson draws from her own personal journey as well as her professional experience. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has tasted the pain of depression or knows a friend who is depressed.”
Gary Chapman, Ph.D.
Author of The 5 Love Languages
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What a gift you offer in the way you point people to HOPE in GOD 🙂
It can be so hard, but when we have people willing to show us how they did it, it makes whatever we are facing a bit easier.
Thank you Rebecca. That’s all I ever want to do is point people back to the Hope we have in Him. I just want to offer what I wished someone had offered me. But then, I realize, someone did…His name was Jesus. And it’s my desire to comfort others with the comfort He gave me. That’s why we were created for community. And I truly believe, we are #BetterTogether.
Thank you for sharing this. Lately I’ve been struggling with my life with ptsd and found myself spiraling down again. I’m gripping onto that verse today.
Oh Pam, I’m so sorry that life has been hard lately. I know what it’s like to struggle, and I know what it’s like to cling to a verse, needing it to be my anchor and my lifeblood. The good news is, when we get to the end of ourselves like that, HE is there to be our strength and to show us we don’t have to do it in our strength. We just have to make the choice to trust Him. Easy? No. Worth it? Absolutely. Because of Him, #HopePrevails
Yes! The challenge is to hope in Christ alone – not our circumstances. There was a time when my response to, “You are not alone – God is with you” was not one of joy. Instead, I would think, “So what? I’m still in this really hard situation and it hurts!” But now, after having been through some unbearable things, I understand and I rejoice. Because without Him, where would I be?! He is what I long for above all else.
Jana, Welcome!! It’s so nice to have you here in my little tiny corner of the internet. I hope you’ll take some time to look around and make yourself at home.
I understand what you’re saying. I remember times in the past when I, too, would think “So what? It doesn’t get me OUT of this situation!” But like you, I’ve been through enough life now that my response has changed. Now I’m able to look back on all those times in the past and see the thread of God’s faithfulness which allows me to trust Him in current situations, and share the hope found in Him with others. I couldn’t imagine going through any of these things without Him, nor would I want to. Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Thank you so much for these encouraging words. It’s so true that Jesus walks right beside us through the valleys and that God is our strong tower of refuge. Because of that we can rejoice! Thank you for so much sharing your experiences. It’s good to know we’re not alone.
It’s so nice to se you here Leslie. Welcome to my little space. I hope you’ll take some time to look around.
Isn’t it a comfort to know we are not alone, and that Jesus walks right beside us? And then, we can comfort others with the same comfort He has given us.
I love making the enemy mad too! I am learning how to rejoice even through the tough times. It’s a lesson I should have learned earlier!
Tracey,
Sometimes I get frustrated too, when I think I should have learned certain lessons earlier. Then I remind myself that it doesn’t take God by surprise and He’s got me in the refiner’s fire to make me more and more like Him each day.
So true, Michelle. The one thing we can count on, through good times and bad, God is with us always. Thank you for sharing!
Laurie, what a comfort that is to know the truth in that. I don’t know where I would be had He not been with me! Blessings!
Thanks so much for sharing your insights born out of affliction and the encouraging Scripture verses.
You encouraged my heart this evening.
intriguing how the psalmist says he’s in anguish yet rejoicing in the Lord. An unexplainable conundrum. Thanks, Michelle.