How hard is it for you to let people know how you’re doing? I mean how you’re really doing.
I think most of us tend to keep our guard up and shy away from lettings others in. But, we long to be able to let our guards down and depend on other, especially when we’re in need of help, prayers or encouragement.
As I shared in Chapter 2, “Sometimes I think we tell people we’re fine even when we’re not, because we want to be. Or we hope that by saying we are fine, eventually we will be. Other times we act like we’re fine because others expect us to be. And I love how so many of you admitted you also have days when hormones or grumpy-ness trump all good manners and anyone within ten feet knows you are not fine. In fact, what you really meant in code is that you are Frazzled, Irritated, Neurotic, and Exhausted!”
Today, I want you to meet and hear from my friend, Melanie from Only a Breath. She’s the one who created our really cute Online Study blog button (see my sidebar if you want one)! Today she challenges us to take off the “I’m Fine” mask and be real with God, each other and especially ourselves about how we’re really doing.
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… She walks the hallway, fighting back tears that threaten to well up again. It’s been a long night, filled with betrayal and disappointment. Her future is uncertain. Back at the office, she tries to maintain normalcy. When eyes met, she is faced with another routine, “How are you?”
“I’m fine”, she answers, with a plastic smile that hides her pain.
… Across town, a young father shakes hands with the fourth interviewer that month. “Thank you for your time.”he says. On the way home, his wife calls to see if there’ s any hope for the job they’ve been praying for…for so long. They have mouths to feed, children to raise, a car on its last miles… “It will be fine”, he assures her. As he hangs up, he hangs his head in despair.
… A young, single mom cuddles her baby on the park bench. She holds her boy close, surrounded by happy couples with smiling children. She never expected to raise her child alone. The pain is sometimes too much to bear. Will she ever feel that she belongs? That she is wanted? Loved? Beautiful?
“We will be fine she whispers into his soft ear, surrounded by whisps of fine, brown hair.
“I’m fine…”
“We’re fine…”
“Doing great…”
In Chapter 2, Renee invites us to take off the “I’m fine” mask. But she also acknowledges just how scary it is to expose the pain that keeps us up, haunts us like nightmares, and threatens each breath of hope.
… but we’re fine.
Or are we?
Could we take off the mask that we, especially as Christians, live the “fairy tale”? We are certainly blessed, in every circumstance guarded by the Father, but honestly, in the deepest parts, we aren’t fine.
I’m not fine.
If I took off the “I’m fine” mask, would you think less of me, or would you think I’m … human?
We don’t have it all under control, and I can’t help but think that when we act like we do, we basically tell God that we don’t need him.
We’ve got this.
By pretending we’re “fine” we tell others something must be wrong with them if they are hurting… because we certainly are not hurting.
We’re fine.
What if we let someone else in? What if we said, “I’m hurting, and the details aren’t important, but would you please pray for me? I would really appreciate that.” Could that help them, in return, reach out to someone else when they are hurting?
Do we need to grant one another permission to not be fine?
Could we come broken before the Father, and cry out for His mercy and strength? He did promise to never leave us or forsake us. Even when we don’t feel it, could we still cling to His promise and claim it?
He knows we’re not fine.
Could the trials be the very thing that break the strings holding on our mask, allowing it to fall to the ground so we cling to Him a little tighter?
The truth is…
We aren’t fine… We are forgiven.
We aren’t in control… We are held by the hands that control our very heartbeat.
We aren’t invincible… We are made to look to the only One who can heal the broken.
As a sisterhood of hearts seeking our confidence in HIM, let’s take off our masks today. At least here with each other. And maybe with just one other person we meet this week. I have a feeling someone needs to see the battle wounds and scars we carry in order for them to stop pretending and seek His help too.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
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Thank you so much Melanie, for reminding me and all of us again today that God’s grace is sufficient. God and His grace can be my sufficiency… if I let HIM be.
Today’s Assignment:
- Continue or finish reading chapter 2 and answer end of chapter questions. Then come back and share with us what God is showing you about how His perfect love changes everything – especially the pressure to be it all, do it all and know it all – all at the same time.
Connect in Community:
- Please “Share Your Thoughts” below this post. (Remember if you are reading this in an email, click here to visit my website and connect with our ACH community!
- If you are on my site, click “Share Your Thoughts” and do just that. (This is such a valuable part of this study. My favorite part!!)
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I hide behind this mask at times too. If I was to let loose I don’t think others could handle it and I also don’t want to weigh people down. I know that God knows and I can honestly talk with Him about it. His word is so comforting. His word also gives good healthy boundaries for me and in my relationships. No, I’m not there and won’t be there until I’m with Him. I love this journey of life, learning to walk closer with Him. I love the book and bible study as it helps me draw closer to God.
Thanks, Becky
I’m really bad at saying “I’m fine” when I really am not. It’s just that sometimes people will ask, but they really don’t care or they won’t let you get your entire thought and feelings out before they jump in with a solution. Sometimes, I just want you to listen to me, cry with me and/or pray with me. I don’t want your solution necessarily, just some compassion. God has given me a couple close sisters in Christ that will listen to me. It’s been hard to tear the walls down after living so long in the habit of answering “I’m fine”. God is faithful. He is giving me the grace to reach out to them. This book is speaking directly to me and my life. I can see parts of it interwoven in my childhood. Thank you Renee for writing it. I know I will come out of this journey with a confident heart in God. 🙂
“Could we take off the mask that we, especially as Christians, live the “fairy tale”? We are certainly blessed, in every circumstance guarded by the Father, but honestly, in the deepest parts, we aren’t fine.”
I wonder if by entertaining the lie that we are fine and running around trying to convince everyone else that we are as well, if this is a doorway for other lies to come to the party as well? If we are essentially living a lie called “fine”, then what’s to stop the enemy from convincing us of other lies as well in order to confuse us as to what is true and what is false? We are running from the truth because we believe a lie is prettier.
My biggest hindrance to telling people that I am a hot mess, is that part of my testimony is deliverance from severe depression and bitterness. When it snuck back into my life, I felt like if I admitted to my seeking friends that I was struggling again, that it would ruin my witness; that it would make them question God even more. In essence though, it’s me that questioned Him 🙁 The main thing that people have told me was my biggest witness to them has always been my authenticity…and yet I put that mask on in order to “apologize” for God really. Beth Moore said at a conference I went to that some of us are exhausted because we’ve been running around apologizing for God and that He just will not behave. lol. That resonated with me so much.
Also, nobody wants to be a “debbie downer” right? I want to be joyful and to bring joy to others…but when I am struggling, I have to be gracious towards myself the way that I am towards others, lay down that pride, and accept the current situation so that God can deal with me properly and with the Truth in His time. You know, I have robbed so many friends the opportunity of blessing me. I am so blessed when I am able to be an encouragement to others, but then I don’t allow them the opportunity to receive that same blessing through me.
Your comment is blessing my socks off!!! Thank you! I think you are so right on so many levels. Just love this 🙂
WOW! All of you ladies are amazing and brave. And I’m so grateful to be a part of this study.
I’m going to add a slightly different twist…I’ve been forgiven for 40 years now but have consistently struggled with condemnation, doubt and insecurity. Just in the last couple of days God is showing me where the condemnation is originating from…from the sexual sin, the choices I have made in my life. I have no doubt that God has forgiven each and every sin, but I have not been set free from the condemnation of these choices! Now Jesus is doing a new thing in me that only He can do. I don’t understand it all, but I’m trusting Jesus and following. It’s a process. I’m taking off my mask and telling all of you in the hope that it will help you do the same.
@Kristy. When I was a baby Christian, just 6 months along, I did not know any other Christians or have a church to go to. I prayed all that time for Christian friends and God miraculously brought 3 Christian ladies to my front door one day. I also started going to the church they went to. God is faithful. I pray for deliverance and freedom for all of us.
I can relate to many of your posts and your hurts, and I wish there was a way to give you each an encouraging word and a big sister hug!! We are all family here, aren’t we girls! It’s good to have some incredible sweet sisters here. Why do we go around hurting? And why don’t people realize we are hurting? I am in family crises right now and honestly very few people have turned to help me.
Right now in my family, my parents are divorcing after 38 years of marriage, and my husband is physically ill. I’ve taken a week off take care of him. He just returned to work today. He is not 100% yet. I am isolated right now from my parents, because of their betrayal from one another, and the choice they are making. my heart hurts so much lately. I have a hard time believing this is God’s will. I’m having a difficult time trusting him. Thank you for your study Renee! And for your book and for bringing all of us here together. God bless each of you this beautiful day!
Praying for you right now, Emily!
thank you so much, Melanie!
This post really hit home with me on today. As I drove into work this morning, I told God that I can’t continue on this way. I feel like the weight of the world is sitting on my shoulders and I have no where to turn. I know that all things are possible with Him, but when everything around you is spinning out of control and you have no one to turn to this is SO HARD! I pray that from chapter 2 I take away how to take the mask off and find someone to talk to.
I feel the same way Candie! You are welcome to talk to me! 🙂
Oh, this is such TRUTH. I sometimes feel I am the walking poster child of having portrayed a life of success and happiness when really the behind the mask, was a very hurt, scared little girl who needed to build up a superhuman “exterior” to show the world how “fine” I was despite my inner turmoil. This study is helping me so much….to finally take off the mask of implied perfection and show who I really am– a woman with a wounded heart, carrying around burdens of shame, blame and extreme insecurities despite my “mask of fitness” I tried to cling to in order to hide my pain. I am evolving so much and these words are just leaping into my heart and giving me the courage I need to be fully reconciled to Christ! Thank you so much, Renee…and all of you ladies willing to share and bear your souls!
I just got done reading chapter 2. I would love to say how much God has spoken to me in it and all of that. But unfortunately I still have a really hard time believing that I am worth anything, that I am worth the effort on His part. Today has been an extrememly down day for me. These days used to only be once in a while, but they are more and more often now. I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed but I feel like He isn’t hearing me. Like God isn’t there anymore. There was a sermon at church yesterday about using your talents for God, during the alter time I couldn’t help but think the whole time “I have no talents” “I have nothing to give”. I guess that’s what got me down the path I am at today. I’m just at the point where I feel like I am helpless, like there is no more hope. I was once this peppy, bubbly outgoing girl and now I just feel like I am this rain cloud who doesn’t even want to get out of bed most mornings. The only person I have ever opened up to about this stuff is my husband, which tends to make things worse because he just gets frustrated with me. And I don’t really trust anyone else because anyone who I have confided in tends to be untrustworthy. My husband says give it all to God, but the thing with that is….I don’t know how to let go. I feel like I let it go, then I have a day like today and I take everything back. I just feel so broken beyond repair.
You are not beyond repair. God wants to heal your broken heart. As long as there is a God there is always hope. I pray that you will find hope in Christ and that the next time you go to the alter you will leave all those burdens, fears, worries, doubts and defeats at His feet and leave them there. I pray that you will not go back to pick them up, but you will continue to trust God and allow Him to do a mighty work in your life. You are loved with an everlasting love.
So neat that you said you are loved with an Everlasting Love. I had begun my post and said the same to Roxanne but had to do something else and then I came back to complete the post. After I posted, I saw your post. God really does want each of us to know we are loved with an Everlasting Love! Blessings!
Roxanne, my heart aches for you. You are so precious to Jesus. You are loved with an Everlating Love! As Renee says in chapter 2 “we are worth His love because He chose to give it to us”. I have experienced that feeling of “not good enough” also. But as I was rereading a sentence I highlighted “Jesus wants to help you see what is going on in your heart and what you are struggling with that is eroding your security and confidence” p. 40, The Lord brought to my mind the words of a hymn “Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou has for me”. I always thought about Jesus being the Truth I would see, but I now see this truth is also the truth about me that I don’t even know (Like I am valuable). And as Jesus reveals the truth to me about myself He will set me free because He is The Truth! Ask Him to reveal the truth about You that you do not now see. Praying for you.
It reminds me that if I wear a mask I am not being open to not only others but to God. To expose the deepest part of my fears, disappointments, hurts, failures is to be completely surrendered to Him and His will for me. Then His wonderful love and grace can cover me completely and comfort and heal my deepest need and produces change in me. Maybe no one else changes but I do and it draws me closer to Him.
I really think we say we’re fine because we know that’s what other people expect. Anyone who asks how you are, as they are walking away from you, isn’t looking for a real response – they expect to hear “fine” or “okay”. The person at the drive through window who asks how you are when they hand you your food – they only expect to hear “fine” before you pull away. The people at church who ask how you are, but keep walking and don’t even listen when you respond – you know they clearly didn’t care. Sometimes even family members do the same thing, when they call and ask how you are, but then go right into their story about their day. Too often, people aren’t really looking for a real response, they’re only asking people because they have been taught that they should – no one ever teaches them to stop and listen for the response (or for that matter, to care about the response!). I would be much more willing to share (in general) if people would just listen to me when they ask that question – but the vast majority of people don’t want to listen, they don’t really even want a response, they just want to tell you what they want to say. May that not be how I turn out, or what I teach my kids to do!
My comment is a prayer; That God through His Holy Spirit will fill me to over flowing with the living water He offered Sam and all of us .That I’ll know Him and His love for me, .In reading chpts !-2 I can relate to
all the fears, doubts and feelings of being less than all He’s created me to be .never felt loved as a child.
even as a wife and mother. Now I’m a senior, still seeking, longing, wanting. As I continue to study His word which I do, and as I join with others, I pray He’ll open the eyes of my ….our heart to accept the love He offers so freely God Bless
Good prayer Martha.
I am so thankful that I started this study. Reading everyone’s comments has helped me.
I always tell people that the smile you see on my face or when i’m walking like everything is “just fine”, it’s not me, it is God in me. We carry so many weights on our shoulders…guilt, shame, loneliness, bitterness, insecurity, hatred, pride, and the list goes. We go to God and ask Him to help us with these weights everyday. What if we actually put these words around our neck and carry them so when people see us they will know we are not fine. Let’s choose to put weights around our necks like love, joy, peace, forgiveness, fulfillment…
This too shall pass
John 16:33…..In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Be a Blessing
Part of my problem with not opening up to people is because I’m not fine, but it’s my own fault. Because of decisions I’ve made, my world is upside down. After two years of my friends trying to tell me what I need to hear, they’re fed up. I’m trying. I really am. But because my problems are because of choices I’ve made, I feel like it’s up to me to fix it.
Wow,
This Chapter 2 really touches home as well. I know this is helping me to see how my life is changing and how I am evolving & maturing in my walk with God..So many things are simliar to my situation in my past and Present. Thank you and God Bless
Hi Angela I know when I read this it is like the are talking right to me. I ‘m blessed to have found this study and I thank God everyday. God Bless you all Amen
Sunday the pastor talked about healing. He talked about physical healing. This week God has spoken to me about inner healing. He has shown me it is safe to take off the mask and allow Him to heal old hurts, remove resentments, show me how HE has been at work all along. Thank you for a safe place to share. Even my best sister in Christ friend is not one with whom I can share everything without condemnation and judgementalness. Things that are a part of my past with so many christian sisters. Thank you all for your honesty and the unconditional love of Christ you show. God is at work, offering me hope, healing, dreams, blessings. I need to face my fears, to trust Him who already knows it all, has forgiven me and forgotten it, while I hold on to the shame of poor choices and sin and wonder what if. I know the Bible verses. My mom taught me them as a child, and I have read and reread many of them, depending on them and God to see me through so much, and He has never failed me, even when I failed Him. My paraphrase of Romans 8:28 is from Clint Eastwood’s movie. God takes the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives and continually is working it together for our good and HIS glory. I know it for a fact in my head, now if I can just get it all the way into those dark recesses of my heart. It will happen. I believe.
We have all been through our ups and downs. I have been through 2 divorces and I death of my husband 3 yrs ago. The Lord never gives us any more to carry than what he knows we can carry. I have a deep feeling of understanding for all the comments and I know the mask is a wall that we have all put up to protect ourselves. We need to shout and let the wall fall down and let God into our lives so he can help carry us and protect us as we journey down the path. I have nursed for over 38 yrs and watched all my family die. I understand what grief is and I have done my share of crying as well. Jane I know words can not take the pain away but stop and be still and close your eyes and let your mind go. The Lord will come to you and I will say my pray to you that you will be made stronger and able to deal with the hurt and pain. I am very sensitive to others feelings and I know what you are going through. I have been through it as well. I will ask the Lord to come in to your life and be with you now and heal you from the scars of the hurt the situation is causing you.
I can pray for you over the phone as well — I can help all of us become closer to God — I meditate and pray every day and I ask the Lord to come to into my life to help me as I journey — If any one wants further assistance I am able to be reached. I have been reborn and have the gift of healing in my hands to help people. I have been able to help people as I go out into the world and they are amazed at how much better they feel after I have prayed for them. You may contact me if you so desire. [email protected] I am glad I am in the class and If I can do anything to help anyone let me know. I have lost all my family and the Lord has helped me overcome the obstacles that I have had to endure.
You will rise above Jane as well as any one else who is going through a tough time. I will pray for all of you and thanks Renee for the wonderful class.
I’ve been learning, through the years, who I can be honest with (a few). Don’t use “I’m fine” much unless it”s true, but have learned not everyone is willing to go to the heart level & step into the pain & offer hope. Thankfully, I’ve learned God ALWAYS is with me & is waiting for me to run to Him & pour my heart out to Him. As I answered the ? number 6, rereading Sam’s story, Jesus had to go through Samaria – He could have avoided it but He chose to minister the gift of salvation. That speaks to my heart, saying that He always wants to be with us – not matter how bad the hurt, He IS there, longing to offer hope & healing. My heart’s desire is that His springs of living water flow through my life and compel others to “come see a Man”. My heart goes out to previous commentors and your deep, deep pain; praying for Jesus comfort & healing for you. Have been in some of the same situations and experienced His healing balm.
It’s not that I can’t open up and spill my guts, it’s just that sometimes there is not enough time or the circumstances are inappropriate like at a party. So having a variety of responses is good, like I’m struggling or it’s hard but God is good. Life is so full of ups and downs, too, sometimes it’s hard to pick what to say; dinner flopped but school went okay, grading is harder than taking tests, cleaning never gets all done but I’m learning to appreciate each piece, emotions are hard, relationships are a joy when I don’t mess up, I’m weak but God is strong, see what I mean? Too much to speak about in less than an hour and who but a counselor wants to listen that long? Ouch, I just uncovered a sore spot to pray about. Thanks for a safe place, I’m going to sign off now and work this one through with Jesus.
I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety disorder, ADD, and bipolar disorder. I was on leave from my job for 6 weeks and for the past 2 weeks have been on half days. I have told my doctor I should win an Emmy for my acting. Daily I tell people, when I get out of the house and see other people, that I am fine. I act as if everything is fine in my life and I have no troubles or worries. Even at work, where I have been absent for a month and a half, I put on a smile and act as if I feel fine, although my insides are in tremendous turmoil. But it is amazing to me how few people at work have even spoke to me since I have been back. The stigma of mental health disorders is everywhere. I would have never thought I would be treated as I am by my co-workers. But even more amazing is my own brother who lives less than a half of a mile away from me has not spoken to me since my doctor put me on medical leave. He is embarrassed that his little sister has a mental disorder… Because of the way I have been treated is a large part of the reason I respond to “How are you?” With a smile and ” I am fine.”
Hi April, sorry for the pain of others’ awkwardness. It’s got to be like salt in a wound. You’ve got a lot on your plate, I’m glad you can talk with your doctor. Two things that really help me fight depression and anxiety are keeping a gratitude journal (writing down things I am thankful for) and memorizing scripture (praying it too) in large chunks. God be with you!
Hi April,
Thank you so much for sharing! The stigma that mental illness brings with it is especially close to my heart. My daughter who is 14 was also diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety Disorder and Bipolar Disorder this year. I have another daughter who also has ADHD and I have suffered with Depression on and off for most of my life. I know exactly what you mean when you say your acting could win you an Emmy. I remember at one point this year standing in church just days after I had to check my daughter into a psychiatric hospital for suicidal issues and smiling and telling people “I’m fine” and “she’s fine”. The possibility of increased rejection just wasn’t worth the risk of being honest. I don’t have many people in my life who I can open up to without being “punished” in one way or another. I have found journaling to be helpful. I usually end up writing to God, like prayer on paper. I think writing it out slows me down long enough to hear Him speak to my heart and it feels like a real conversation. There I can be open and honest with God and myself about my struggles. I have since made one other friend who I can share openly with as well. I am asking God to bring enough healing and confidence so that I can “drop the mask” with more people. I am praying the same for you today 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that you are constantly rejected for you and your daughter’s struggles. I think that for most people, myself included, we don’t know how to respond to something so heavy, so it’s easier to “reject” the person or family rather than try to help. But I’m realizing that God doesn’t expect us to completely take on or take away the trials of others. Rather, a willingness to listen, and cultivating a heart of prayer and compassion can go pretty far. Life may be a lot more bearable if we learn to take our cues from God instead of what we feel like doing. Thanks so much for sharing, you are in my prayers!
April, I wasn’t going to post anything today until I read your post. I have spent the last 12 years dealing with mental health issues and totally understand the stigma that comes with them. It is awful. I was diagnosed bipolar but recently they have decided it is chronic depression. I have just come out of another major clinical depression. I have been hospitalized a few times because of suicidal ideations. I also have severe anxiety. My life can be a mess at times. But if you ask, I am always “fine”! There are very few people I talk to about this because I have suffered so much rejection by people after they find out about me. I am a new Christian and I have been fortunate that I can talk to the pastor at my church. I haven’t told people there yet about my problems but I am hoping to be able to make some new friends and someday find some real Christian people who won’t reject me. It’s still hard for me to understand why god gave me this burden to carry but I am doing my best to turn to Him now rather than being angry with him. I hope this new way of thinking will help bring me some peace. I will be praying for you and the hope that someday people will change their attitudes about mental illness.
I will be praying for you! I too suffer from depression, and I can tell you, people don’t understand it as much as you explain it to them! It’s not a easy thing to carry around and have. It’s like a big elephant on your back at times!
My friend,You are never rejected by God, and you aren’t rejected here!
Keep posting! This is a safe place. ♥
Peace to you!
April, I read your words and you would think I wrote them myself. April I am so sorry that you have had to deal with all of that but please know you are definitely not alone. I have come to understand that either people turn away because they are scared and/or are ignorant and do not understand. Briefly tell you about me. A teacher for 15 years with a passion but due to circumstances that brought on tremendous stress, even though I would put on the mask at work the physical symptoms got me and I had to take a leave of absence. My principal even told me she would have never believed it had she not seen the physical symptoms herself. I told her when you suffer with this type of illness you learn to hide it well. When I went back coworkers acted much as they did with you, one even went to blatantly ignore me (and she used to talk to me all the time). his only added to my feelings of not being good enough and being defective. Needless to say it got worse and had to take another leave. This time I lost my job and was devastated. I have three brothers and never heard from any of them when I went in for treatment and was away for 5 weeks. I didn’t want to live anymore. I have been diagnosed with TRD (treatment resistant depression and anxiety. Since I don’t have a choice in the matter on whether I should be alive or not I just keep doing the next right thing. I am still dealing with symptoms but as a result of taking action even if I was just going through the motions, I just was offered a job in a place where what I do, my passion, my gifts, and my desire to be an example of who God is in my life is going to be of use. I was even offered more than I was making before. Now that is totally God. Whenever I feel down, or less than, or incapable I just tell myself that these are feelings and they are not facts, that feelings come and go and ask God for the strength to keep moving forward and doing whatever I can to make a difference in the lives of the people He puts in front of me. It stinks majorly and sometimes I just cry on my way home but I keep remembering the scripture that says that joy comes in the morning. You have found women who understand and even though they are not right by your side they are there, we are there for you. The one friend who truly understand me and whom I call in my deepest darkest hours lives 1500 miles from me but she is my life line. Thank you for sharing.
Norma, Emily, April and others – thank you for sharing. I too have been a teacher for 17 years and for the past three years have had to take medicaal leaves of absence due to severe depression and anxiety and panic attacks – so debilitating and destroying my family. Have been out pretty much this whole school year due to another hospitalization and so suicidal. It’s hard. When the lies have been there for 40 years they are so ingrained. I am starting to believe Jesus loves ME and is for Me but a moment by moment struggle. I, we, need a support group around us. I isolate so badly. I have barely been living. I know that there is no drug, no doctor, no counselor, that can cure me, but I now believe JESUS can! My days are hard still, but I want HIs truth; not to live in the darkeness and despair anymore. The pain is debilitating I know. I am also “medicaation resistant”; done electric shock therapy and all the drugs and combinations to no avail. It can seem hopeless but I choose to believe God has me alive for a reason. I need to say it aloud and verbally rebuke the enemy who wants us in depression and isolaation. I will be praying for those of us that struggle with mental illness….. may God show us how to live in His light and victory, and give us His daily strength to make the hard choices of getting up, showering, getting out, making a phone call. He knows. He loves us so much. Thank you Jesus.
I was so hesitant to post my response yesterday and was amazed at God’s goodness when I got on here this morning and saw all of the replies! I’m so grateful for your kind words and being a safe place to “drop the mask”. God is so good to remind me that I am not alone. Praying for all of you ladies this morning!
Hi April And Christina and everyone
you are not alone I have lived with all this and some more things going on 20 years and have used not telling how many different meds. I use to be ashamed of it but now I try to just let what people say and the way they treat me slide off me. its not always easy but its not my problem people are stupid about some things. I have bee treated like I had some kind of contagions disease and everything. it hurts to the core of your being. But if people want to act like that you don’t need them in your life anyway. It does get better when you finial get on the right meds but You will still have good days and bad days. I have days where I can’t even go out of the house because I’m so scared on shaking so bad. Just try and find people who even through the don’t fully understand they still want to help. My phone # is 919-452-1078 and my email is [email protected] I also have a facebook page under angela taylor so anytime you are anyone else need a friend to vent to or just cry I will always be here, I know where you are coming from. If I can’t do anything else I can listen for hours if need be.
Remember you are not alone in this God loves you and in Christ Jesus love we do too.
Angela, are you from Goldsboro, North Carolina? My husband is in the Air Force and we were stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro a few years back. I recognized that “919” because I have the same cell phone from when we lived there and it’s also a 919 number 🙂
Hi Lauea
No I’m from Chapel Hill / Hillsborough N.C. it is about 2 hours from Goldsboro. I went through Goldboro on Wednesday when I went to see my grandson, he lives in Newbern N.C. about 3 hours from me. Wher do you live now?
We are stationed in Minot, North Dakota currently lol. I grew up in Dallas, Texas but God’s had us all over the place
HI everyone one question how do we get our picture in the little square in the conner?