“No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them.” Oswald Chambers
Depression changes a person. There is a tearing away of security. The natural response is to fill the gap and push the pain far, far away. Dangerously raw, it threatens every cell in your body.
Fear steps up and takes charge.
What will happen if I face the hurt? How will I survive?
Enter the Holy Spirit who moves in to assess the damage. With intimate knowledge of fragile souls, Spirit deliberately removes debris, one fraction at a time. Doesn’t want to upset the desperate balance.
As emotions escape their self-inflicted prison, you become a tearful hot mess.
Fear becomes louder.
What will the people close to me think if I share this ancient plight, the one that feels like it is swallowing me?
Allowing pain to release is a new venture. Honor.
Jesus knows our unraveling, and comes so near you sense Him in a way you don’t understand. Jesus shows you He will be with you while you navigate the overgrown wilderness in your soul. He will personally remove bitter roots and wash off the past with His Living Water.
Hope is here. Hallelujah! Joyous yet unfamiliar.
Fear wants to share in the celebration.
Motivated by a deepening faith in My Savior and Lord of ALL Creation, Jesus Christ, I kick Fear to the curb and speak life to my younger self who hid in the dark for so long.
There is someone here who will never leave us. He died to save us. And the best part, He is preparing a place in Heaven where we are welcome and wanted. We will have a job and never feel scared or sad again ~~~
“Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Chris, and on the Spirit He gives.” Oswald Chambers
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved. Matthew 9:17
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Our past lives in us until it is honored. Have you been wondering how to process your past? Do you have a story about how Jesus helped you let go of your past? Heavy, maybe, but so incredibly important for our wholeness in Christ. If we hide something from Him or ourselves, it prevents our growth.
This post was written with http://www.fiveminutefriday.com Word prompt today is MOTIVATE.
Invitations for ALL to connect further throughout the week:
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Have a blessed Friday. Stay warm inside and out!
In Christ,
Julie
Your words carry truth to the bone. Beautifully said, and hope-filled. Thank you, my friend!
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Dearest Jean, would love to meet you someday. “Truth to the bone” a chilling statement telling me we have much opportunity to support and encourage each other in freedom and healing. Thank you for doing just that for me today💙
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Always welcome, my friend. xxxxx
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Julie, I am grateful to have read your words this morning. I am most grateful our God is with us in all things and holds us together in the palms of His hands. The song on repeat the last few days has been > https://youtu.be/rRwpP7xiF_E
May it also bring you comfort and hope today!
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Thank you dear Joanne for the song. I will listen to it this weekend. This post is “looking back” for me over the past few years. I am forever thankful for the love, patience and rescue from Jesus. Have a blessed weekend, Julie
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“No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them.” Oswald Chambers
Thank you for starting with this quote. Thank you too for adding in the Scripture regarding old wineskins. It’s one of my favorites because I’ve tried. I’ve proven for myself it doesn’t work!
I am not where I used to be, but I’ve also not arrived. I’m in a new place of healing – coming out of the valley of the shadow – but I’m not home. I’m not perfectly sanctified. There’s more and so my reliance is on Jesus. Bless you, friend, on your journey! I’m so glad to have met you here and to be walking it out together!!
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Lisa, beautifully said. We will never fully arrive until the day of Christ Jesus. Thankful for sisters and He who never leaves or forsakes. Thankful for my husband and boys. Thankful for how He equipped me to write and speak, sharing hope. Blessings on your weekend and yes, may we walk it out together!
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Fear can be so loud at times, but I’m grateful that God is stronger and that he is with us as we work things through. Blessings to you!
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Amen, dear Lesley! God is ALWAYS stronger. SO if Fear speaks up, lets kick it to the curb in the name of Jesus. Blessing right back to you! And I am sending you a warm hug from chilly PA, Julie
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Yes, it takes such bravery on our part to let go of that old man, call him dead and trust that our precious Savior will be there after we let go. Once, when I was studying the meekness of wisdom (James 3:13), the Lord whispered to me “prowess”. I wasn’t familiar with the word so I had to look it up. It means valiant, distinguished bravery,esp military valor and skill, extraordinary ability, heroism. This is how God sees us when we trust Him and His ability. It becomes ours. We learn to trust, for Him, for His kingdom. Heroes are selfless and have no need to defend the self life. They lay down their lives so that others can be free. Jesus did it for us. We take on His Life as we let go of ours. SO not easy to enter this amazing trust, but if we choose to grasp it, we are His Heroes. No one knows but Him, but that is enough, for after all, we are selfless. Help me in this my faithful Lord. I want to overflow in Your Resurrection Life. (Rom 6:5-11) Thanks, Julie. That person on the high beams says it all. Reality.
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Wow! Patti, your words speak to my heart. Thank you for the Scripture references and for offering your heart to meet mine today. Blessings upon your weekend, Julie
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Oh, so beautiful. Raw and real–from someone who’s been there.
Much love,
Other Julie
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Thank you Other Julie. Praying God uses it to share hope. I read your recent post. My heart and soul are reaching out to you with an overflowing cup of coffee mixed with much love, Other Julie
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Thanks for being honest about your depression.
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Hi Denise, thank you for visiting. I pray these words #sharehope 🙏If you need encouragement or just connection, feel free to email me at juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com. May God bless you this next hour.
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Hello Julie! Such wise words here, thank you. I especially liked this “If we hide something from Him or ourselves, it prevents our growth.” So true. The more we surrender to God, the more material he has to create something beautiful out of our past. So great to connect with you on many levels. Blessings to you!
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Thank you dear Mari-Anna for being here. I appreciate your feedback today. Blessings upon your weekend, Julie
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Julie,
Beautiful! I know about depression and anxiety and stress and being swallowed, or feeling completely consumed, and I have felt the arms of Jesus envelop me, hold me and motivate me to take another step, live another day, stay where he wants me to stay. You describe it with such fervor! God gave me the word hope four years ago and I have not stepped away from it.
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Celebrating hope with you, dear friend and sister in Christ! Thank you for your encouraging words. May He bless your Saturday abundantly, Julie
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Words that tell such a truthful vulnerable story. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing with us friend. I’m in the 57 spot this week.
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Thank you Tara. The truth truly sets us free, and I honor God by sharing so He may use the story for someone else. May He bless you abundantly today, Julie
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Amen! I’m so glad we don’t have to cast out fear on our own—we have help!
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Thank you for reading Anita. Yes! to holding Jesus close to combat all things negative. May He bless the hands you write with today. In Christ, Julie
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So good and a powerful reminder for many of us who suffer with depression this time of year. The Lord is ALWAYS with us. The graphics in your post are beautiful, by the way!
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Thank you. Ingrid. I am glad His hope comes through. It is my prayer to #sharehope Thank you for your kind words. Pixabay helps me when I don’t have pictures of my own. May He bless the next hours of your Saturday. In Christ, Julie
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Thank you Julie for writing about such an important subject. As you know, one of the lies of depression is you are alone and abnormal – everyone else is fine. Posts like yours shine a light in the dark and tell us we’re not alone.
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Thanks Liz. May He continue to draw the words from me that #sharehope #speaklife and give Him glory. Have a beauty-full day, friend.
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