Posted on

Summer Depression Part 2 of 2

Our Western culture “celebrates” BIG attention-seeking drama. The media has it down, right?

Blasting widows fresh in their mourning. As a police wife, I see this image all too often. Each time I pray; each time my heart longs for the woman to experience the sacred in her husband’s passing.

And social media? The more outrageous the language, the photo, the message, the more views.

lonelyswing

I wonder how often this drama sweeps away those who suffer with loneliness, anxious fear, and a dampening of joy.

This dip I am experiencing with depression is a dimness, a heaviness, a challenge. I call it a dip because my whole self feels a step lower than I was a short month ago.

Just this morning in my devotional, I read about overcoming.

Last summer, before I began taking antidepressants, I met with a kind-hearted, knowledgeable counselor who honored my love for Jesus though she didn’t share it.

Her advice to avoid the overcomer label fit well at the time. Still untangling myself from years of perfectionist thinking and self-judging, the counselor did not want me to fall prey to the idea that I would overcome depression once and for all.

finishline

At the time, my Spirit resisted. I believed God could heal depression completely, deliver me from the depths of darkness that had followed me most of my life.

I still believe that. God can heal anything in His power. We don’t have to look too far in the New Testament to find Jesus delivering people from lifelong evil.

deathhood

The afflicted man who wandered among tombstones, self-harming, was flooded with a variety of spirits (Mark 5:3-9). Jesus sent every evil spirit into the nearby herd of pigs, freeing the man of the entrenched internal battle (Mark 5:12-13).

Did Jesus heal everyone in need while He walked the earth?

Jesus acted in His Father’s will not His own (John 6:38).

Clearly, as we see in the world today, not everyone is free from illness, disease or evil.

The old me would have wondered why not me, Lord? Why must I still struggle with depression?

His wisdom tells me in this world we will have trouble of all forms, both inside our souls as well as with external opposition.

I like how Paul embraces all such challenges:

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

When we avoid or flat out flee from the thorns in our flesh, we miss the teaching, the growing.

As children of God, we shall not follow the cultural norm demanding strength and power on our own. We shall open our eyes to suffering in and out of the family of God.

mlk

Jesus impressed this word upon me the past couple weeks:

handspray

(especially) those in ministry shall bring their thorns to His light to face reality with Him. We shall as brothers and sisters in Christ have a safe place always at His throne to discuss mental health “dips” and “dredges”. Then with each other … let us share and seek Him in each other. Let us offer ourselves to each other. Let us not sit in solitude and allow ourselves to be devoured by the enemy who wants to arrest our Kingdom work.

One year later, I have a new view on overcoming.

Thank you, Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest:

God does not give us overcoming life-He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment (Revelation 2:7).

lake

Will you join me in this Servant Warrior Manifesto?

warriorarrow

To walk by faith is to be an overcomer.

A warrior faces his/her own stress and seeks the strength of His ever-present resurrecting power.

We remain close to Jesus in prayer and in the Word.

All warriors listen to know His will, surrendering any control over ultimate deliverance.

We accept the job to meet whatever opposes us, overcome in Him, and repeat.

We remain alert and of sober mind to clear our own hearts of debris and come alongside those who are hurting, marginalized, and lost … those who belong in the family of God and those who have not yet accepted Christ.

Together we maintain hope in Our Living God who is able to do immeasurably more than what our feeble minds imagine.

We acknowledge this hope is for all, no matter how broken.

We link arms with each other in Christ because we trust #togetherwearebrighter

Now in the name of Jesus, go for His glory~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I welcome your thoughts and questions. I believe with all my heart God wants the many of us who struggle with depression, anxiety, fear, PTSD to overcome and share. For He came to give us life in full (John 10:10).

A new poem, The Anxiety Creep, is up at https://faithhopeandpoetry.blog

Yesterday’s Wednesday Warrior Post, Let’s Get Honest about Waiting is up at https://Facebook.com/jdibble4Him

Books I am reading:

Ageless Soul by Thomas Moore, a good read though some of the info needs to be checked against the Bible

Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott

up next, And the Angels were Silent: The Final Week of Jesus by Max Lucado

What book is on your lap?

Have a beauty-full day, my fellow warriors.

In Christ,

Julie

37 thoughts on “Summer Depression Part 2 of 2”

  2. Love the Servant Warrior Manifesto!

    Oh, my sister, know that your transparency through this struggle IS touching and helping others to look to Jesus for help, and to know that they are not alone. Love you, Me

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Summer Depression Part 2 of 2 — Julie Dibble – Amazing Tangled Grace

  5. Thanks for your honesty in sharing this, Julie! It’s important that we share one another’s struggles and that we are honest about the fact that being a Christian doesn’t mean we avoid hard times. Praying that you know God with you, giving you strength and hope!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. You are a kind hearted sister in Christ, Lesley. Yes, thankful for Jesus who doesn’t leave me. And God wanted me to share. We all need a place to speak truth for ourselves and into each others lives.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thank you dear Lynn. I am receiving this blessing. This is my second time reading Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest. It is hard to find another devotional that speaks to me. Have a blessed evening, Lynn.

      Like

      Reply

  9. Thank you for the reminder that god is there when things are not going the way we wish to go, thank you for being honest, have a blessed Friday.
    In times like this we ask our self’s

    who are we when life is easy?

    who are we when life is hard?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Thank you for continuing to share your honest heart! Oh, yes, this has been a season of hard for me also, but in the middle of the hard, Jesus has been showing me how beautiful it is to cry out, “Lord, Jesus have mercy on me!” We don’t like our weaknesses! But it is right there, that He comes to us, and gives us Himself, His own mercy to keep following after Him. Love & Blessings to you dear sister!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Thank you for your sacrifices as a police officer’s wife! I wonder if depression is common among perfectionists; I am a perfectionist. There is such solace in knowing that God reaches and teaches us in the darkness.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh, Shelby! I have read your posts. You are such a loving mom. Perfectionism in my past, when I didn’t know God or prayer, led me to be very controlling, the opposite of loving. Perfectionism is associated with depression. A book that was instrumental in my journey (thus far) is The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. Certainly let me know if you ever need a woman friend to talk with.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. You’re most welcome my amazing sister I’m so happy we crossed paths so we can share our writing journey together.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Hi Julie. Sorry, Ive been so busy with moving and catching up, but felt strongly to connect with you today. Amazingly, I was reading in an old book today as I was unpacking some boxes, about allergies. This may help. Since you said summer depression, a term I’ve never heard, I immediately thought of what I was reading. This doctor did a study of the connection of food allergies and depression. This first strong hint he got was when he was giving his patient the test solutions. He gave her tomato and onion (because she was a ketchup fiend). First given separately producing some mild symptoms, then together. Within minutes she was crying for no reason. He questioned her extensively to be sure there was no reason and it turned out to be an allergic reaction to that combo of food. She was suffering from depression periodically (every time she had ketchup-a common summer food). Isn’t that something? Maybe certain summer foods react with some people? There were other foods found to affect his patients. I would pray against allergies too, but maybe keep a food journal? The book is old (1979), Dr. Mandell’s 5-DAY ALLERGY RELIEF SYSTEM, Dr. Marshall Mandell & Lynne Waller Scanlon. Maybe google them and see what’s new with him? Hope that helps. All your wonderful encouragement still holds true. God doesn’t want us to have allergies either, so as we stand, we get strong as you said. Love to you.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you dear Patti for such care and love in this message. I receive that. A food journal is a great idea for many reasons. Though I will praise His name as the depression has lifted. May God bless you and strengthen you as you continue in this transition. Your sister in Christ, Julie

      Like

      Reply

    2. Glad you saw this, Julie. I’m just sorry that I didn’t respond on the exact day you wrote this. I hope that others who responded will see this possibility for themselves so they can get some relief while they stand in faith. Thanks for your posts!

      Like

      Reply

  14. Beautiful post, Julie. So true. I love this quote: “Are you asking God to give you life, liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain.” In the past, I wanted victory without the fight. And the Lord could’ve touched me and healed me. But it has been through the “strains” I’ve grown and learned to lean on Him. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Thank you for this beautiful testimony of who you are. Sharing so vulnerably is freeing but also allows others to know they are not alone. The words from Oswald Chambers are life-giving. I want to live knowing I must face the strain. Blessings!

    Please come linkup at #TellHisStory when you have a chance.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment