We all know the feeling of walking into a room filled with people, yet feel overwhelmed with loneliness. During the holidays these situations are magnified. Isolated car rides, solo shopping excursions, or simply having no where to go for the holidays, thoughts of worthlessness and loneliness creep into the crevices of the mind and have the potential to overwhelm.
But we haven’t been the only ones who have felt this. Oh no, Gen X'ers! These feelings have permeated every culture, race, and generation. To temper and balance the inadequacies, listen to what the psalmist said:
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of the sand. When I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 139:17-18).
Despite our stations in life, we have a purpose to fulfill, we are not forgotten, and God cares because we matter.
17 comments:
I was feeling like that last week an dthe Lord knocked sense into me with a 4x4 in that same chapter.
Verse 3: He is intimately acquainted with all my ways.
I struggle very hard with depression. I call it my own personal Jihad (Holy war.) Thanks for reminding me that I matter to the Creator of the universe and that not only does He struggle alongside me, he wants a meaningful, transparent, growing relationship with me!
@raquel: SO true. i love that passage so much... but it's also frightening that he knows my ways. thank you for sharing that reminder. a text not is context is a dangerous pretext for shady stuff. go, raq, go!
@john: though i may not know your intimate battle with depression, i do know what it's like to be severely depressed. i'm mercurial at times and the pendulum swings far and wide. but my bedrock, my centering force, my feet stand on God's promises. it's so important to get into god's word in times of depression. i know this isn't a popular notion, but you may also want to see a doctor about this condition. prayer, god's promises, friends to hold you up, and perhaps medical attention is going to free you from these chains.
i feel your pain, friend. you're in my prayers for a healthy new year.
I know I have struggled with feeling like I matter...whether it be to my family or even to myself...knowing that I matter to the King of Kings is a amazing...that in a world of billions of people, He thinks about me and cares about me is overwhelming...
I struggle with feeling alone - being single and childless at my middle age. Not loving it at all... but knowing God has me in His palm.
you may think i am crazy being wiht me, myselg and I, I have been going to CCM for a few year now and don't know anybody there yet, people there is nice but that's my time with God, I admire how they fellowship there but that is not for me, i love being alone and enjoy a quiet time.. so don't feel bad people if you are alone when you think you are, God is there waiting for you to beging a conversation with him
In my line of work, Hospice, I often find myself in depression. Why..the mere fact of facing death every day gets to a persons psychie and is often hard to get myself out of it. Facing ones own mortality is, well, creepy, especially when you see it daily and you build relationships with those "families." I have a close network of friends who keep me in check, they know my sounds, they know the signs.
I often find myself finding an excuse to just get away..the beach, the mountains..a walk..ice cream, chocolate, peanut butter (sometimes all at once!).So, what do I do, I go to the beach with my best friend, The Bible and read, read, read, pray, pray, pray. To God I go to find my strength, to get me out of this thing that plagues so many of us. He, through Scripture consoles me like no human can. He speaks to me via the roaring waves that foam and crash upon the sandy shore then retreat and create the whole scene all over again, sometimes so soft I can hardly hear the wave crashing and hardly see the foam, sometimes its with a loud roar huge foam and a splashing crash that snaps me back. He sometimes sends a seagull to remind me just how important I am. The sand that fills my Bible is sometimes embarrassing as I open it and sand falls to the floor, but I remember that He has them all counted and knows where each grain is. It fills my Bible, my toes, my shoes, even at times my hair with the sweet aroma that reminds me...HE can calm the raging sea with the whisper of his voice, He and only He can. I matter to Him because I am His child.
Depression is a very serious condition that must first be recognized by the individual, the early signs are craving extreme isolation, excessive eating or not eating, crying. If you are exhibiting these signs, please see your Physician Right away. Oh, yah, Pray Pray Pray for the wisdom to know and recognize your state of being and for friends or family to be able to recognize and help you.
I thank my Lord for my Husband, Family n Friends who know my moods and can tell when I am there, for together with My Lord, with their prayers, I come out of it.
Bianca, Thankyou for posting on such a sensitive subject that many people refuse to acknowledge, but many deal especially around the Holiday season.
Anna Peavy.
You could always go to a museum with a friend. I hear the Getty is really nice this time of year. :)
When I am awake I am still with you...
So comforting to know that no matter what our state of mind, situation, or circumstances...He is always with us! Walking through the fire, standing in the valley, or simply loving life...He is always there! Sometimes we just need a reminder to reach out our hand and feel for Him standing beside us!!!
Happy New YEar Bianca. Your fan club loves you!!
thanks for this :) and thanks for being my friend in 2009 :) Looking forward to another great year! love you!
Amen sister! Happy New Year! Praying for you and an incredible 2010! Love you! xo
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
I think Brianna needs your help! Where have you been for her or all of us who you preach too Bianca? You dissapoint me! You are just the same as the rest! Selfish to your own needs in life! Brianna is crying out for help but you are where? Do explain?????? So sad. And for the rest of us? You are NO WHERE!! Friday came and went! You suck! You are selfish for your own life! Sex! Whatever it is that you think you life is about!
SHAME ON YOU!!!!
To "god said..."
Why do you do this? By making the previous posting does it make you feel as if you are the better person?
If you find this blog so dissatisfying, then simply don't come back. Don't keep putting yourself through the torture of reading the inspiring, provoking, challenging, funny stuff that is posted in this blog.
You can choose to accept or to deny, to accept is to remain here and be positive and remain in the light and love of Christ. To deny is to just walk away and stay and to keep the comments that you are posting to yourself. Those of us who come here are looking for inspiration, good stuff.
Please
Every year I look forward to "Bar Caroling" with my church. These peeps have nowhere to go and some of them I see at the same bar EVERY year...alone. They really enjoy having us come sing to them even if they are a bit plastered. But our church does this so that one day...maybe one of those folks might come to know Christ...so they will never feel lonely again :)
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