When Life Leaves You Anxious and Depressed
What do you think and how do you feel when your plans are disrupted, resources deplete or relationships end? Is it time for Counselling?
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you" (Ps. 32:8).
This verse is a special verse that I have relied upon during the past 13 years of my spiritual journey. It assures me that God is active in my life. However, I have discovered when my plans are interrupted or changed, resources deplete and relationships are severed, it leaves me with a deep sense of anxiety and depression as I perceive to have lost control.
Maybe you have had a similar experience which have caused you to feel a loss of control, leaving you in a state of anxiety and depression. Sometimes God’s ways doesn’t make sense to us. The ancient writings gives us a good reason for this. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. 55:9). He is in control and we have to trust him. Easier said than done. Right?
If you feel a loss of control, it is important to believe that God is in control and, “The Lord is turning the hearts of men in the direction He desires.” (Prov. 21:1). It will help you to move forward.
In counselling clients with anxiety and depression I often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that can help you to change how you think ("Cognitive") and what you do ("Behaviour)". These changes can help you to (“Feel”) better.
Glenn Bleakney in his article, “Three ways to discern God is moving you in a new direction,” says, “You may not understand what is currently happening in your life. Does it seem to you that God has messed up your plans? Have resources dried up? Has a relationship disintegrated? “
When such things happen is your natural default to think negatively? Instead of thinking you have lost control and being left with a deep sense of anxiety and depression, you can change the way you are thinking. Begin to think positive and trust God who is at work in your life.
Trusting God at all times is a non-negotiable because the Lord possesses infinite knowledge and perfect wisdom. He is eternal, Almighty and omniscient. He sees the end from the beginning and is completely aware of the final outcome of all things.
According to Bleakney, “There invariably will come a time in our spiritual journey when the Lord will solicit our cooperation in permitting Him to guide us in a new way. His preference is that we would sense His leading, fully cooperate and move in the new direction.However, as is all too often the case, He must intervene in the affairs of our lives due to the fact that we are comfortable and entrenched in our present course of action.”
Bleakney identifies three strategies God uses to move us in a new direction. He expounds on these using Biblical examples which encourages us to accept the truth, change the negative thinking that is the source of anxiety and depression and embrace positive thinking based on truth. Changing the way you think and the way you behave will ultimately change the way you feel.I hope this post will help you to feel better. It will if you change the way you think and behave.
These are the three strategies and examples.
1. Disruption of our Plans
Bleakney writes, “Perhaps you were heading down a certain roadway and you ended up "hitting a wall" and were stopped in your tracks. From that point on, no matter how hard you worked, you were incapable of making significant progress. Initiatives and projects that were originally inspired by a lofty vision and deep passion ended up languishing, some of them even terminating. “
It maybe God interrupting your plans to take you in a new direction to fulfill His plans for you. The Apostle Paul experienced it on his journey.
"They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them" (Acts 16:6-7.
2. Dissipation of Resources
Elijah had been powerfully used by the Lord to declare prophetically the purpose of God in dealing with Israel. And just as the prophet had foretold, the word of the Lord came to pass. "And there was a severe famine in Samaria ... "(1 Kin. 18:2). God looked after Elijah during the time of famine. “…The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook" (1 Kings 17:2-6). . Although Elijah had come to depend on such provision the day came when the brook would run dry and the birds would no longer fly (see 1 Kin. 17:7).
“Have you experienced something similar? Your streams of resource have dried up. You struggle to make ends meet and you do not know how you are going to keep going. During such a time, trust that the Lord will soon speak to you like He did to Elijah.”
"Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you'" (1 Kin. 17:8-9).
3. Dissolution of Relationships
A third way the Lord works to set us in motion in a new direction according to Bleakney, is through the dissolution of certain relationships.
It may be a friendship, a work relationship or some other relationship. Bleakney in his article makes reference to David.
“We see this clearly in the life of David. The heart of King Achish, once favorable to David, turned away from him." Then Achish called David and said to him, 'Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines'" (1 Sam. 29:6-7).
He goes on to say, “An unanticipated meltdown in a relationship can cause great pain. Abandonment and unanswered questions will naturally follow. One vital truth to come to grips with is that God will on occasion send certain people into our lives for a short season or perhaps even a brief encounter God-sanctioned, transitory connections, though nonsustainable, serve a purpose in facilitating the plan of the Lord. Being able to differentiate between what is intended to be provisional and what is meant to be permanent will enlighten one of the Father's intention for the relationship. Therefore, do not take the matter personally and become bitter with people as though they are rejecting you.
Have you hit a wall, been stopped dead in your tracks by a disruption of your plans, a depleting of your resources or a dissipation of a relationship. No need for anxiety and depression. Change the way you think and behave and your feelings will change. The bible calls it transformation. “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. You may feel out of control but God is in control. Trust Him!
Until next time,
Blessings!
Pastor H.
References:
The Bible
Charisma Magazine: “Three ways to discern God is moving you in a new direction.” Glenn Bleakney
