Depression causes one to shows symptoms of sickness and lack of clarity of mind. But a Cat such as Helper (aka Tuna) can help a little to ease the sadness….. at least they try.
Images are my own (please give credit and links if you would like to share them.)
Reader Warning: Some may find the following post too depressing to read and therefore may need to (or should) avoid it altogether.
I don’t talk much about my experience with depression or mental illness on this blog which was one purpose I had created it in the first place. I know the details of mental illness can get messy and super depressing so I generally opt to keep them to myself. Today I decided to get real with you again and share (or divulge your attention for a few moments depending how you look at it) and let you in on a little bit of the ongoing fight…er…experience I have with it.
For me and probably others, depression can suck so much you could care less about doing much of anything. In the middle of a low, you don’t even want to or sense the need to write a simple blog post about how you feel about depression. And when one is bombarded and filled with such inexplicable sadness, desires for doing much of anything are greatly diminished and sometimes altogether absent. If you hadn’t guessed yet, I am having one of those days.
Contrary to what some may think, this sadness I speak of and experience isn’t the kind of sadness you feel/have after you lose a pet or a loved one or have to go to a funeral, although those are all horrific and deeply depressing experiences and events. However, such types of sorrowful experiences can be related and make the sadness that comes with depression feel all that much worse.
One big difference between depression sadness and depression as a result of a sad event is that the later is expected, explicable and explainable but the former isn’t really. We try to explain the sadness of general depression and I will today but it never really makes a lot sense if you have never personally experienced it. I know that people have never been in the middle of it or aren’t currently in the middle of it if they say to simply snap out of it and here’s why. When I am not in the middle of this inexplicable sadness of depression, I can’t understand why it existed or cannot remember very well what it was like when I was there despite its occurrence only a day earlier! It’s true, a day without or with less depression begins to make me think it would be easy to “snap” out of it too…..that is until I am actually in the middle of it again. Wierd, perhaps. But that’s been my experience.
In my little world, sadness caused by depression can be likened to inexplicable frustrations (sometimes anger) of feeling trapped in a endless cycle of hopelessness wrapped up with a unhealthy lack of ambition, anxiety or fear for doing stuff that truly matters. With this type of depression comes anger, frustration, low to absent ambition and of course sadness. In this state, you don’t want to work, can’t work well, don’t want to do even things you usually find enjoyable, can’t get out of bed, or don’t really care if you do or not (even if you still know you should) and most importantly don’t want to talk to people about God. Contrary to what some might think, during my times of seeming despair, I have found that the intellect doesn’t disappear and I am still quite “aware” of my surroundings and what is happening which can make matters worse. Food is still food, people are still people, the bed is still a bed and I look fine. I can and usually even “pretend” I am feeling fine but God’s knows otherwise. In other words my mind isn’t changing tangle objects into something their not. The problem lies in the level and existence of perpetual sadness and that I know I tend to feel my environment to a fault. A sad news event or knowing about one, will ruin my day. Reflecting on the reality that people are going to hell and I feel unable to do anything about it, ruins my day(s). Being reminded that there are millions of people who support the murder of babies, ruins my day. Knowing millions of babies are being murdered, ruins my day. Seeing the masses fall for the lies and deception that Satan so abundantly spreads in all aspects of our lives, ruins my day(s). Knowing people drink in sin like water ruins my day. Knowing I have the same heart and desires to drink in sin like water is just plain depressing. Knowing I have broken God’s law more times than anyone can count is beyond depressing. Realizing that there are people out there who won’t stand up for God’s laws but would rather break them, ruins my day. Of course it goes deeper than a few cleverly linked adjectives and descriptive examples but that’s a super quick gist of my experience.
Now if you know me from my writings about God, you might be surprised. I of all people should know about hope, right? Yes and no. I know the one who gives it and I know the Author of that hope including the source for peace and joy. Yes, I even said joy. I know and believe there is hope out there because I have a relationship with the hope, peace and joy giver. God gives hope to people when they die when you repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ.
You may have heard or read about God’s message of hope on my website before or somewhere else. In fact, I believe He saves (and is the only Savior) from the wrath to come (God’s judgment for sin/breaking His laws). God also gives joy and peace because I know I won’t be under his judgment come Judgment Day. Currently I can’t see it, feel it, touch it, or taste it but I can read about it in His Word. It’s simple faith in something or rather someone bigger that any of us and His name is Jesus Christ the maker of the universe. And yet, I sit here after knowing and believing that, that in my experience having that hope doesn’t do a lot for healing depression or mental illness when you’re smack in the middle of it. In fact, in the midst of a bout with depression and lack of ambition, there is a present sort of tangible sadness that perpetually exists regardless of one’s beliefs and trust in God. Am I alone in feeling this way? I “hope” not.
I have thought of my experience with mental illness as some kind of battle or fight that I might win tomorrow with God’s help or even healing. I should also note that prayer (and even tears) have been a large part of my life and yet the sadness of depression remains. Some days it doesn’t feel like their is much battling going on at all unless it’s a losing battle and I’m the one on the losing end.
If you have ever dealt with depression issues, know someone who is or not, perhaps you have found this post a little depressing. (pun intended) And I do apologize for that but guess what? Writing about it and sharing it with you sure has made me feel a little bit better today. Yay.
Perhaps you can relate to something I wrote about? Know someone or experience depression/sadness yourself? Feel free to comment below.
Image source
Today many celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ but just Who is this Jesus anyways? And most importantly why does it matter?
Jesus talking to the Jews said.. “I have come to you representing my Father, and you refuse to welcome me, even though you readily accept others who represent only themselves. You gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from God alone. “ (John 5:43- 44)
”The Father and I are one” (John 10:30)
The high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. (Matthew 26:63-65)
Jesus said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” “Who does this man think he is?” the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to each other. “This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?” The Jewish leaders tried all the more to kill him. In addition to disobeying the Sabbath rules, he had spoken of God as his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.
The Jewish leaders replied“…you, a mere man, have made yourself God.” (John 10:33)
After reading the above passages, you may have realized many trends. I would like to draw your attention to a simple yet common theme. This particular theme stirred up many who listened to Jesus talk. The Jewish leadership and others sought to even kill Jesus because of it and eventually we know they did. But why such hatred for an apparently good man who healed, and even performed countless miracles? Why would simple statements and acts of kindness and love by Jesus cause the leaders to cry out “blasphemy!” from a simple statement by Jesus? We know the answer from the verses above.
Jesus claimed one thing that was clear to all who heard Him speak. Jesus made the claim to be God and this was obvious blasphemy to the Jewish leadership. Likewise, even today this remains true. This claim continues to be considered blasphemy by Jesus and/or anyone who claims to be God unless of course it is true and Jesus truly is who He says He is. Like the Jewish leaders, I am aware that many today choose to believe Jesus is not who He claims and yet are willing to accept the account of the life of Jesus. In fact, many might even consider Jesus to be a good teacher and one who would offer good advice.
For us this remains true. If we do not believe Jesus is God than no one can be able to trust anything Jesus says to be the truth. If you do not believe Jesus is who He claims to be, than how can one trust Him to have been even remotely a good teacher? The choice remains. Either Jesus is God and the Savior of the world with power to forgive sin or He is not. Your life depends on who you put your trust in. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus was crucified and rose from the grave three days later. It’s only because the tomb is empty and Jesus rose from the grave that anyone can have peace with God.
Have you taken the good person test? Check it out here.
The True Jesus by David Limbaugh
Watch what hope looks like – Fullyfreefilms.com
Which light are you following?
School Shootings: The Real Question by Hal Lindsey
Audacity Movie – Have you seen it?
What does Hitler and abortion have in common?
Image source
What is sin? You might say it’s doing something bad. However what “bad” might mean to me probably will not be the same for someone with a different worldview. The statement of sin just meaning something “bad” is too broad to pin down a meaning in practical terms. But if we can sight specifics about what sin “looks like” and what it is outside of any human standard, there can be no debate. For this we must look to a power greater than ourselves, namely God.
So what is sin then? Simple put, sin is transgression or the breaking of God’s Moral Law.
The Ten Commandments is the standard God uses to define what is evil (or bad). It’s not a standard made any human how has imperfections and is fallible. God’s standard for right and wrong is perfect because God is perfect.
Here’s a quick sample of the “test” God will use to measure the worthiness to enter His presence. How will you do? (Remember God requires perfection to enter His Kingdom. More on this later)
Always put God first in your life? (1st, 2nd commandments)
Ever lied? (9th commandment)
Stolen something? (8th commandment)
Hated someone? God views human hatred as murder. (6th commandment)
Lusted? Jesus said to look with lust is the same as adultery (see Matthew 5:28). (7th commandment)
Ever used God’s name as a cuss word? Hitler’s and Muhammad’s names are not even hated as much to be used as a cuss word. To use God’s name to express disgust is blasphemy. (3rd commandment)
Before I get back to sin and God’s standard, let’s switch gears for a moment. It’s probable you have heard much or at least some about God’s love or that Jesus loves you. You probably have seen the bumpers stickers, shirts, signs, posters, and more with the words God loves you! But have you ever wondered what that really means and what that actually looks like practically speaking? We know love can mean different things to different people and especially in a “anything is acceptable” mentality in today’s world becoming increasingly more popular. For some, love might mean something unnatural, non-traditional or both—think gay marriage. Perhaps love to you is that great care and concern you have for your child or a friend or parent. Maybe it’s plain old romantic love, that comes to mind.
But what about the love of God. Once again we must go outside ourselves and seek the source of love—God Himself.
For this we must see who God is.
I mentioned earlier that sin is when we break the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments aren’t the sin, it’s the breaking of them. Lying for example. Adultery, Murder. Not loving God and putting Him first in our life. A quick look at The Good Person Test shows we have all broken God’s moral law.
God, because He is so holy and perfect, cannot have sin in His presence. He therefore, because of His very nature or essence being that of holiness, must punish all lawbreakers. Hell exists for lawbreakers/sinners by the way.
And yet God did something beyond human love, even when we all deserve eternal death (also known as judgment in hell).
God made a way of escape from this judgment. The Creator of the Universe namely Jesus Christ paid the penalty as the perfect sinless sacrifice for us breaking His moral law. He did this by dying willing for our sins on a cross and taking the full punishment and anger by God put on Himself. Because God hates sin so much, the Bible states that Jesus was crushed for our iniquity/sins. And then Jesus, because He is God, was raised up from grave after three days proving His earlier claims to be God and defeating eternal death.
The Bible states it like this,
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [acceptable payment or sacrifice] for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The kind of love which God shows us is as the perfect sinless sacrifice He is ultimately the only salvation for those who repent and put their trust in Him as the Savior.
It’s important to clarify that only two options exist for humanity. After we die physically each person will enter either eternal life or eternal death. God in His mercy has lovingly granted us a choice even when what we all should be getting what we deserve—eternal death (judgment in Hell).
“When the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)
Questions, comments? let me know
What is sin? You might say it’s doing something bad. However what “bad” might mean to me probably will not be the same for someone with a different worldview. The statement of sin just meaning something “bad” is too broad to pin down a meaning in practical terms. But if we can sight specifics about what sin “looks like” and what it is outside of any human standard, there can be no debate. For this we must look to a power greater than ourselves, namely God.
So what is sin then? Simple put, sin is transgression or the breaking of God’s Moral Law.
The Ten Commandments is the standard God uses to define what is evil (or bad). It’s not a standard made any human how has imperfections and is fallible. God’s standard for right and wrong is perfect because God is perfect.
Here’s a quick sample of the “test” God will use to measure the worthiness to enter His presence. How will you do? (Remember God requires perfection to enter His Kingdom. More on this later)
Always put God first in your life? (1st, 2nd commandments)
Ever lied? (9th commandment)
Stolen something? (8th commandment)
Hated someone? God views human hatred as murder. (6th commandment)
Lusted? Jesus said to look with lust is the same as adultery (see Matthew 5:28). (7th commandment)
Ever used God’s name as a cuss word? Hitler’s and Muhammad’s names are not even hated as much to be used as a cuss word. To use God’s name to express disgust is blasphemy. (3rd commandment)
Before I get back to sin and God’s standard, let’s switch gears for a moment. It’s probable you have heard much or at least some about God’s love or that Jesus loves you. You probably have seen the bumpers stickers, shirts, signs, posters, and more with the words God loves you! But have you ever wondered what that really means and what that actually looks like practically speaking? We know love can mean different things to different people and especially with the “anything is acceptable” mentality in today’s world becoming increasingly more popular. For some, love might mean something unnatural, non-traditional or both—think gay marriage. Perhaps love to you is that great care and concern you have for your child or a friend or parent. Maybe it’s plain old romantic love, traditional or not, that comes to mind.
But what about the love of God. Once again we must go outside ourselves and seek the source of love—God Himself.
For this we must see who God is.
I mentioned earlier that sin is when we break the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments aren’t the sin, it’s the breaking of them. Lying for example. Adultery, Murder. Not loving God and putting Him first in our life. A quick look at The Good Person Test shows we have all broken God’s moral law.
God, because He is so holy and perfect, cannot have sin in His presence. He therefore, because of His very nature or essence being that of holiness, must punish all lawbreakers. Hell exists for lawbreakers/sinners by the way.
And yet God did something beyond human love, even when we all deserve eternal death (also known as judgment in hell).
God made a way of escape from this judgment. The Creator of the Universe namely Jesus Christ paid the penalty as the perfect sinless sacrifice for us breaking His moral law. He did this by dying willing for our sins on a cross and taking the full punishment and anger by God put on Himself. Because God hates sin so much, the Bible states that Jesus was crushed for our iniquity/sins. And then Jesus, because He is God, was raised up from grave after three days proving His earlier claims to be God and defeating eternal death.
The Bible states it like this,
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [acceptable payment or sacrifice] for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The kind of love which God shows us is as the perfect sinless sacrifice He is ultimately the only salvation for those who repent and put their trust in Him as the Savior.
It’s important to clarify that only two options exist for humanity. After we die physically each person will enter either eternal life or eternal death. God in His mercy has lovingly granted us a choice even when what we all should be getting what we deserve—eternal death (judgment in Hell).
“When the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)
Questions, comments? let me know
tinkerXperience 