Tag Archives: depression

Depressed~in Need of Deep Rest

January Days

January is upon us. I have a love/hate relationship with January. I love it because it’s the best time of year for snuggling under a warm blanket and reading. It’s the perfect time of year to light extra candles, read aloud to the kids, and experience quiet, peaceful evenings. Those are the positives.

But then there are also the negatives. The days are short; it’s dark before it’s even time for dinner. The sun doesn’t shine for days on end. The days drag by, and spring feels a world away.

Struggling with Depression

If you’re anything like me, you may struggle in the winter season. I so want to enjoy the winter season, and I do. But when there are too many sunless, dreary days…too many cold, dark days…sometimes it feels like too much. A lot of people struggle this time of year. Those of us who are prone to depression usually find it hardest to fight during these months before spring comes.

What does God say about our depression? What do we do when we feel discouraged, weak, and feel like we can’t go on?

Paul reminds us in Colossians that Jesus saved us and rescued us from darkness, so that we could live in the light.

…always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:12-14 NLT

Through Jesus, we can live in this world of light. The darkness does not have to define us; it doesn’t have to control us.

Deep Rest

I watched a clip from Jim Carrey about depression. Matt had seen it and thought I’d appreciate it. I won’t link to it because he swears in the video, but in this video, he points out the difference between sadness and depression. He explains that sadness is a result of something that happens; whereas depression is your body’s way of crying out–“I don’t want to be this way anymore. I don’t want to be this person or persona I’ve created.”

He goes on to describe being depressed as: deep rest. He says our bodies need deep rest. I would go even further and say that sometimes our souls need deep rest. I know for myself that when I’ve had long stretches of going and going and not getting enough sleep, my spirit gets to a dark place and inevitably, discouragement and depression will find me. When that happens, I know I need a time of healing for my body, a time of rest.

Examples from the Bible

David understood the concept of soul rest. In a chapter where he talks about his anxiety, he says these words:

Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.

Psalm 116:7 NLT

David understood that his soul needed to find a place of rest, and he could find that by focusing on God’s goodness to him. That would help to ease the anxiety.

Jesus told us how we could have rest for our souls in the book of Matthew. He taught us to let go of our own burdens and carry the load he has for us because he will carry the load with us; and then we will find rest for our souls.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

When we get a place where we can’t find God’s goodness in our lives, it’s time for some soul rest and some physical rest.

How do you find deep rest for your soul?

Here are five ways to find deep rest for your soul.

1. Take a break from social media and the news.

I believe so many people are so stressed and anxious all the time because of a steady stream of news and social media. Watching the news ramps up our anxiety and makes us fearful, because the news covers everything bad that’s happening. And social media makes us feel like not enough, overwhelmed, and overstimulated. Taking a break from all of those outlets can give our minds a break and even a chance to heal.

2. Get actual sleep.

Give yourself the sleep you need. Take a nap. Go to bed earlier. Find a way to get the sleep your body needs to heal. As moms, we tend to burn ourselves out because we have so much going on. The kindest thing we can do to ourselves and our bodies is to get sleep.

3. Cut something stressful from your schedule.

So many of us are running around frantically from one thing to the next. This frantic pace leaves no room for our souls to rest, and eventually anxiety, fear, and stress take a toll on us and on our bodies. Find a way to cut something out of your schedule to give you one more night at home, one more free day in your week, a free weekend. With margin in our schedules, we can find time for that extra rest.

4. Find time for quiet in your life.

This is the kind of quiet when the tv is not on, nobody in the family is on screens, and there’s just quiet peaceful music playing. I know it’s hard to find that time, but this kind of quiet is so good for our souls.

5. Get out in quiet nature.

Getting outside can be one of the best things we can do for our souls. Even in the cold, it’s possible. Get outside for even just a ten minute walk. The sun does wonders for our bodies. Even walking outside in the stillness of the falling snow can be good for our souls. The fresh air works wonders and helps clear our frantic minds.

Looking at a list like this can overwhelm us and make us even more stressed. So just pick one. Look through the list and find the easiest one for you and do it this week.

*If you struggle with more than just a little depression, please seek medical help. Depression is nothing to mess around with, and there is nothing wrong with getting extra help if you need it.

More Encouragement

For more encouragement, check out my post Encouragement for the Weary Soul. If you find yourself in a place of doubt and feel like your faith is wavering, my book, The Hidden Pain will provide encouragement.

    10 Things to Try When Today is Too Hard to Face

    When All You Want To Do Is Stay in Bed Today

    Some days are just too overwhelming. The pressures, frustrations, hardships, and struggles make it feel like making it through today is impossible. It’s on those days, that it feels like the only thing you can do is crawl back into bed and throw the covers over your head instead of facing the day.

    I had one of those days recently. Well, I’ve had more than a few of those days lately. Part of it is some life struggles and trials we’ve been going through, but part of it has been the weather. We’ve had lots of cold, rainy days. Whenever we have lots of rainy days, I struggle with being depressed. It was on one of those rainy, depressing days that I honestly wanted to crawl back into bed and just pull the covers over my head instead of facing the day.

    I slept in past when I usually get up and finally made myself do my morning time routine, then take a shower. While I was taking a shower, I thought about this post. What would I say to someone else if they were having a day like I’m having today?

    You’re Not Alone

    So know that you are not alone. I have days like this. I know what it’s like to feel like you can’t make it through the day. Those days are so incredibly long. So here’s my encouragement to you. While I can’t take the pain away, and I can’t fix whatever’s going on in your life, I can come alongside and say, I get it. And I can share a few things that I do to help me make it through a day like that.

    10 Things to Try Today

    I made a list of ten things to try on a day when you don’t feel like you can make it through. You don’t need to all of them; maybe try one or two on a hard day.

    1. Get out of bed. It feels like the only thing you can do is stay in bed or go back to bed, but choose to climb out of bed. That’s the first step to making it through today.
    2. Take a shower and get dressed for the day. Even if you’re not going to leave your house for the day, still get dressed for the day. This will help you to feel a little more human and will keep you from going right back to bed.
    3. Put on worship music that will direct your thoughts towards God. If you need a list of good worship songs to listen to, try our playlist: 40 Days of Faith. We created that playlist for our spiritual growth campaign at church.
    4. Spend a few minutes doing your morning time routine. Even just a few minutes of reading your Bible or a devotional, praying, and journaling will help your spirit and help you to be able to make it through today.
    5. Eat something. Sometimes getting some good food in us really can help change our spirit. The food can give us energy and the strength to be able to face the day.
    6. Try to get out of the house for even just a few minutes. There’s something about being inside all day that feeds our depression and discouragement. Choose to do one thing that will get you out of the house today. It may be as simple as going for a walk, dropping off a letter at the post office, picking up a prescription. Just do something that gets you out of the house for a few minutes.
    7. Write down at least five things you are thankful for. I’ve heard it said that you can’t be grateful and depressed at the same time. Try it and see! Spend just a few minutes writing down your blessings.
    8. Do something you enjoy. On a day that you’re struggling to make it through the day, do one small thing that brings you joy. Go get a cup of your favorite coffee, read a few chapters of a book you really enjoy, watch an episode of your favorite tv series, go buy a donut from your favorite bakery, take a walk, etc.
    9. Spend time with somebody. When I’m struggling, I want to be by myself. When my husband is discouraged, he needs to be around people. If this is you, call a friend to meet for lunch or for coffee. Call a family member or friend just to talk for a little bit.
    10. Read an encouraging book. There’s been many times in my life when I’ve gone through hard times that a book has been like a balm to my soul. Here’s just a few recommendations: Kisses from Katie, Uninvited, The Hardest Peace, Undone, and The Hidden Pain.

    What Do You Do

    Those are some of the things that help me when I’m having a really bad day. Try a few of them the next time you’re struggling. Maybe share the list with a friend who’s going through a hard time.

    What do you do when you’re having a hard day? What helps you get through? Let me know in the comments below!

    For More Encouragement

    For more encouragement on this topic, check out my post, Getting Through This Season of Rainy Days.

    3 Truths You Need to be Reminded of This Christmas

    Macey and Me at the Hershey store

    Four Suicides Too Many

    Overall, Christmas 2020 looks a little different than any other year. This year has been a year like no other. Some people have been able to continue on as if nothing ever happened, and others have had their lives literally torn apart. I started a file of pictures on my phone of people that we know that have taken their lives this year. Right now, I have four pictures in that file. That’s four lives too many; four lives cut short way too soon. My heart breaks every time I look at those photos.

    I keep those photos because I don’t want to forget the huge impact this year has had on some people. Unsurprisingly, this year, more than any other year, we have dealt with divorce, infidelity, depression, and suicide more than any other year in our ministry.

    3 Truths Somebody Needs to Hear From You

    I say all that to encourage you with this— Don’t underestimate the power of a kind word this season. This year more than ever, we need to remind the people in our lives of these three truths:

    • They are loved.
    • They have value.
    • They are needed.

    If you’re not struggling this year or this season, use your strength to help someone else. Give your love to somebody this Christmas. Write a card, call someone just to let them know you are thinking of them, cook a meal for a family, send flowers, do Christmas for a family. If you look around, you won’t find it hard to find someone who needs extra love and encouragement this Christmas season.

    3 Truths You Need to Hear

    Maybe you are at a place where you need to hear these truths yourself. Maybe you are the one who needs to hear these truths. So, let me repeat them.

    • You are loved.
    • You have value.
    • You are needed.

    Don’t believe the lie of the devil that your family would be better off without you. We’ve been there too many times to pick up the pieces after a suicide. Let me tell you—the family and friends left behind have never been better off. Their hearts and lives are beyond devastated, and they aren’t sure if they will ever be whole again.

    Whatever you are dealing with or going through right now, I know with one hundred percent certainty that your family is not better without you. They need you. They can’t do life without you.

    More Encouragement

    Two of the Christmas songs that I am loving this year are Hope is Here by Building 429 and Behold Him by Francesca Battistelli. Both songs came out within the last month or two. Listen to the words and let them encourage your heart as they have mine.

    For more posts like this, read Now is Probably Not the Time and What Now?

    **With a post like this, I feel that I need to say that if you are seriously struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please get the help you need. Get professional help. There is no shame in that. We all need extra help sometimes.