Truth versus Feeling

Sometimes what we know to be true and what we feel are two separate things. And too often we place our feelings above what is true. For those of us who deal with depression, our emotions can take us on a roller coaster ride. One minute we may be ecstatic, the next we might feel worthless. Each minute we must choose - will I believe God's word or will I rely on how I feel?

It seems so simple. Just choose to be happy. Choose to be content. Just believe what God says about you. Yet choosing to believe truth at times seems as hard as climbing Mount Everest and almost as impossible. We see the mountain before us and just know it has already conquered us! And yet that in itself is not true.

The constant of the battle for our minds rages. We must stand and refuse to allow lies (even the lies we tell ourselves) to overcome us. It gets tiring. War is never easy. We get wounded. Thankfully we are in the army of the Great Healer. If we could take one battle at a time and focus on overcoming for that moment, perhaps we would have more success. Instead of looking at the whole war and thinking, "I'll never make it," we could look at the single foe before us and say, "I can take him." Instead of looking at the mountain and saying, "It is way too tall; I'll never reach the top," we can determine to focus just a few feet ahead and make it to that point. One step at a time.

Maybe, too, we could look back and see how far we've come. Sometimes such self evaluation helps us to see that we are not just spinning our wheels, but are indeed making progress. While struggling up the mountain, perhaps we should stop to look back and see how high we've climbed; not looking at how far we have to go. That might just be the push we need to make it the next few feet.

I guess I'm writing this because that is where I am today. My emotions, my fears are really pounding on me. I feel down. I feel like I can't do it. The war looks too bloody. The mountain seems too tall. I need to believe God's truth because the lies are overwhelming. Why do I share this with you. Definitely not so that you would think I am a nut! But to let you know that whatever your struggle you are not alone. We are fighting this battle together. We are climing this cliff as partners. I pray for you, and I ask that you pray for me. We are promised victory. We just have to hold on and keep moving.

I love you for being my sister in Christ! I need you!