Love Lifts
We’ve just celebrated Resurrection Sunday. One of the times God showed us how much He loves us.
Sometimes we just don’t feel it. Even if people around us tell us, we can feel so alone. Feelings lie. Emotions are influenced by many factors, things like hormones- and yes, men have them too. Other factors are weather and sunlight, our activity, diet and nutrition may also heavily impact how we feel.
If you suffer with despair or depression, you may want to consider what factors are impacting your mood. After months of existing on the brink of tears, in constant pain and wanting nothing more than to go to sleep and not have to ever get up again, I remind myself that I am loved every day. It helps, but it is not enough.
Circumstances are always a factor in depression, but some people are practically immune to despair. How do they do it? What is their secret? Everyone has stuff that is less than desirable, sometimes tragic and some things are nagging stressors-like debt or chronic illness. How is it that some people are able to stay steady and not get down for any length of time?
I think really knowing you are loved makes a big difference. You can know you are loved superficially. You can believe that sometimes you deserve to be loved. When you really know without a doubt, to the depths of your soul and without earning it, that you are loved, circumstances have less impact. You take care of yourself so that you can return that love too. Careful attention to what you are eating, drinking and exposing yourself to is also very important.
Make sure you are getting enough sleep and rest. Settle down in the evening. Rest by enjoying something positive; a conversation, a gift, music, a pleasant book and especially something from our heavenly Father. Regular exercise is very important to maintain proper levels of various natural chemicals and hormones too. Even if you cannot do much, a walk or some other activity that gets your heart rate up will help and laughter is like aerobics for your organs.
Water intake will help too. Nutrition is a unique element. Some people are healthy eating lots of protein, others mainly carbs, some people eat only vegetables. Corrective diets are all the rage, but really do make a difference in health and mood. You need to find the unique prescription for you. It may take some real work to perfect your own ‘get healthy’ routine, but you are worth it.
God has given us all things to enjoy. In His great love for us, He holds all things together. He makes all things work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. When we are totally convinced that we are loved and that God has a good plan to work out every circumstance to produce good for us, we can better reverse those feelings and not despair.
Medications can be a bridge, but don’t ignore the arm-long list of negative side effects. Use caution. Investigate all of your options and do lots of research, including reviews from other people. God uses all kinds of things to heal us.
Music can be as powerful as meds without the consequences for some people. I have heard people getting healed by listening to comedians. God has an answer for everyone, because He loves you so much.
I cannot convince you. Only you can obtain the proof of His love and the love of others. Tell God what you need and let Him show you how much you are loved.
~Darling