Psycho-Babble Faith Thread 330524

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help from others

Posted by sueds on March 30, 2004, at 20:12:11

I just discovered this site and it is such a joyous relief to be in contact with others who might understand me. I guess the question I have dealt with the most os how do I reconcile my weakness and inability to handle everything by just trusting in God with my need for therapy and medication. I feel that others look at me with such condemnation for my lack of faith. As I look at myself the same way

 

Re: help from others » sueds

Posted by Simus on March 31, 2004, at 2:49:43

In reply to help from others, posted by sueds on March 30, 2004, at 20:12:11

> I guess the question I have dealt with the most os how do I reconcile my weakness and inability to handle everything by just trusting in God with my need for therapy and medication.

First of all, Ephesians 6:13 says that having done all to stand, stand therefore. By therapy and medication, you are doing that which is in your ability to "stand". You do all you know to do, physically and spiritually, and THEN you wait on God. If you broke a leg, would you consider it weakness to go to the hospital to get help? God provides us with many, many paths to healing. (By the way, most of the time, healing was, is, and continues to be a process, not an event.) If I were you, I wouldn't reject ANY of the avenues to healing that you have available to you.

> I feel that others look at me with such condemnation for my lack of faith.

You need to take a close look at some things here. Is it just a "feeling", or is someone really judging you? Feeling tend to lie to us. And the Bible is clear on not judging others. What others are you talking about? In your church? The bottom line is: Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Get into the Bible and find out who God says you are. Get so rooted and grounded in the Word that nothing moves you.

> As I look at myself the same way.

You had better lighten up on yourself. You probably already know you can be your own worst enemy. Treat yourself with the same grace you would treat, for instance, a cancer patient.

 

Re: help from others » sueds

Posted by simus on April 1, 2004, at 15:55:10

In reply to help from others, posted by sueds on March 30, 2004, at 20:12:11

sueds,

I just read my post. I was surprised at how "severe" it sounded. Sorry. I always have to fight self-condemnation and judgement from others because of taking drugs for depression. Sometimes it is more severe than others. But it is always "faith-shaking". Hang in there. Be kind to yourself, and tell others to mind their own business (that is actually in the Bible).

God bless.

 

Re: help from others

Posted by rayww on April 1, 2004, at 20:05:27

In reply to Re: help from others » sueds, posted by Simus on March 31, 2004, at 2:49:43

My opinion is that God gives us weaknesses to make us strong.
He gives us commandments to help us overcome our weaknesses. And, he has given us the law of obedience, complete with blessings and consequenses to encourage and motivate us. It is by obedience to law that we receive the god given power to keep the commandments.
If we falter or have a struggle we are to look to Christ. By so doing we will experience the little miracles that heal.
These are the natural consequenses in the here and now that come with keeping or breaking the commandments of God.

But sometimes, even after all we can do, hidden behind our joyful face is a soul full of despair. When that despair is beyond our control God approves and guides us to appropriate care.

God will meet us anywhere, even if we have totally messed up our life or the lives of others, by willful disobedience. But he expects us to try to be better. There are natural consequenses to all of our actions, in the here and now. some of these consequences worsen our mental health, especially those associated with our physical and spiritual well being, such as nutrition, rest, exercise, study, prayer, etc.

Our spiritual health is affected by how we feed our spirit, and our mental and physical health is affected by how we choose to feed our body and mind. Social health and support is also important, and the same formula applies.

We are very much connected to ourselves, and to one another. (am I helping you???)

I was forced to learn a lot about this when I was diagnosed bipolar 5 years ago, because I actually felt my whole life up to that point had just become invalidated.

At my lowest ebb I needed medication, and after trial and error, mostly error, I ended up using empower http://truehope.com for just a few months. That seemed to bring me quickly back to the point where I was able to focus outside of myself and think of others. I live to help others, and I receive great joy in the process.

God guides everyone and every thing. If he provides a cure for a disease, or a computer to spread his word, it is for the benefit and use of man. He has given us agency and the ability to think and reason for ourselves. He also helps us know what is right and wrong. If we think something we are doing is wrong, it would be good if we could stop doing it. If something feels right, even after we think more about it, then follow it. It may be a prompting from god that is trying to guide you to something you will benefit from.

I could go on to say, in my opinion medication should not be abused or used as a crutch to mask our real reality.

 

beautifully said.....blessings and grace (nm)

Posted by Jai Narayan on April 2, 2004, at 8:30:01

In reply to Re: help from others, posted by rayww on April 1, 2004, at 20:05:27


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