Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Depression and Acceptance

I remember when I was first diagnosed with major depression. I was deeply depressed, obsessed and having panic attacks. I began to question why I had to become mentally ill. My father-in-law said to me, “Son, you have to play the hand that’s been dealt to you.” After this, I began to realize that though I was so very disappointed about losing the pastorate, I knew that God had ordered my steps. I also later read what George Muller said, “Not only the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, but also the stops are His doing.”
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5 comments:

  1. NancieJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    Hi Steve,

    Amen! It is a great comfort that God is in control of everything in our lives and He ordered our steps. It is encouraging to remember that He loves us dearly and is working all things for His glory and our good. We may not always understand why He allows us to go through certain difficulties or in having illnesses, but we have no doubt at all of His love for us.

    Thank God for using you even through your depression to help others. I have been greatly helped by your book Broken Mind and I recommended it to several others. I did post it on my blog under "Depression Books", Books and Review and Real Life Testimonies. I hope to write a post on it again soon to introduce this book again to my readers :)

    Thanks for your visit to my blog and your encouragement there and also at Facebook. Thank God that we can be instruments in His hands even through the trials He has ordered in our lives. All praise and glory be to Him.

    Take care and may God continue to make you a blessing to many.

    God bless you too,
    Nancie

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  2. Rev. Steve Bloem, B.A.M.M. Studied at Marywood Graduate School of SocialWorkJanuary 27, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    Thanks Nancie,
    Thank you for letting your light shine in
    this dark and fearsome world. We thank God for the gospel's success in Singapore!
    Steve

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  3. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Hi Steve,
    I think the first question all Christians who suffer with mental illness ask is, "Why God"???.
    There were times when I would have gladly exchanged my mental illness for any physical ailment known to man. Now, I have come to understand that mental illness is what God has decreed for me. It is what He has chosen for my life. Even in the darkest of nights, I know He has set a boundary that no demon can cross. He has me in the palm of His hand and nothing can separate me from His love. He has led me to the edge of the cliff but yet, He has never forsaken me in my hour of need.
    I rejoice in the God of my salvation and I rejoice in what He has done for you and Nancie!! One day, my dear friends, will be the last day of our suffering, but until then, stay the course, for the best is yet to come.
    Blessings...

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  4. Rev. Steve Bloem, B.A.M.M. Studied at Marywood Graduate School of SocialWorkFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    Laura,
    I think that you have given some great biblical truths that apply to us who suffer so deeply from mental illness. I have many times thought of the Scripture in I John 5:18, we know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him. The Greek word for touch is hapto, which means to adhere, to fasten onto. It is used in I Corinthians 7:1 of a man abstaining from sexual intercourse with a woman. Now concerning the things I wrote to you, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
    I remember the times when I was in the darkness of night with severe depression, agitiated, storm tossed and could find no comfort. The demons of hell were ranting and raving, seeking to rip me from the hands of Christ. Darkness swirled around me; I felt like a thousand hornets were stinging my brain.
    Whether I felt it or not, the Scriputre could not be broken; all those who have been saved and joined to Christ are eternally secure. Another Scripture that sheds light on this truth of eternal security (and we might add the perseverance of the saints) is, I Peter 1:3-5, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance, which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God, through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    Hi Steve,
    I can't click the "like" button on your comment, as I do so often on Face book but, I can say a hearty AMEN!!!

    ReplyDelete

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