Conversations for Change

  Last time, we discussed the importance of what we are thinking, what is going on in our minds. This time, I would like to go a bit deeper and look at what is behind the thought. Perhaps an example will help. If you remember, way back in the beginning, we talked about how depression is often linked to suffering. A middle-aged woman had always hoped in some way that her parents would acknowledge the cruel ways that they had treated her and come to love and accept her, like normal families. When they died without that happening, she couldn’t get out of bed. She thought • I am unwanted • Nobody cares • What’s wrong with me that people don’t treat me right • What do I lack that other people do have, who are loved by their parents If we go deeper, we can see the desires behind the thoughts: • I want my parents to love me • I want to be loved • I want to be accepted • I want the wrong way I am treated to be acknowledged • I want to be treated right • I want to have normal relationships Cl

  We’ve been talking about depression… It is very important that you get medical advice and follow it. Sometimes the feelings of depression are caused by medical issues, so it is vitally important that you get medical help and follow the advice that you have been given While acknowledging the suffering that you are going through, there are practices that will help you as you face your depression and try to pick up daily life again For example, decide a time that you would like to get out of bed by. For example 9 a.m. You might feel that it takes everything out of you and that you are going against every fibre in your body to do it, but please do. Then the following week, as well as getting out of bed by 9 a.m., make your bed as well The week after that, as well as getting out of bed at 9 a.m. and making your bed, be dressed by 10 a.m. It is very helpful to get physical exercise. Try to go for a walk for about 15 minutes. Now, I know this sounds like the impossible to you an

  I want to explore sorrow a bit more. We live at a time when it is understood to be normal to always be happy. If you stay unhappy, there is something wrong with you. While there is truth in that, as it is not a good thing to go through life as a grump, sorrow is a part of life In one of the books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, it says that life on earth is full of sorry. In other places, we read of sorrow coming from lost relationships, the judgement of God on sin, and even parental sorrow at how their adult children have turned out.   Our Lord speaks into our sorrow by being with us. His people Israel could experience their sorrow fleeing because of the Lord’s intervention in their lives. Jesus promised his disciples that their sorrow because he was leaving them would turn to joy when he came back.   Sorrow is real in this life and our Lord knows this. Yet he comes to us in our sorrow, and this relationship with him is our source of hope and can lead us to possible joy

  In this life, we can experience deep sorrow and hurt. We live at a time when we are expected to always be happy. But there are times when it is normal to sorrow:   ·         The death of a loved one ·         Being falsely accused, slandered, lied about ·         The loss of reputation, with loss of relationship as a result. This is especially sorrowful when the loss was due to lies ·         Loss of health ·         Not being able to do what you enjoyed doing because of ill health ·         Not being able to see the people you love   Sorrow is a normal part of life, which feels like depression and can lead to depression.   Our Lord does care about us in our times of sorrow. We read in the Bible that Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Our Lord became human, understands our weakness, knows sorrow and grief, and wants us to experience his help in our own sorrow and grief

  Recently, I have heard from a number of people about their struggle with feelings of depression. They speak about a lack of hope, of purpose, and about finding it hard to handle and understand suffering.    Some of them have asked: “What’s the point?” “Why am I here?” “Does anyone care?” “What are the reasons for getting out of bed in the morning?” and “If I was to die, would anyone notice?”   These are incredibly important questions about the reason why each of us live.   In the Bible we discover the reason. In the first book, the book of Genesis, we discover that God made people and made them in such a way that they are very different to animals. He made people to be like him. Each and every one of us has purpose and dignity because God made us.   Later in the Bible, in the New Testament, we discover that Christians were chosen by God, adopted by him, given the purpose of becoming like him in their character, and that he gives us things to do that have significance into ete