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What do I want?

 


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 Clearly, these desires are not wrong in and of themselves. With the Lord’s help, she changed from being overwhelmed and controlled by them, to living according to who the Lord says she is. How did she do that? She considered her desires and thoughts and compared them to Scripture. It was true that what her parents did was wrong, and what the Bible calls sin, she discovered in Ephesians 1 that who she really is, is someone who was chosen by God, adopted into his family, and has the purpose of being holy, blameless and doing things for him that have eternal value. If this interests you, and you would like further help, I have added links in the description below. And please, be sure to get medical help and follow the advice they give you. Here are some recommended resources: * Help! I’m Depressed by Carol Trahan. Available on Amazon here * Help! My Teen Is Depressed by Christine Chappell. Available on Amazon here

* Seeing Depression Through the Eyes of Grace by Julie Ganschow. Available on Amazon here * Counselling Conversations: website and youtube channel

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