When I began this week's study (the final one), I had a very difficult time getting into it. Quite a bit of it was about depression, something I have not experienced. I have had my share of ups and downs, a bit of the baby blue's, but never experienced true depression. At first I couldn't understand how this tied into the last week of study (kind of depressing don't you think, to end talking about depression?)!
I am by no means a medical expert and won't even attempt to give medical advice on the matter. However, I will say that from what I have found 1 out of every 4 women will suffer from depression. That would be the equivelent to 5 of the ladies I am doing this study with.
Depression is not a weakness in character or spirituality. It is not a cause for embarrassment. It seems that depression is telling you that you have had enough. That emotionally, physcially, mentally you are empty. You need to be refueled.
In 1Kings, Elijah had had enough. He had been working for the Lord. He had been successful. When he was on his mountaintop after having the prophets of Baal done away with, Jezebel's threat became the breaking point. He ran. He hid. He asked God to just let him die.
That was not the answer for Elijah. It still is NOT the answer for us.
Regardless of what pit we are in, regardless of how weak we feel. There is hope. There is an answer. It is found in Jesus!
Isaiah 40:29 says,
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might he increases in strength. Verse 31 adds,
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
In Isaiah 41:10, our Father says,
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Just because we are Christians, that doesn't mean our lives are going to be perfect, free from pain and suffering. God never told us our journey would be easy, only that He would be there with us.
I know there are times that He seems distant. Our prayers aren't being answered. Things seem dim. But there is Light! God may not be ready to reveal Himself and His plan. He may be readying us for something else. During our Upward devotional today, we were reminded that God's ways are not our ways. When things seem to be taking forever or we seem to be in that pit, God is giving us time to think, time to pray, time to draw closer to Him. We need to listen for that still small voice instead of seeking Him in the wind and earthquakes.
The Lord is there. We just have to trust Him. We have to draw near to Him.
There is a scene in the movie
Forest Gump where Forest is on his shrimp boat, and he sees Lt. Dan on the dock. He waves and immediately dives in the water to greet his friend. Forest was so eager to be near to Lt. Dan, that he plunged into the water and swam to him instead of taking the time to slow the boat down, guide it gently to the dock, and secure it. We when watch that, we laugh and think how silly.
But get this....
Tonight, as I read John 21 as part of the Weekend Mini Retreat for my Frazzled Female study, I froze (and smiled) on verse 7:
Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
Peter's Friend, his Lord, Jesus was there on the shore. He couldn't wait for the boat to be rowed in and secure. He immediately jumped and and swam to reunite with Jesus.
To me, that is a beautiful picture.
A picture we could learn from.
We should eagerly greet Jesus each day. We should make him
a priority the number 1 priority in our lives. Like Mary and Peter, we should stop what we are doing and find ourselves sitting at his feet.When we do that, we will find that He delivers us from those pits, those caves we find ourselves in. He keeps His promises to guide us and protect us, giving us strength and hope.
Charlotte is a bridal shop owner, contemplating her own engagement, wondering if she is actually ready. After taking time to pray about her situation, she finds herself making a purchase at an auction, thanks to an odd gentlemen dressed in purple. This purchase causes disharmony in her own relationship, yet guides her on an unforgetable, most amazing journey.
The authors did an amazing job at describing many of the issues that middle schoolers face today, and how we as their parents can help them. Topics such as bullying, cell phone usage, and social media were covered, along with being the parent, not a friend to our children. The authors stressed the importance of setting rules, being involved, and providing a spiritual background. 
Cissie Lynch, the granddaughter of Billy Graham, has just begun an internship with the Children's Heart Project. This organization brings children from other countries to America for life saving heart surgeries they would never receive in their homelands. Cissie has helped convince a doctor in San Antonio to take a third patient instead of the two he has already agreed to. 
Little Cub is having trouble understanding love. The otters scare the fish away, she is annoyed by her siblings, and she thinks the love between mamas and papas is gross. It is through love, that Little Cub's Grampa teaches her about the many kinds of love and most importantly, about God's love. Grampa even tells her, "Anytime we show love, we're sharing a bit of his love." 
