5 Ways to Regain Hope When Depression Sets In

If you have lived for any amount of time you’ve more than likely felt and experienced the dark oppressive days caused by disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, despair, and depression.

I remember a time when I was trying to live and do everything right. If I could just follow the formula I would be alright, or so I thought. During that season everything fell apart. I had to leave my job, sell my house, and relocate to another area only to end up completely and undeniably depressed. In addition to all that was going on my son was born during the most chaotic and unstable time possible. For the first two years of his life he was in and out of the hospital and nearly died a couple of times. Over a three year period our family lost everything. I remember just before my 40th birthday sitting in bankruptcy court. Those were some oppressively dark days.

Maybe you’ve never experienced days or seasons like this and I hope you haven’t. I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. If you have, or are going through it now this post is for you. Here are 5 ways that have helped me to overcome disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, despair, and depression.

• Remember
As a person of faith I can scan my past and see the times I have walked through difficult and discouraging days and seasons that eventually would come to an end. When I start to go back into those seasons or find myself once again in the darkness, I remember that every season has an ending. I remember that I have gotten through to the other side more than once. I remember God’s faithfulness. I remember God’s goodness. I remember God’s promise to never leave me or forsake me. Just taking the time to remember and recount God’s faithfulness during difficult days inspires hope that helps me to see that there is light even in my darkest days. Take time to remember all the times you have overcome difficult days and season in the past. I promise it will cause hope to rise in you and once again you will be able to see the light on the other side. Don’t give up. Keep moving forward.

• Revisit your purpose
What am I here for? Surely there is something more than the struggle. Not that we won’t always have struggles, but we were made for more than just the struggle. As Christ followers, our ultimate purpose in life is the glory of God. No matter where I am or what occupation I’m called to I can experience abundant joy even in the midst of the struggle when I am living according to my purpose. If you don’t know or have forgotten your ultimate purpose it’s time to discover or revisit it. Living on purpose will move you out of the emotional drift and back on course toward your unique destiny.

• Refocus your priorities
When lost in the darkness and there doesn’t seem to be any way out the highest priority becomes get out at all costs. Instead of prioritizing we become reactionary and chunk our reasoning skills to the wind. Rather than asking why this is happening, the better question is what is it that I need to learn from this season? What fruit will this season yield? How could this create stronger character traits in me? What are the most important decisions or steps do I need to take to make the most out of this season? Questions like these will help you to move from frantic panic to proactive prioritizing and rational decision making. Ahhhh, the light is getting brighter. Don’t give up. You are going to make it.

• Realign according to your strengths
I don’t know about you, but when I’m attempting to navigate my way through the dark forest of disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, despair, and depression I gravitate toward my greatest weaknesses. In my weaknesses I’m tempted to do whatever it takes to eliminate the pain. With the same level of fortitude it takes us to remember, revisit, and refocus we have to realign ourselves with our strengths and continue taking positive steps forward. The process can almost be as painfully slow as the season you are enduring, but if you just keep your head up, focus forward, and consistently operate within your priorities and strengths you will make it.

• Refuel for the Journey
Remembering, Revisiting, Refocusing, and Realigning are necessary factors that will help you to refuel for the journey. Renewed hope is what is needed most to refuel for the journey. So, when you find yourself in the dark and painful seasons of life remember there is always hope.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! www.robpate2.com   robpate2@gmail.com

IS GOD ENOUGH?

IS GOD ENOUGH?

As I sat in my comfortable chair and mused over my coffee and morning reading the question came to my mind, Is God enough? Of course my first reaction was, sure I believe God is enough. But is He? Do I really believe it? Like the previews you see at the theater scenes of my life begin to flash through my head. During the times of life when everything is good it's easy to believe that He is enough. In the dark places and in the midst of conflict and opposition I forget that the same God is present with me in them. I get paralyzed by and capitulate to my greatest fears and begin to doubt that He really is enough. The promise to me and us in every season and situation is that we will not want for anything because He is enough.


As I read through Psalm 23 I was reminded of these things:

• When I trust that God is enough I will not want anything more or less than Him.

When I trust and rest in the Lord, my Shepherd, I find that He is enough in every season, situation, and circumstance of life. When the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want or be in want of anything more or less than Him.

• In seasons of rest and restoration He is enough.

He is the Shepherd of my green pastures, still waters, and paths of righteousness. These are places of His gracious provision where He makes me rest, leads me to restoration, and He gives me His righteousness for His name sake. The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.

• In dark valleys, moments of desperation, and despair He is enough.

He is the Shepherd of my deep and dark valleys. We all have times where it seems our Shepherd can't be found. Our situations seem so dark. Our emotions get filled with fear and doubt. Sometimes in the dark valleys of life panic sets in and it seems like everything and everyone is against us. Our Shepherd promises to be with us in the darkness. He promises to be with me, comfort me, protect me, and guide me to the other side of the dark valleys of life. So, even in the dark times the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

• At the table of relationship where there can be celebration, feasting, conflict, discord, and even opposition, He is enough.

He is the Shepherd of the table. The table is the place of feasting and relationship. It is a place of celebration and joy. He has promised to prepare this place even in the presence of my enemies. In the seasons and situations of life that we walk through relational discord, strife, conflict, and even opposition the Lord has prepared a table for us to delight in all of His goodness, grace, and mercy. At His table and in His presence there is joy. His joy is our strength. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. So, at the table the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

• When He  is enough the outflow of our life will be characterized by goodness, love, and mercy. 

When we trust the Lord to be our Shepherd, no matter the season, situation, or circumstance goodness, love, and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. These characteristics will be the outflow of lives that are being lived abundantly in the presence of our great Shepherd. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.


Though THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want. No matter where we are today we can know that He is enough. Be encouraged!

The Struggle is Real

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

Uphill Struggle by Rainbirder on Flicker Picture taken by, Steve Garvie

The picture above really communicates the purpose behind my post. I often feel what this picture communicates. I am the elephant climbing that incline. Have you felt this way? As I embark on a new journey I hope you will join me in it. As I find my voice and the courage to share it with you, I hope you find yours too. I want to hear your voice. I want to create conversations with common strugglers. I want to create something safe and real. Hence the new name of my Blog Feed: The Struggle is Real. If you find it beneficial to you please help me increase readership by following and sharing with other strugglers. 

Here is a list of my real struggles and the topics that I will be writing about. These are the struggles I have dealt with and in many cases continue to struggle with, and may very well struggle with the rest of my days. No need to struggle alone. Let's share, encourage, inspire, and help each other overcome the real struggles of life.  THE STRUGGLE IS REAL 

• Insecurity
• Pornography
• Identity
• Fear 
• Finances
• Depression
• Disappointment
• Disillusion
• Anger
• Rejection
• Acceptance
• Weight
• Goal Setting
• Marriage
• Parenting
• Doubt
• Forgiveness
• Failure
• Regrets
• Motivation
• Leadership
• Future

Wrestling with Emotion

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:1-6 ESV)

Wrestling with Emotion

No doubt I've had seasons where I felt as if the Lord had forgotten me, and in a sense was hiding from me. As I wrestle with these feelings, my thoughts become my counsel. They tell me you've blown it again, you'll never be good enough (which is true), you are a failure and you will never succeed, God will not help you, you are cursed, and on and on the list could go.  

But, just like David, I remember what is true. God's love is steadfast. With that reminder I refocus my thoughts and turn them into praise for who God is and for His faithfulness. 

So, when you go through seasons wrestling with your emotions refuse to take counsel from your soul and remember what God says about you and every situation and season you find yourself in. He has dealt bountifully with us.