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disheartened

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Robin:
Go have your thyroid checked. I didn't know if I was dead or alive and didn't care about anything because I didn't have the energy to care. I feel much better on my thyroid medication. I'm still not great because the trials continue, but at least I can tell I'm still alive.

I've also taken an anti depressant when my depression was too severe to bring myself out of it. I believe God causes all the trials that drive us to let go of the idols of our heart, but sometimes it seems like too much. It's really hard to care about anything. You are not alone.

hillsbororiver:
Hi Brother,

You have been missed.

There are certainly some very good answers posted already but I thought I would add my perspective as I recently had a wilderness experience myself where I did not feel numb exactly but more like a paralyzed confusion. My mind wandering, thoughts difficult to articulate and unable to concentrate on a matter sufficiently. I also had thoughts that seemed to rise out of the pits of darkness that I had hoped were behind me, this came right on the heels of some great discovery and fellowship which made it all the more frustrating.

As I prayed about it I was led to James Chapter 1, a few verses really spoke to me (the whole chapter is relevant though);

Jam 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (Much easier said than done)

Jam 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (This gave a glimmer of hope, the proverbial "light" at the end of the tunnel))

Jam 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (This one smacked me right between the eyes)

In meditating on this it came to me that this quest for knowledge and all the other gifts of the Spirit I had neglected a very primary directive, obedience. The commands of our Lord to selflessness, to help others, to be a small light in a dark world.

I got caught up in my own wants and worries forgetting the precious gift we have been given. We have a better perspective on Who our God really is than the great majority of the world does, He has given this knowledge to us freely, we did not earn it nor do we deserve it. With that knowledge comes responsibilty to others, we have an example of the most selfless Man who ever walked the earth and if we faithfully follow these commands He will take care of us in the here and now. 

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
 
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I also find Matthew Chapter 6 to be very helpful in times of distress, disenchantment or lethargy;

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought (worrying, concern) can add one cubit unto his stature?

Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Mat:630 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.

Do you know anyone who is lonely and could use a visit, even a phone call? How about an elderly or sick person that could use a hand with a chore or two? Is there a local volunteer group you could give a little time to? Things like this please the Lord exceedingly, we are sharing His yoke when we do selfless things and sharing His Light through our actions (not necessarily words).

I will close with the last verse in James Chapter 1;

Jam 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

His Peace and Wisdom to you, (you and yours are in my prayers)

Joe

Robin:
Thank you Joe.

eggi:
Hi Matt!

So good to see you back! I'm sorry to hear of your problems. Life can be hard, and it's certainly difficult to not feel very much. We can get tired and then we sort of "hibernate". Hang in there, the future is bright! The joy will come in the morning!

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psa 30:5 KJV)

God loves you, and so do we!
Eirik

pylady:
Hi Matt,

You've taken an important first step just by talking about how you're feeling.
Get yourself to a doctor.  As MG pointed out your lethargy and depression could be caused by a physical problem.  Of course, our physical, mental, and emotional life are all intertwined and affect each other.  You'll be surprised how one small step can lead to another step and the cloud will start to lift gradually.

Of course pray, trusting in our Lord (sometimes our trust must be blind trust, and we might not feel it in our hearts), and reminding ourselves over and over that this life  is a mere blink of the eye, while the wonderful future we have been guaranteed in Christ Jesus is forever will bring us to a more positive and hopeful frame of mind.

I say these things to remind myself too.  We all need reminding. 

My prayers are with you, dear brother.


Joe,

Lately, in my bible reading, I keep running across the phrase "good works" and that we will be judged by our works, and have been praying that God show me what good works I should be doing.  Looking at my life it didn't seem to me I had much opportunity to do "good works" that would win His approval. 

After reading your post I see I've been looking at this all wrong.  The good works come not from focusing on myself  and what I can do to win God's favour, but good works come from focusing on others and their needs.  Isn't that the example Jesus gave us, focusing on His Fathers will and helping others?

Sometimes this ego "beast" gets in the way even when we're trying to do "good".  No wonder Jesus said no one was good but the Father!

Thanks for your post, Joe.  Very thought provoking as always.  I would say you are being very articulate.   ;)

Your sister in Christ,

     Cindy

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