I gripped the steering wheel of my car and stared at the hospital emergency doors. My heart pounded furiously, like a time bomb waiting to explode. The pressure in my head was almost unbearable. The invisible weight on my chest felt like someone dropped a sledgehammer on me.
Thoughts raced through my mind. I wanted to scream but could barely breathe a whisper. I just sat there lonely, afraid, shattered and completely empty inside.
Should I check myself into the hospital?
What if they admit me in the psychiatric ward and won’t let me go home?
Who will take care of my children?
Will my husband still love me?
What if my friends find out?
Reaching for my phone, panic rushed over me like a tidal wave. A pool of tears cascaded down my face, as I cried, Jesus, please help me!
Sitting in my car, unable to move, I continued to pray and ask God questions like, How did I get here? I’m a Christian for heaven’s sake! Things like this just don’t happen to Christian women – or do they? I feel like such a failure.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of my story which I’m sharing in my Encouragement For Today devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
That day in the hospital parking lot was a pivotal point in my life. I wish I could tell you that I went home, curled up in bed, got a good night’s rest and woke up feeling great the next morning. But that was not the case.
My recovery took longer than I ever imagined and came with many challenges. But, God was so faithful and never left my side. He was my anchor when life’s circumstances tried to toss me around. He was my source of strength when I felt so weak and weary. He comforted me in those moments when I was grieving in a puddle of tears.
By His grace and mercy I am here today to share my story with you.
There are too many details to include in today’s post. So I’ve decided to share them {along with equipping you with helpful tools and encouraging Scripture verses} over the next three weeks.
But, here’s what I’d like to focus on today.
I made a lot of mistakes leading up to that day in the hospital parking lot. One of my biggest regrets was not getting help sooner. Honestly, it was my foolish pride that kept me from seeking professional help. There were plenty of warning signs leading up to that day but I kept telling myself I could handle it.
I didn’t want to admit anything was wrong. I didn’t want people to know I was sinking into a pit of despair. A whirlwind of anxiety that almost did me in. I wanted to be strong for my family. That all changed the day I pulled into the hospital parking lot.
In the days and weeks that followed, through prayer and a lot of help from family, my pastor and a few close friends, I found a wonderful doctor, psychiatrist and counselor. God opened doors that I never knew existed. Each specialist had a personal relationship with the Lord. During my appointments, they would pray with me, share Scripture verses, and encourage me that I would get better. They were gifts from God during a time when I desperately needed help.
Maybe you feel like you’re at a breaking point today. Like you can’t go another week, another day, another hour. I remember what that feels like. It’s awful. But you don’t have to stay stuck, feeling that way forever. I want to encourage you to get help. Today.
Don’t wait or talk yourself out of it, like I did. Start your road of recover and healing today. Remember, the eyes of the LORD are upon you and His hears are attentive to your cries. He promises to deliver you from your troubles if you trust in Him. Psalm 34:15-18
I’d love to pray for you today. Feel free to leave a comment or prayer request below. You’ll automatically be entered into my drawing to win a signed copy of A Confident Heart by Renee Swope.
If you’d like to continue this discussion and receive some helpful tips and encouragement over the next three weeks, just fill in the subscribe box up at the top right hand corner of this page. That way we can stay in touch. I post once a week so don’t worry about me bombarding your inbox each day. I promise that won’t happen.
Note: If you’re reading this from your phone or email inbox, be sure to click on the post title above to see images and to leave a comment as well.
Sweet friend, be encouraged today. You are not alone. God is with you and He is ready to help. He has not given you a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. By His strength and healing you can receive wholeness. It is through Him that you can have freedom.
Let’s do this together.
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Michele says
Thank you Leah . I have had stage Iv cancer for over 2 years . Just trying to live and enjoy each day. Your prayers are appreciated
leah says
Michele, I’m so sorry to hear about your struggles with cancer. Two years is a long time and I’m sure the journey has made you very weary and worried most days. I’m praying for you today – asking God to touch you with His healing hand and restore your body to complete wholeness. As you wait on Him, rest in knowing that He loves you unconditionally, completely, and without measure. God is close to the brokenhearted and His ears are attentive to your cries. May you experience true peace as you rest in His loving arms today. Leah
PJ says
While my struggles are different from yours they are still struggles. I lost my husband last year. We were married for 38 years. My children have been a big help but I need to find my new purpose/place in this “different normal”. I know God is here, He has provided above what I can comprehend. I know He will never leave me, He is the great Provider, Counselor, and Comfort. There is still an emptiness in my soul and I don’t know how to rise above it. Thank you for your story. It is encouraging. I look forward to your next devotion.
PJ
leah says
PJ, I know that emptiness you’ve experienced and here is what I’ve learned…Only God can fill that void – that emptiness in your soul. It can’t be filled by another person, by material things or earthy possessions. It can’t be filled by a position either such as a great job or important title. It can ONLY be filled by God. The more you spend time with God: taking to Him through prayer, worshiping Him, allowing Him to talk to you through His Word, sitting in His presence – the more that void/emptiness will be filled and replaced with peace, contentment and joy. Trust me, I’ve tried everything else and nothing else works. He is the answer. Leah
Lonely Pastorswife says
I am a personally struggling in many areas. I play many rolls in the Christian life (ex. pastors wife, teacher, worship leader, etc )andI have noone that I totally trust to talk to. I am sooo lonely and I feel like noone cares. I have thought about checking myself into a mental ward more than once. Lol! With all the strain, stress and pressure, I, myself, have honestly thought about just giving up all together. Yet, I feel terrible and quilty for feeling this way. I could really use some prayers!!!
Cathy says
Need encouragement, please and thank you
heart4him says
It is a long journey but God is faithful
Vicki says
Thank you for your open and honest sharing…it blessed my heart today as I read how the Lord’s ears are open to our cries for help! He will never leave us or forsake us!
Sherry W. says
Oh, my goodness!! My husband told me Thursday (the 6th) that he was suffering from severe depression and had occasional thoughts of suicide. Our marriage and financial situation, he said, were the main causes. We have been “roommates” for 8 years due to misunderstandings and hurt feelings that never got addressed. I didn’t go to work Friday (the 7th – the day your devotion was sent out) because I was so stunned by what he told me. I stayed at home and prayed and continued praying throughout the weekend. I got to work this morning (Monday the 10th) and spent all day catching up and didn’t see your devotion until after 4:00 and almost deleted it without reading it; but at the last second I opened it up and started reading. The verse alone was enough to stop me in my tracks, but then I read your devotion and was just awed at the goodness of our God and His perfect timing. I would have seen the devotion on Friday if I had come to work, but He preserved it for me to see today. I have printed it out and will give it to my husband tonight and tell him to see what God sent him today (through me and you and Proverbs 31 Ministries). Thank you so very much for your faithfulness to this ministry!
leah says
Sherry, I hope your husband is doing much better now. I wanted you to know that I’m praying for his restoration, your financial situation and your marriage. Blessings, Leah
Lexie says
My mom is going through situations and she has let her self get down into depression and is now feeling suicidal. She needs all of God she can get. I haven’t seen her in about 3-4 years but I do get to talk to her and u try to witness to her. My dad also needs salvation. If we can just keep that in our prayers I think I’ll be fine. Thank you so very much.
Alexsis Stanaland says
I need a prayer request for my mom, she has went In to depression and is going suicidal. I am scared I haven’t seen her in about 3-4 years so u don’t get to c her but I do call her and witness to her and she’s doesn’t seen to care so pleeeease pray for her salvation. My dad also needs salvation.
Nickie says
It was like you are reading my mind today! Thank you so much for your transparency…it is such a blessing for those of us that are struggling.
Angel says
Thank you, Leah Dipascal! There is some similarities between us that I have read. I first read your article through Proverbs 31 Ministries just today. I am interested in staying in touch and being an encouragement to each other, Lord willing. Thank you again and God bless you, your family, and all of your affiliations!
Leslie says
I could have wrote these words exactly as you have! been there… 🙁 the hardest time in my life ever was dealing with my panic attacks, that no one understood. Thanks to God, He has helped me in so many ways. I thank God for finding your website/blog, I love that we can encourage each other and relate and help us to not feel alone. Thank you. 🙂
Rachel F says
Oh, Leah, thank you for sharing. Would you pray for me and my marriage today? My husband feels so far away that we might was well be in two different states. No part of me wants to entertain thoughts of divorce, but our lack of communication, is sucking me dry, not only in our marriage but in all parts of my life. My kiddos rely on me for pretty much everything, from breakfast to bedtime kisses cause he’s not really here for them either. And between all this and the other stuff of daily living, I head up women’s ministry activities at my church, so as you can imagine, shame and guilt keep me from sharing much about my struggle. Although, I’m believing God to protect this marriage … Right now, I feel like I’m sinking! I thank you for your prayers and for sharing your story….knowing I’m not alone in my situation is so encouraging.
leah says
Rachel, please accept my delayed reply. I received your comment and wanted you to know that I have been praying for your marriage. You may have already looked into getting marriage counseling, but if not, I’d encourage you do so. It’s a great way of proactively keeping a marriage healthy and nothing anyone should be a shamed of. I’m praying for you too – asking God to remind you that He’s right by your side and will help you each step of the way.
Dina says
I read this devotional on my daily Encouragement for Today email. It truly touched home for me. I started to suffer from panic attacks about a year and a half ago at 35. They started when I began to experience health issues and I live in this fear that I am going to get worse and not be here for my children. I can’t help but wonder why God allowed me to go through this. For the first time I felt so abandoned and alone, I didn’t feel His presence in the middle of so much fear and despair. I cried out to him and I am better today. They still try and creep up on me but I just feel like it takes so much work just to try and be normal again. I miss my carefree days before I knew what this nightmare was. Once I started to get better I lost my son who was born prematurely and only lived for two weeks. I thought to myself this is really going to finish me off but that’s when God showed me I wasn’t alone and he truly carried me through. Please keep me in prayer. I would like to be completely set free from this. Thank you for sharing your experience and letting me know I am not alone.
leah says
Dina, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your son and the struggles you’ve been experiencing. I am praying for you today. I know how awful panic attacks can be. I used to have them regularly but not anymore. Next week on my blog, I will be posting special tips that helped me overcome panic attacks. I think these tips will help you too. Blessings, Leah http://www.LeahDIPascal.com
Anne Morgan says
Please pray for me. Blessings to you.
Kelly Roberts says
I am feeling the same way. I know God loves me but sometimes I feel like a failure to him. I try to do so much for everyone then I get neglected and worry about if I will be able to take care of my family. my mother is not doing well at all I just had to sign papers for hospice. view have a don with Down Syndrome that has a skin condition that needs daily attention then I have twins that want my undivided attention. one of them needs extra help with reading in order to meet the new core standards. Finally I had to end up taking a job making $8 hour less. I try not to worry and I try to keep my cool but now I found out I have an abnormal thyroid and can not see a primary doctor for a month and a half. Thank all of you share on Proverbs 31. It lets me know I am not alone.
leah says
Kelly, thank you for being so honest about your struggles. You are certainly dealing with a lot of difficult challenges and I’m sorry to hear about your mother. I pray that hospice is taking good care of her. My mother was under hospice care twice and got better each time. I pray it is the same for your mother. I wanted you to know that I’m praying for you this week and will continue to in the days to come.
Emily M. de Jesus says
Hi! Your stories are really amazing.Great source of encouragement. I would like to ask for a prayer request for my health, please pray for my healing. Thank you so much.
Christie Lassiter says
I just came across your story….I’ve been in that exact spot twice maybe 3 times now in my life…ready for a change again =)) Hope to read the blog and comments soon…Thanks, Christie in SC
Megan says
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I feel like God sent me this just when I needed it most. I’m a grad student going through a lot of the same things you talk about. Please keep me in your prayers as I begin the recovery process. Thank you!
Pam says
Thanks Leah for your post. It came at just the right time. I have a very dear Sister in Christ that has just been admitted for treatment for depression. She has dealt with this for so long. Please remember her. I have other friends in church that deal with so much. I want to reach out to them and I do but I feel so inadequate, because of that I draw back at times. I want to do more than just reach out. My prayer for myself is for the Lord to help me put self (which tends to get in the way) aside, and let the Lord move in me and with the right resources help someone else. Thank you Lord for others like you Leah that remind us where our help comes from, and to understand.
leah says
I am praying for you today, Pam, along with your dear friend who’s suffering with depression. I’m sure you are a wonderful reminder of hope to her today. I trust that God is using you to bring light into a very dark situation. Blessings, Leah
ViviAN says
Thank you so much for your honesty in life. Thank you Jesus for saving me. He took my life which was a mess and made it whole again. I have been a patient wife whose husband has spent many days/months in a mental institution. It is very difficult seeing someone you love struggling to stay alive and regain some control over life and its problems. The only way we are able to overcome this situation is to rely on God and pray. We are not healed completely yet, but can be confident of the promises of our Saviour and keep on trusting and believing.
leah says
Vivian, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s health and wanted you to know I’ve been praying for your marriage. You are setting a beautiful example of the marriage vow, “in sickness and in health”. May God bless both of your abundantly for persevering through this difficult trial and may you sense His presence & nearness like never before. Blessings, Leah
Pamela says
Thank you for your words. I too, have had, and still experience many of those same fears. Please pray that God will send his healing to my heart and to my children. Thank you.
Erika says
Thank you for sharing. I dealt with depression for years after having kids and was afraid for so long to ask for help. I felt like people would judge me and tell me I jut needed to pray harder. I wish someone had told me sooner that it was okay to get medication. It wasn’t a sign of weakness, failure, or poor faith. My prayer request is for healing and grace among the members of my recent Small Group as several friendships and trust were shattered a few weeks ago and we are still all trying to make sense of what happened.
leah says
Erika, I’m so glad to hear you’ve recovered from depression. It’s wonderful that the medicine has helped you. I’m praying for your small group – that God will mend the broken pieces and restore relationship amongst friends. Blessings, Leah
bree says
I have been dealing with an overwhelming amount of stress lately. Thank you for your devotional!
Chris says
Thank you for your honesty and transparency. Women need to know they are not alone. Stress on the job and a situaton @ church has me struggling with feelings of fear, despair, guilt and doubt. I ask for prayer that I not give up on renewing my mind, knowing who I am in Christ and deeper trust in Jesus, that He will not leave me nor forsake me, peace in my circumstances . Thank you again.
Kelly says
Hi Leah- thank you so much for your post. I have been crying out to God to be strong in my weakness, and mostly got crickets chirping. I wake up every morning nauseous when I think of the situation I’m in and I feel so trapped. I wept when I read your post because I felt God was reaching out to me, but I still don’t know what to do. I can’t afford to see a therapist or psychiatrist and I am a leader in our church, so I can’t imagine talking to our pastor. I have always inspired my friends with my faith- I feel like I can’t share this with anyone. I feel terribly alone and worst of all, like I SHOULD be better than this because of my live out loud Christianity. Turns out I’m not as strong as I thought, and it feels God can’t help me either. Very, very alone, sad and hopeless.
Antionette Smith-Walls says
Please pray for my children to accept Christ in their lives. Your story touched me because I constantlybworry non-stop. And sometimes i feel.its taking a toll on me. And i know o.ahould have faith in the Lord, and i do, but its always a tiny portion of me that worries anyway. Thank you so much for including me in your prayers.
Karen Oi says
Leah’s story resonates. My circumstances – and the feelings of frustration, inadequacy, anxiety, fear and anger – are almost overwhelming at times.
I am a VP with a $100M company that is staging to go public. The position requires 57-75% travel. Remodeling a condo. Trying to do my best for an aging mom who lives 2500 miles away and showing signs of being unsafe living alone. I am behind in so many personal and professional tasks – barely made it through Christmas. An Elder trying to support our Pastor, the church and members of the congregation.
Lisa’s description of desperate feelings and panic attacks felt so familiar. Thank you for sharing your story to help and encourage others who are in similar straits.
Helen says
I have always been a “worrier”, but over the last 18 months it escalated to the point that I too like so many that have posted here, began having anxiety attacks and feeling hopeless. I was worried to the point of not being able to really function, the fear of “what ifs” consumed me. I cried out to God and sought Him like never before. With my husband’s insight I finally realized that this was bigger than me-even with God’s help I could not fix myself. I first went to my physician who prescribed a mild antidepressant as well as recommended counseling. Going to counseling was so difficult, I felt like a failure. There is such a stigma with mental issues. Counseling has been such a blessing. I am starting to feel like I can manage my anxiety and live a happy life. I see now that medicine and counseling is not a failure at all, but rather avenues that God has provided to me so that I can live the way He intends; trusting Him with tomorrow. Thank you so much for sharing your journey Leah. I am so thankful for your courage and I hope you can see how sharing your story is allowing others to identify and seek the same help that you (and I) sought. God bless you and I will continue to pray that you and all of the others that have posted here can break free from the bondage of anxiety.
TMC says
Thank-you for your honest post. I’ve struggled with similar things in the past, and by God’s grace I’m in a better place right now. I shared your post with a non-Christian friend, and I pray that it will greatly encourage her and that God can work in her life.
I would love to be put into the drawing for the book. Thanks again!
Laurel says
Thank you for your post. Knowing I am not alone is a good feeling. I put on a happy face everyday to most people, and feel like people don’t even know how much I hurt. Please pray for me and my family and that God gives us a direction for our life. Thank you!
Vanessa Gibson says
I loved this devotion! It hit home on so many levels! I am disabled and I can only work a few hours a day without being in to much pain! So I am a nanny I pick kids up form school and help with homework and snacks! I was working with 2 families and at Christmas I started getting really depressed (I was relapsing) I felt like my world was crashing down around me! I paniced and called my bosses and told them I was going to the hospital, I had all these fears about what would happen and didn’t want to lose my jobs! Well I obviously over reacted and I ended up loseing one of my jobs! I felt judged and hurt and lost! Now I am in a better place but I still struggling some! i also am now struggling even more financially because I lost my job! Prayers are appreciated! But I am thankful for your devotion!
nicole says
Thank you for sharing your heart on this matter. I am there. Having a special needs child brings a lot of worry, stress, & anxiety. Pressure of financial strain on a marriage. The emotional, mental, & physical strain that comes with the needs & wants for our children. Worry about if we are doing the right things, how can we be better parents to our 2 daughters. It just becomes very overwhelming & many nights even this past week of crying in the shower because I felt like giving up. I needed this devotion today. Thank you.
Karen says
Your devotion that you posted really spoke into my problem. I am stressed out and anxious about entering music school. My audition is on March 1st. If it is God’s will, I will get everything done in time. I have to have some of finished a week ahead of time prior to applying. I’m scared of failing.
Laura says
I’m in awe of how God puts something I so needed right in front of me on FB, as I was ready to sign off and head to bed crying and feeling every feeling you described in “the parking lot”! I have been crying out to Him and He is showing me He is there…..I just need to surrender to his will….please pray for me..
Steph Stacks says
I really need prayers during this time in my life. Within the last year, I’ve lost my mom and granny due to illnesses, my husband had an affair with another lady which produced another child and I just had my thyroid removed and they found cancer in it!!! I’ve prayed and asked God to be my guide through these tough times but anxiety and depression has taken over!! I have chronic insomnia, major anxiety that causes my heart to race so fast that I pass out, major tremors, constant worry that I’m not going to be around to raise my two teenaged kids!! Im a school teacher of 17 years and this has been such a trying year for me as my health has caused me not to be the teacher I know I am. The doctors keep saying most of my symptons are due to my thyroid but I dont know how much more I can take! Ive never been to such a low point in my life as I am in now. Ive tried to focus more on God to give me strength as I read His word and pray often!! Please pray for my family, sleep, disappearance of my anxiety and that the cancer was contained in my thyroid and it doesn’t spread to other parts of my body and I get back to the old “me”. The person that sleeps, no anxiety, depression, full of energy and able to go all day to accomplish my daily goals!! Thanks and God Bless!!
leah says
Hi Steph, please accept my delayed reply to your comment. Thank you for sharing so honestly and I’m so sorry to hear of the great loss you’ve had over the last several years. No wonder why you’re experiencing anxiety and depression. I’m praying for you, Sweet Friend, asking God to touch you with His healing hand and remove any cancer from your body. Also for your marriage and your other health issues. Next week I’ll be posting a technique that helped me overcome panic attacks. I’ll have that information up on my blog and hopefully you can stop by to read it. Blessings, Leah
mary says
Please pray for me god knows what it is for thank you god bless
Christine says
After looking for a job for the last 5 years, I finally got one. Unfortunately my new job is located hundreds of miles away from family and friends. I’m homesick, lonely and hate living in the city I’m in. I keep wishing all of this was a bad dream that I could wake up from. I cry almost everyday and since moving here I can’t get a good night’s sleep. I had to leave my cat in my home state and I miss him terribly. The other day at work I almost broke down in tears. Often I wonder if I’ll be able to do this anymore and often I ask God to kill me. That probably sounds terrible and ironic and un-Christian-like because God created us and gives us life, but often I wish I was never here. I wish God would bring me a friend to help me adjust to relocating and to give me a reason for staying here. My heart breaks for home and for the companionship of my cat. My heart also longs to be hugged and embraced just where I’m at with no prerequisites and no squeezing into a Christian shaped box. Wishing someone would take the time and effort to make me feel welcome in a new city and new state. I wish I could get up enough courage to find a church to belong to, but it overwhelms me and I don’t know where to begin looking. I’m upset, disappointed and afraid. Wish that I felt like I “belong” at my workplace and that someone at work would help me learn the ropes for my new job. It seems like I’m going through this blindly and way out of my comfort zone. It is extremely intimidating and stressful. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m finding it difficult to socialize with people at work. I get mad at myself and don’t believe I deserve to be happy or loved. It feels like I’ve been forgotten and abandoned. I keep trying to remind myself that God knows what He’s doing and is here helping me. There have been so many moments where all I can say is, “Jesus help me” as tears stream down my face and my heart is piercing with pain and loneliness. My soul is weeping and weary. Since moving there have been a handful of moments where I needed to learn to completely trust God and there continue to be moments like that. It is a challenging and painful process. Please pray that a good and trusting Christian friend comes into my life and that I begin to sleep through the night and that my cat can make it here soon.
leah says
Christine, I can tell by your words that you’ve been through so much with this move/new job. Moving is a big deal and you shouldn’t beat yourself up for not having it all together. After all, no one really “has it all together” anyway. It takes time and the transition normally has bumps in the road (our family has moved 11 times) but I want to encourage you to lean into God and allow Him to comfort you during this lonely season. I’m believing that He will open doors of opportunity for you to get connected with a church, life group and meet new Christian friends. I hope your cat has arrived. I know having him/her will bring you some comfort too. I’m praying for you today. Blessings, Leah
Jeanie says
Please pray for me, I am going through some difficult situations. Controlling husband, He thinks I’m cheating and I am not. Said he doesn’t trust me. I haven’t done anything wrong. I feel like a prisoner and I feel alone depressed and scared. I cry a lot. I don’t have but 1 person that I ever do anything with and my husband hates her..just pray for wisdom, strength, protection, and peace of mind and for Christian female friends. And please enter me in your book giveaway. .Thank you for praying
Stef says
Thank you so much for sharing. I have had a rough day, nothing too awful but today I have felt overwhelmed with loneliness. I actually was having a kind of a break down on my way home from work, so I decided to go onto proverbs31 ministries and see what the last devotion was…and it was this. The Lord is so good that sometimes it’s creepy. It’s amazing how he uses little things like a website to reach out to me to let me know He is near. ( I knew He was, but it’s so easy to forget) I’m still struggling with going to see a professional for help, I know it would be beneficial…but idk what’s stopping me. Money is a big issue, I guess just the “I can handle this” attitude. So that is my Prayer request is that the right help would come available and that I would have the strength to let go. Thank you
Denise Barger says
Prayers for all the ladies who have replied here. It’s so amazing and so empowering to know we are not alone. I too was in that place once. I put it off so long that I went through 4 years of counseling. Hard work but worth it. I now have a wonderful relationship with Our Awesome God.
Marilyn says
Dear Leah, I am grateful to read your testimony. I thank you for allowing me to leave a prayer request. I have been home since Feb. 2013. For health reasons, I stopped working. Will you please pray for my healing as I see a physical therapist for a muscular issue in my hips. I went to PT for a year for my right knee and cancelled surgery for yesterday given this other situation. As I have been walking down this path it has been challenging not knowing what I will do next yet anticipating a type of job that only God could bless me with. Please pray for strength as I get better and that I don’t get discouraged from spending a lot of time alone. I am excited to move on. Sometimes I cry and want to give up. Thank you for agreeing with me in prayer that I am restored in health and spirit. Thank you.
leah says
Marilyn, thank you for being so honest about the struggles you’re face with health issues. I’m just not getting a chance to reply but wanted you to know that I have been praying for you. I hope you get relief from the pain in your hips . Trust that as you seek God each day and draw near to Him, He will smooth out this rough path and guide you in the way you should go. Blessings, Leah
Amy Heaton says
Thank you for sharing. I struggle with worry, anxiety, anger, and rejection. My heart is broken and my mind is a mess full of doubts. Please pray for me.
Jamie says
There are some nights when I lay awake gripped with fear and uncertainty. I can’t sleep. Sometimes I pray and sometimes I just cry. I walk through the motions, but the joy of life seems to have escaped from me. I’m sure I probably need someone to talk to, but I just don’t know where to start…
Gracie says
I sit here in amazement at the volume of comments on this post – God sure wanted us to know we’re not alone! Thank you, Lord and thank you, Leah. 🙂
Karen says
Thank you for your prayers. I feel overwhelmed so much. My husband has health problems and can’t work. I am struggling to provide for our family. Each month is a challenge. My marriage of 20 years is not good and honestly, it really never has been. There have been a few moments where it was good, but for the most part, we have struggled for many years. The burden of providing for the family is difficult, but add the marital problems, and it feels like such a huge weight.
Susan says
Asking for prayer for me…being in similar circumstances. Thank you.
Karen says
Thank you so much, Leah. I, too, have had panic attacks. One of the most difficult parts of it has been struggling with shame and feelings of failure, feeling like I have disappointed God. As you said, I felt like as a Christian woman, I shouldn’t be struggling with this. I think I am beginning to mend now, but it seems like I have such a long way to go. I was encouraged by your post to keep persevering.
Angela says
Thank you for this.
I just about gave up. I wanted to give up.
I am really struggling to find joy in life since my fiancé broke off the engagement and broke off the relationship with me. I’m so hurt. I’m so wounded.
I was in the hospital bed (from illness) and I wanted God to just take my life and take me home to Heaven.
I wanted to give up.
My body was failing me. My soul is downcast. My spirit is broken.
Not one of my friends understand what I’m going through and some have abandoned me since the break up. It feels like a divorce.
I’ve repented if I’ve made this relationship wih my fiancé (or my fiancé himself) into an idol. And I pray thanksgiving. But I still cannot feel any joy. I want breakthrough. I’m praying daily and tell myself to not lose hope but to continue to persevere. But I’m getting so tired waiting on The Lord. I don’t know how much more of my patience can be tested.
But reading this was encouraging. It pointed me right back to Jesus.
Thank you.
phinner says
Thank you for sharing your story.
Hayley says
God’s timing is just amazing! Reading about your journey brought me to tears. So happy to know that other Christian women have been here and do get better! Thanks for sharing.
Andrea says
I’m struggling so very much with healing and forgiveness after my husband left me for another woman. I have so much anxiety watching them move on together. So very much pain and anger. Very hard to sleep and stay focused on getting my own life going again. Wondering if Gid cares about my pain or if I’m shut out because if my struggle to forgive. I do need peace. Please pray.
Kaitlyn says
I saw this link on a friend’s Facebook post and something had me follow it. When I read it, I knew why. I have a good life: wonderful family, supportive and caring boyfriend, great church family…and I feel God’s hand on my life and his calling in my heart. But I have a day job that is consuming me. It’s steadily added pressure taking more and more of my time. I’m in the midst of my 4th 70 hour week. I spend two hours a day commuting. That means 80hours of my life is gone to this job. I keep thinking it will get better, that things will ease up, but instead the responsibilities and obstacles continue to pour on. I’m complete drained. I feel hollow. Like there’s nothing left for God and my loved ones. And my boyfriend and I are discussing marriage, which is one of my deepest dreams! But healthy marriage takes time and effort and I feel like I’m already a weight on our relationship. I live in a rural community so there aren’t a lot of options for help, and everyone at my church views me as strong, a leader, even my pastor. I feel unable to let my hollowness show, which I know is wrong. I’m asking for prayer that God will continue to make a way for and pour wisdom into me, and that He will provide what I need, when I need it, to someday become victorious over all this.
Caitlin says
This post resonates with me after 20 months of struggling with postpartum anxiety I took the plunge and went to the dr. He was very nice and is putting me in touch with Christian counselor and started a medicine. No one wants to admit they need help. I’m on day 3 since I went and I’m still very anxious but I will give it time to work and keep trusting God for his guidance.
Jennifer Grossman says
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I’m 39 , been married for 19 years and have 5 kids and the day before Thanksgiving I had to go to the ER for a heart problem and ever since then I have been dealing with anxiety that I can’t explain. I can’t believe how powerful it is. I feel so helpless. Why can’t I just make myself stop having anxiety? The good part is that both the heart problem and anxiety are drawing me closer to Jesus and I am so grateful for that! I am getting better, losing weight and enjoying some Peace BUT I also worry about the anxiety that could hit me at any time. My doctor wants me to take an Anti-depressant/Anti-anxiety and I worry about taking that. Is it going to make me feel even more weird? Is it ok to take something like that when I should be getting my peace from God? I might like to worry about everything I guess. Any words of advice or prayer would be wonderful. Thank you and God bless you! 🙂
Terri says
I have had struggles with anxiety and emotional pain all of my life. My adult son struggles with it as well. We have problems on every side. I have chosen to follow Christ but am very afflicted most days. Please pray for us.
Jane says
Please, pray for my daughter’s back problems. She has had to disc problems and now has arthritis in her back. She has a job that requires long hours of sitting. Thankfully, she works from home. They need her income to pay the families’ expenses.
Thank you. God bless.
Jane says
Please, pray for my daughter-in-law who is having problems with her vision. She has a spot on her macular. Please, pray that the doctors will able to cure her vision problem or at least be able to halt the problem. Also, she had diabetes and needs to lose weight for her health. She is a beautiful, kind, and thoughtful person and I want her to be healthy. She wants this too, but it is difficult for her to exercise.
Thank you. God bless.
MSW says
Please pray that I will truly and unconditionally love those around me, to constantly look for good in others. I need to be able to focus on Jesus and his constant presence and perfect plan. I need His peace and joy to replace my worry and doubt. Please change me, Lord, into the person you created me to be.
Kara Mills says
I read your devotion last night, over and over and even to my husband. I sat thinking “It was not just me; others face this”. I was and am not alone! For years I have struggled with depression and anxiety but through a roller coaster of a life, that I would not change for the world, I had my breaking moment. I went through the ER doors and desperately sought something but every time they said Panic attack I shunned them and told my husband they were crazy. I did not want that label. My mother always told me “Kara, your hot or cold never luke warm”. I would get so aggravated with her. I remember having my husband rush me to the ER six times in 2012 and my mother took me once in 2013. I swore it was an ear problem; I was sick, dizzy all the time, my chest would pound, my hands shake, I could hardly stand up because I felt like a bobble head. I grew in complete fear of dying and found myself for one year not leaving my house and when I did I would go into such a panic I would cry for us to go home. I neglected my family, I could do and wanted to do nothing because the next thing was for sure going to kill me. My bed and the bath were my safe places and when the anxiety got to the point of me throwing up and feeling this hot popping blow to my chest where I would grasp for breath is when I begged for someone to take me to the ER. I remember telling my husband “If this is the rest of my life then I don’t want it”. He looked at me with such anger. Years leading up to my break I saw the signs too. I stayed through an abusive marriage, mental and physically, and wanted to be noticed and loved more then the addictions he had through recreational drugs and alcohol. I went through an unexpected divorce to my job acquired and closed after working 16 years of my life there. I had to start over and did and it was the scariest thing of my life. I was re-married, praise God, and then the anxiety overtook me. I swore the ear problems I had was causing the anxiety but it was not until this year that I realized, through watching my 17 year old son make poor decisions, that it had nothing to do with my ears at all. It was God was wanting me to seek him and not the medicine or the family or world around me. I was the stubborn child; saved in 2004, I thought foolishly God needed my help in everything. Then I matured but only got it mentally. It was not in the heart. I was not willing to let it go. Through all the trials of my life all He wanted was me and I refused to see. Then my husband and I said, we have got to stop saying we are going to church and we need to go. And we did. God began to work in me, his words became the lamp unto my feet and his Grace and Love held me up every minute, every second of every day. He became my rock and my heart desired him. Yes, I am on medication now. I admit I do have depression, severe anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (from the abuse and maybe even my own lies in life). But I am okay, God met me in my darkest and lowest place and lifted me to him. Through all this, though dark He showed me his Love. I would never change my breaking moment, or the years of stress and worry of failed love, abuse, stress of finances, to work, to it all because it was the method in which Jesus Christ came to save me and more importantly to cleanse me and to meet me in my heart to stay. Praise God. And thank you, thank you, thank you for your posts. I will pray for each and everyone on FB to this blog.
sarita says
I this moment this is my life feeling overwhelm by financial issues. I barely make it, I feel lost and confuse, I feel such a failure. I sit every morning trying to think and make everything better but it like a routine in my life to worry and cry. Today I thank God for speaking to me through you and for letting me know I’m not alone. God bless you!
Deb Villars says
Thank you for being open about this! This is me right now! Please pray for my recovery. That god will lead me to those who can help and that I’ll be humble and open about my heart.
Elizabeth says
I Too FeelThisWayOften. I Look Forward To Your Next Posts.
Sharon says
Good morning. I feel overwhelmed. I am 59 and am having severe immune system problems. I have been battling this for decades. I am financially in bad straits due to medical costs. I am a clerical worker and am unmarried. I am always ill. I have an 84 year old mom who needs me more and more. I work full time and keep up a house and care for my mom and have all kinds of medical tasks to be done due to my illness. I cannot keep a tidy home without paying someone to help. If something breaks in my house I usually do not have enough money to get it taken care of. I am so overwhelmed and scared that I am crying as I write this. I am a Christian but I feel like God has not been enough help. I try to trust Him and have faith but I give up inside. I wonder a lot where He has gone too. Last night I asked Him to take charge of my illness. I told Him I need more money and that I just cannot bear to work up anymore medical debt. I need prayer for my health and financial problems. And for me taking care of Mom. My Dad died March 22 2013.i was in a serious car accident in May 2013. And am having some health problems from that too. Thankyou for answering and for praying.
Andrea says
Thank you for your words of inspiration, I myself am going through a journey of depression since over a year,in this time I see clearly were God is breaking through and healing in my inner me,setting me free . I am now in my sabbath year, have began a christian councelling degree( which is seldom here in Austria), I am trusting the Lord for everything, my health, my faith, my finances,my future.Giving up is not a question…..when you know that God is in controll and trustng him for everything. It doesnt mean that it is easy but by trusting day by day and giving thanks in all circumstances, I praise and rejoice inhis name. My life is beginning a new chapter and I am so blessed to have such wonderful sisters in christ who are out there to encourage and mentor, Thank you and my God bless you abundently.
Kelly S says
Leah,
Thank you for sharing, I’m looking forward to hearing your story. I wrote you a private message on FB, and look forward to hearing the rest of your message in my email. It takes a lot of courage to relate these kind of stories, a lot tof time, and even with preplanning, I live with my mother so there is a lot of critisism. I was wondering if there was any way if I were to win if I could change a Confident Heart, for your book??? I could really use someone on my road right no?
Blessings
Kelly
Belinda Kelly says
Please pray for me…
Karen says
Praying, Belinda . . .
Narelle says
I cant express to you how this made me feel reading it. I have had two years of seriously tossing the same thing. Feb last year I actually went to a Dr to get help but as a Christian, I felt like a failure.
We own two fulltime businesses, both retail 7 days a week. One went very bad when our Christian friends who were business partners ended up no longer partners or friends. Our town is small when it comes to the Christian community. I feel that it was my fault & the exfriends have made sure people know how horrible I am. I have never felt so alone & so I stay away from church & Christians. I love God but I don’t know if I can ever go back into the Christian community. no one seems to care anyway. I get out of bed everyday, I smile, I’m grateful for the little gifts God gives me every day, but to read what you wrote & to know others feel the same way, Thank you, thank you for your honesty & encouragement xx
CC says
It has been a mountain of trials so far this year. I want to share all of my blessings but as I sit typing I “feel” consumed with my troubles. I have been dealing with a sick husband who is out of work and is currently getting home health care. I found out today that my 2 oldest girls have been experimenting with pot. I spent most of today arguing with my husband and my children. So I left early (not norm for me to just leave home with a quick “im leaving”) just to drive around .Waiting to pick up my other daughter I began crying deeply , loudly sobbing in my car. I drove around town stopping , crying, praying then driving more. I began driving by 2 homes I lived in when I was married to my first husband and wow did the pain flow from my guts. I was mourning a time that I was full of purity and deep peace and then I became angry that “my” plans did not come to be. All the while “knowing ” He is there with me in the car. I have come so far from there(my 1st husband) to here but yet Ive been stuck back there.. before going through such devastating sadness and loss of peace. My children were molested by my Ex husband whom was a deputy sheriff and for the last 11 yrs I have fought to protect my children and others children. He was acquitted in a felony criminal trial because of clerical errors of molesting 3 separate children . 1 of the children was mine. The county in which he worked as a deputy did not Retry him. Its a very long complicate sad story that until a year ago literally consumed me and then turned me inward and I have been Stuck . Other things have also tried to keep me here like 2 very early child births. Amazing yet scary long hospital stays for my 2 youngest . 1lb 12 oz baby girl and 3 lb 8 oz baby girl. They are healthy and strong Blessings now but it was in the midst of fighting to protect in court my oldest daughters . Financially drained and scared for my children s lives daily wore me to the core. So from my dream of a precious happy lil family to the mixed , complicated, still precious family I have today I have become hidden away and am struggling to push out. The court battles ended 1 year ago and there is no contact now soo As the time is settling things are happening and I dont know where I have been. shut down, consumed and scared? I stopped going to church, I communicate very little with people , God is telling me I need people but I have deep hidden fear of this even though I know this is not what God wants for me 2 Timothy 1:7 . I just let this flow. Sorry for any confusion as I typed quickly through my tears. please pray for my 2 teen daughters to be women of God ! desiring Gods ways and like minded friends to be in their lives. Please pray for me to have the strength and gumption to put my big girl panties on and venture back out into the world (church). I also need wisdom on how to deal with the kids issues. I also need help to be a better listener with my husband. Lastly THANK YOU for sharing your pain to help others like me. I was sitting in the hospital parking lot tonight consumed. I know with certainty that God is using you.
Lori Box says
This is just what I needed today. Sometimes I feel like I can’t make it another day. in the last year I got divorced, lost my dad to cancer, moved, got a new job. My pay does not cover all of my bills. I am so stressed all the time. I was actually in the hospital for 2 days this week for a flare up with my rheumatoid arthritis brought on by stress. I really need prayer. Thank you.
Joy says
Your words spoke volumes to me and I wanted to thank you for blessing me with them today. My prayer request is for my son-in-law to be who lost his thumb in a work accident. It has been amputated and he will have reconstructive surgery in April to move his finger over to act as a thumb. I am asking for prayers for a successful surgery and for physical and emotional healing for Tyler. Thank you ever so much. I look forward to reading your blog.
In God’s love,
Joy
Jeanne Luckenbach says
Please remember me in prayer for me to hear & see God’s plan & directthen.ar my life. I am at a crossroads in my life. Things need to change but not sure which direction to go next. Need to fix finances so I can move on & get my divorce. The relationships between my daughters & I have been shattered. I love them dearly but they are trying to put conditions on me. They are 20 & 22. Job is something that if God wants me to leave I am readt just need direction.I know I am never alone because God is with me just need a Hug now & then. Abuse happened between my girls & their dad. My “dream” of marriage, children, etc was shattered and I am now beginning to see a “new” reality but it is hard to see where to go. I am 57 and both parents are deceased. I know I need to go back to counseling just need God’s direction as to which one to go to. Have a Blessed Day!
Sheri bosch says
I’m not sure how I go about signing up to receive your emails.
I really love reading this post and I what to be able to get them from Leah directly.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
God’s blessings,
Sheri L. Bosch~
Daron Kopin says
Hi my family and I are in desperate need of prayer.It strarted years ago with my first abusive marriage in which I was threatened and signed divorce papers under durrest because I couldn’t afford a lawyer and thought I could fix it when I had money. Well we never have and apparently it doesn’t work like that. I need.an amazingly smart chosen by God attorney, and I cannot find one. I married the love of my life two years later but we have faced battle after battle between custody and dcf against my ex and him.somehow.still winning majority custody because I can’t afford a good attorney and he has all sorts of money.My husband who was an atheist when we originally married became a believer through my consistent prayers and a miracle but our trials have been horrid.I was a nurse working lots of long hours he is in school so I was carrying the financial burden and then serious health problems stepped into my life leaving me unable to work. He has a job that pays not enough to cover our bills and we are in foreclosur. On top. Of the other health problems…two months ago at the age of 31 I started having grandmal seizures which due to falls has also caused permanent damage. OUR marriage is strong but it is surely going through some testing. I can’t fix our financial struggles. I need a Phenominal attorney as the situation is very Serious and scary for me and my children and me.I desperately need to see.a very specialized Neurosurgeon/neurologist and I guess really we just need Gods hand in everything!!! MY depression is suffering greatly and I know only God can perform these miracles. PRAYER WARRIORS ARE GREATLY NEEDED FOR THE KOPIN FAMILY!!!! Thank you so very very much, may God.bless you ten fold!!
In Christ’s Holy and Powerful name,
DARON
Kelly S says
Daron,
Have faith, I’m not promising that your circumstances will change in the way you want them to or the timing you want but have faith and have patience in the Lord and know that if you Pray and know that it is in His hands and that His will is stronger than anyone elses finances than you are going to be ok. I have been a single parent for 13 years and have gone through some of the ugliest most unjust court battles, that you can possibly imagine. I was told to pray for my ex that he would have everything that I wanted. And after a while I prayed that he would be the closest person to know God on the Earth… I meant it for him. Just pray and then pray more and pray that is what is best for the children prevails. God says that he has rule over the courts. For christmas I just got served papers that he is going to try to go for weekend visitation…. he never even completed the last stipulatoins. I can’t afford an attorney iether, and this is very stressful, causing my ulcers to bleed again.! Ive spent 9 years in the coursts, but God has his reasons, and I’m sure one day I will understand. But for now, I know that His will is being done and even if the court decision is not what I want to hear and he gets put with a man who I’m afraid could hurt him and his growth, I’ll be at peace because I’ll know that it’s what God has for him for some reason.
BreaAnna says
Thank you for openly sharing your own story!
I would appreciate prayer as I have twice this week felt like ending it all but only been stopped by my housemate. No one else knows & my house mate does not speak much English. I have despaired over many things! I really need prayer to find important documents lost, for the settlement with violent ex husband to be finalised, my teaching to be protected and the investigation into my rape and email violation & my reaction to this to be solved with Gods help & strength to get through this all as I learn to walk again from a broken left ankle & torn ligament as well as an impinged ligament. Thank you & God Bless you.
Shay says
Just yesterday I had the same thing happen to me! I woke up with my stomach in knots, feeling like I couldn’t make it through one more day without help! I’ve been dealing with depression my entire life and it’s getting really old! No one wants to listen anymore because they’re tired of hearing me, but it’s been a constant burden upon my shoulders that I can’t shake at all. I’m just bone tired. Thank you for sharing! I still need prayers if you could say one for me. Thank you!
Kaye says
I do want to add that in the past I had horrible panic attacks and anxiety. I received alot of help through counseling and prayer. Now I just hurt inside and feel very empty.
chaundra says
Thank you for your vulnerability
Kaye says
I read your post on facebook. I feel so empty. Although I know that God has never left me or abandoned me. I am a widow have been for 9 yrs. I have gone through some amazing changes in my life. Some of it hurt so bad I didn’t think I could make it through one more day. I feel I have lost an important connection with my adult children. Therefore I haven’t much of a connection with my grandchildren. There is a hole in my soul. I keep asking God to fill it with Him. But at the same time, by actions or thoughts, I tell Him he is not enough. I am active in my church and community. I love children and always have so I am the Children’s Ministry Director in the church I attend. I am rambling on here. I need prayer. Not even sure what to pray for. Thank you for sharing your story.
CC says
I am praying for you Kay
Jennifer says
I was searching the internet tonite for scriptural passages of calming encouragement and I truly believe God led me to this website, your story. Tears poured down my face as I read it. You see, today was an unbelievably stressful, and on top of that, a very lonely day. I am experiencing some pregnancy complications and was taken off of work,which was a good thing for me and baby. However, I work in a very stressful, demanding job with all men who were were not only not in the least bit supportive or even concerned about my condition, but were more worried and annoyed about how it will affect them and their increased workload when I told them the news. So, all evening I had been sick with worry and guilt about how I let them down when I should have been taking care of me and my baby, not to mention my husband and two other children. The part that makes me even sicker is that I have to return to that environment post-baby. I needed encouragement and found your story. Thank you. I am going to pray my circumstances can change, but know that if they can’t there is help and support. God has got me. I have to believe that promise, even when I can’t see it or feel it.
JM says
I’m so glad I read your post tonight and I thank God for you for sharing your story with us. I know how it feels because I too have been there. I have taken medication on and off but I need a Christian counselor to work through my anxiety and fears and financial provision as well. I love the Lord and know He is the reason I keep on. Your prayers are much appreciated. Lord bless your ministry.
Jaclyn says
Thank you so much!! This is exactly what I needed to hear today!! I am really struggling with anxiety and stress!!! And I feel like I am not in a good place right now:( please pray for me!!!!
Joanna says
Also, please pray for wisdom for my husband and me in a business expansion possibility – we are truly in the unknown as to whether or not God wants us to do this!
Joanna says
Thank you SO much!
Tara says
Thank you for sharing this.. It’s not often I publicly share my most private prayer requests but I felt God leading me to share mine with you. I have three children, ages 18, 16, and 15. My oldest is in the Marine Corps and my other two children and myself and husband are standing in the need of prayer. I was divorced from my first husband due to addictions and abuse and I am now remarried to a god fearing and Amazing Husband. Shortly after I was divorced from my children’s Dad, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I moved in with her to help us both out. I could help her while she was receiving treatments and she and my stepdad helped keep me safe from a very angry ex husband. My kids fumed because this move meant they had to change schools so with the help of a mad, defiant ex husband, they hired an attorney and he fought me for custody. My hands were tied because the system said they were old enough to decide where they wanted to live, which was in their old school district with their dad. They spoke with the judge and told him so and my ex was awarded custody. My heart was crushed, life seemed useless at that time. Well, time went on and the things which I thought would kill me got easier and I met my wonderful now, husband. Now, we are at the place I knew Wewould eventually get to, where my oldest son is away serving our country and my other son and daughter are uncertain what they want. Though he has legal custody and I pay child support, they are with me most of the time, and I just drive them back and forth to school, since it’s very close to my house but across the state line. My daughter calls us constantly with her big old heart broken to pieces because her dad has left her at his brother or sisters house to go out with his friends and didn’t come back to get her. And my husband and I have told them time and time again, how much we want them here. I met with the guidance counselor alongside my daughter Hannah and my son Matt and my daughter shared with her the concerns she had she’s scared of she were to leave and move in with us, her dad would do something terrible so she feels as if she’s protecting him. And Legally, I can’t do a thing unless they get ready to make that decision. That feeling of your heart racing from overwhelming fear ans worry and concern, though it still sneaks up on me from time to time, I have learned to tame, simply by two techniques P.U.S.H ( pray until something happens ) and giving it completely to God and trusting him to guide and lead me to being the best Mom I can. I also gave three step children who are 15, 16. And 20. Life has certainly had its challenges but God has a purpose for all of it. But I believe in prayer and I believe that we ALL need to lay our weaknesses down at the cross, there may be no way in my human eyes to resolve these pains for my children, no easy way out of it, but a God has a purpose and a Plan greater than any other. I just ask you to pray for a Gods direction in their lives as well as in mine and my husbands. And for God to show us where he’s working in the situation. God bless you and your ministry snd thank you for your devotions!!!?
Crystal says
Please pray I continue on the path to healing. Trusting The Lord and using the tools and resources he’s blessed me with.
KLC says
Leah –
I understand exactly what you described about your experience. Being crushed by life’s pressures is a terrible feeling. My stresses are very similar to yours, but mine differs in that my marriage suffered a devastating blow by my husband’s infidelity. I have tried for more than three years to salvage any shred of love and respect that remained, but repeated incidences make it impossible to believe he has any real intention of ever being faithful to me. I read all these positive posts about having faith and trusting God to see me through, but sometimes I feel like God is saying ” I am trying to deliver you by making you aware of what is going on.” We have two teenage children, and their lives have been changed forever. My financial options are extremely limited. We separated for a few months, and his idea of a fair separation agreement was not exactly fair. I have spent all my retirement funds trying to keep the family afloat financially over the last five – seven years. The marriage vows I made said “for better, for worse, ….in sickness and in health”. At first, I thought my husband was having a mid-life crisis or a breakdown of some sort, but after so long a time and his seeming to be ok otherwise, his continued unfaithfulness would be a lifestyle instead of a crisis. I am crippled – unable to make a move – because of my fear of dismantling “our family”, causing more harm to our children, and my financial limitations. I just can’t see where God wants me to go or what He wants me to do.
T says
Thank you for delivering this message! It was just what I needed to hear. I have struggled with these issues for a while and it’s good to hear that I am not alone in this. You have sent a scripture from God to all of us who suffer with these issues of anxiety. Sometimes we just have to take a step back and realize that you can be a great woman but you don’t have to personally do everything. Striving to do all and striving for perfection will break you down. He hears our cries and delivers us…. love that verse. And reading it here today was just what I needed to put things in prospective. Thanks for your work!
Laurel Wycoff says
Thank you so much. Seeking professional help is something I’ve been struggling with for myself and my children. Their father is estranged and I recently ended a bad relationship after 6 years. Trying to just be myself and Mom right now and let the Lord lead the right man to me.
Stephanie says
I have struggled with the same feelings for almost 4 years now…i have sought professional help and was put on antidepressents. They helped for awhile but then my old symptoms came back. I found a counsouler and went a few times and it seemed to help but then had to stop cause we couldnt affors it anymore. Now im just dealing with it day by day…somedays good and some are horrible. I have continued to pray for God to help me and i know thag He can here me…but things dont seem to b getting better. I will continue praying..cause sometimes that is the only thing that keeps me grounded 🙂
Renee Bankston says
It’s so comforting to know that I am not alone, I had a nervous break down on January 5,2012. I was the breadwinner for our family, I took care of it all…notice the word I, we all know that’s not right, God is in control, he is the pilot, not me. I crashed so bad my body thought I was having a stroke, I was rushed by ambulance to the er and spent one long week in the hospital every test they could do was done…no stroke, no ms, no heart issues, all mental. Wow, this was not in MY plans I was way to busy to be sick and how embarrassing – you don’t wear a bandage around your head when you have a nervous breakdown. I never went back to work, I can no longer drive my car, I have generalized anxiety disorder with agoraphobia and I have a stroke conversion disorder. I have learned thst God loves me, he holds me by my hand, he is my rock, my fortress! Thank you for your blog and I look forward to your posts and words of encouragement.
Gina says
Thank you for sharing. I am currently going through anxiety, although I’m handling it much better since seeing my doctor. My anxiety started last month when after dozing in bed for about 10-15 minutes I woke up panicked and could barely breathe. It really scared and upset me. My doctor said it was probably a mucus plug. I started worrying about it happening again. I have prayed about it, but I’m still scared at times. I am trying to give my worry and fear to the Lord because it is too hard to live being afraid. Please pray that I can release this fear/anxiety/worry. Thank you so much!
Audret says
Thank you for sharing! You have allowed God to make something great out of something not good… Prayers I will do the sAme!
Nancy says
Hi Leah! Thank you for sharing your story….I could have written it if I had had the courage. I am in a very similar place and I would appreciate your prayers. God Bless you for sharing!
Toby says
Thank you for this devotion. I think I’ve been in the parking lot for 3 years…trying to figure it all out. Still not there…just keep praying that God will set me on the road to a happy healthy life. Please pray for me.
Linda Builta says
I so related to your story as my daughter and her 4 kids are living with us and my mom and dad are living here to. My husband is retired and doesn’t help much. I feel very like I am on over load and no one wants to help. Money is tight since we are retired. Thanks I will read it over again.
Beth says
This post was such a direct answer to my prayer. I am struggling with anxiety over the health of my children.
trina says
All Praises go to God I thank him for letting you cross my path. I Had a meltdown just today. I lost my job and my mate turned on me after being by his side for years. My funds ran out and I was in an accident. but my faith is still strong. I ask God constantly to help my mind to stay on him. because I loved the job I was at but the stress was so thick, like You quoted at times I felt like a failure. But My ministries in God church increased, God bless me to be an Licensed Minister but that is a title I know Intercessory is my Passion I just feel like wear and tear. I love the word of God so much and I love serving I know he has a plan Jeremiah 29:11
Colleen Kennedy says
Leah: I won’t bore you with the whole story but suffice it to say through the death of my husband three years ago and a ton of other things including financial issues and stress-related health issues, God brought this prodigal daughter back on track in July 2012. It has been a total struggle. But God has been there for me through the tears, pain, and sorrow. I lost my almost 15 year old cat yesterday to a dog attack. Then I haven’t heard from my fiancé in 4 days – not normal. Hard to trust but I appreciated that you reminded me to look at where I was and where I am and God’s blessing and love and care the entire way through some really icky times. Please pray for John and Nicholas (his son) that they be safe wherever they are right now. Thank you and praying for you too! Thanks for sharing.
Julie says
I have been struggling with severe anxiety and panic attacks for 3 years. I am 42, with a 4 and 6 year old. I am so afraid that something will happen to me, and they will not be raised to hunger for the Lord. I have been to the ER 4 times in the last 3 years, and was told it was panic and anxiety, not a heart attack. I have been to one of the best heart doctors in Houston; she ran tons of tests, and told the same thing. There is nothing wrong with my heart. I am afraid to be by myself with my kids because I don’t want something to happen. I have started seeing a counselor, and I also take medication for this. Thank you for your words and prayers.
Mary says
Thank you for your honesty! It gives mre encouragement that I’m not alone and I don’t have to be ashamed and guilty. I have known the Lord since I was
19 now I am 43 and have been experiencing similar experience but have not reached out because of my own pride and need to do things on my own. But now I see sometimes healing takes time and help from others. Thank you!
Kelli says
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I hope one day to have the courage to share mine. About a year ago I started having panic and anxiety attacks which I am sure came from the stress of my everyday life of handling everything and trying to be so strong when the world around me and my kids fell apart. I carried around this barrel of guilt on my shoulders for way to long and am working to release it and it is so hard to let go of some things. I started on some medicines and went to counseling which has helped a bunch. I am out of counseling now and starting to come off my medicines. I am doing well but still struggle some. I am really wanting to draw closer to God but it just seems like the Devil just keeps throwing things my way to destroy me and bring me back down. Please pray for me that I will continue to stay strong and hopefully be able to have the courage to share my story and maybe help someone. Thank you
Lee says
You’ve obviously hit home with many of us. I tried to hold it together through SO much, a lot of what others have also shared. I couldn’t turn to a loving husband because I had an abusive one. Nor could I turn to my family—3,000 miles away. Divorced, trying to care for 3 sons, the loss of a job, financial ruin, and yet clinging to the Lord with everything I had. Suddenly, I hit a wall from seemingly out of no where……….pain, darkness, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep,panic attacks, deep depression……I thank God for 3 friends who became the Good Samaritans for me, and for many others who interceded. I FORGIVE those who came, like Job’s “comforters” to subtly accuse or dish out meaningless cliches. I am grateful for healing, not only for myself, but also for others the Lord will use me to help. Please pray, though, because I am again unemployed and also very much want a Godly spouse——–to actually feel loved. Thanks and blessings
Crystal Gaines says
Please just intercede for me.
Katrina says
Oh my as I read this I saw myself. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I just recently told myself that I need admitted into a hospital to just get a break from life, stress. I really need to read your book. I’m going to call Monday morning to our insurance company to see what they can do to help. Thanks so much!! I feel some of the bricks on my shoulder starting to loosen. Blessings!
Shawn says
I read this and thought this is me. All day I have wondered if I should go to the hospital. I feel “done” inside. I just don’t have anything left in me to give. I have started to seek help but my job is a roadblock and so I haven’t gotten very far. Although people know I am having a tough time they really don’t know how bad it is. I have to hold it all together for everyone and I am afraid I can’t anymore. I feel shame and embarrassed that as a Christian I have let the trials of this world wear me down. I hope for some healing. I truly do.
Anita says
Thank you for sharing this today. I am feeling so down today because of marital problems. Please pray for my marriage and my huband-he is not a Godly Christian man. I don ‘t know why but today is a really tough day. I have been crying and praying most of the day. Again thank you.
Cynthia says
I am a new believer, I just recently joined a Christian Church here in Chicago. I am 45 years old and suffered from severe depression most of my adult life. Been hospitalized several times, because of suicidal thoughts. Since joining church, my life has drastically changed! I am happy, thoughts of suicide are gone. God has shown me that he is with me. One thing I am having trouble with is how to pray, I feel I am repeating the same request over and over. I speak from my heart, but am insecure on how I am doing things. Please pray for my continued growth with God!
sheila says
Yes, the years of struggle with worry over all the above do take over. My daughter was diagnosed with cancer, my son with diabetes, and my husband has every medical condition known to man with the most recent being an 82 lb weight loss for no specific reason or attempt and now they are talking about a gastric pacemaker implant. On top of that, he charged up significant debt approx 2 years ago and has been issued a summons to court but fails to do anything about it. I am terrified I will lose my home and my 14 year old car! i am praying for continued strength for my struggles but also trying desparately minute by minute to keep turning them over to the Lord who has always provided some how, some way in the past and I pray will continue to hold my hand in the future.
Elizabeth says
Thanks for sharing your story it was exactly whatiI needed to see I’ve been having suicidal thoughts for about a year and a half. I have epilepsy and its hard on me cause since 2012 I haven’t been able to keep a job due to my symptoms and Dr appts but when my dad passed away unexpectedly I got worse my seizures are 3-4 times a week and I can’t do little things like standing up for long periods of time and physical activitylike making my bed or sweeping. My relationship with my fiancé is falling apart I can’t get a job because of my credit score my mom is living in a house that is basically in an unlivable state and I just found outyesterday that she needs to get a liver biopsy because the Dr thinks she has sclerosis of the liver and on top of that the employment people who help people with disabilities get jobs told me until I get my seizures under control I will have my case closed and the social security keeps denying me and Ihave 2 kids a 6 and 8 year old that I need to take care of so I have been feeling like killing myself everyday but the thought of my kids are what is keeping me from going and actually doing it even with my meds my life just keeps getting worse by the second so I just hope I will one day be happy again
Lori says
Thank you for sharing your story; I too feel like i could be in your shoes. I lost my career and my best friend and brother, one aunt and one cousin all within 6 months of each other. I felt lost and devastated! Praise the Lord for a great group of ladies, that brought me by their sides and invited me to a Bible Study. A husband who refused to give up on me! God bless him! Truly an answer to prayer, it is where I started to heal and not that I am there yet and days I still struggle; but God has shown me so much through these trials I never would have developed a stronger relationship with him…many prayers!
Katherine Hannibal says
My job has caused me so much stress that it has affected my whole life. Finally my husband told me things have to change. I didn’t know what to do. I asked him for assistance which was scary for me to do as well as I cried out to God later that same day to hear me and to help me. I now have 2 possible jobs and am replying on God to provide. Thanks for sharing this post. It’s nice to know someone else has been in your shoes. Thank you.
Teresa says
I absolutely loved your post today, feeling it was somehow meant for me. I am on a journey at this moment to fill myself back up! I have willingly given so much but now I am at the point that I’m used up. I am in week 4 of a 10 week Beth Moore bible study and am also finding daily blessing sent my way by random postings on FB. I’m sure they have been there all along but I had my spiritual eyes closed. My eyes are now open and I am looking forward to this new place I am about to enter!
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1
Jill says
I have suffered with these feelings, I have ended up at Doctors offices in emotional distress, they want to hospitalize me, have tried medication but I stopped taking them praying that God will release me and take care of me. I “ran away ” from a family situation and took my husband and 2 college aged sons cross country to start a new life as a family without the problems with my father and his girlfriend that strangled us. We didnot know anyone where we were going, but trusted God for help. Since moving here we have suffered through employment troubles, 2 sons who have dropped out of college and cannot find jobs, problems finding friends, we are living on the very edge of financial drop not of our own doing. I have thrown my hands up and cried out to Jesus many times.. I still pray for help so I donot go overboard.
Anne Denner says
Thank you so much for this message today! It was truly a word in due time. So much has been happening not only in my life but the life of my church. You see our beautiful 160 yr. old church burned to the ground on 12/3/2013. God is working but someday’s it just seems like not fast enough.. May I please request prayer for our congregation? We are Lazarus United Church of Christ in Lineboro, Maryland. Please feel free to visit our Facebook page and take a sad look at our little church. We are blessed, we are meeting at the local firehall and the community outreach has just been amazing. We are like Lazarus himself, God is calling Lazarus come out!!
Bobbie Riddles says
I know what you have been through.. Unfortunately, I have been to the ER more times than I want to admit. Please pray for me. I suffer from panic attacks and agoraphobia. I have been unable to travel for 6 years. It is so difficult on not only myself, but my family as well. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Christine says
Thank you for sharing your heart… and there is HOPE. I would be grateful to win the book giveaway; very relevant where I am today.
Debbie says
I deal with a lot of anxiety and depression. I take medicine but at times I feel overwhelmed and and feel like I can’t handle anymore. I thought it might be a hormonal thing because of my age. (50)! I don’t like living with the butterflies in my stomach and feeling the Dom that takes place with this condition. I would live to find a Christian counselor to speak with. We live in a small area and haven’t been able to find anyone. I love to hear others stories to find out that we ask have storms in this life.
Jenni White says
I am praying today for my marriage that is failing. Every time I feel like I can’t continue, God sends a clear message not to give up yet, He has bigger and better plans for us. Though, I am covered in despair and crushed in spirit, ready to walk away, I have to believe in His desire for our family. Today, your post was one of the messages He sent me. Thank you for sharing it!
Stacee says
God’s timing is perfect and His gifts are amazing… That overwhelmed feeling is creeping in again and I feel He gifted me with your devotional and blog post today. Thank you for sharing your story and His grace, love and hope!
slb says
Hi!!
Thank you so much for you post. My past year has been one trying moment after another. Our family has dealt with the suicide of a 16 year old and my teenage son has made some really bad choices I never thought would happen to us! My husband is a pastor and I lead a large bible study. I am often meeting with other women helping them through problems when I am so broken. My doctor today recommended seeing a counselor. I wasn’t sure about this until I read your post. I feel like God was reassuring me through your post that this would be a step in my healing. So thank you again for being transparent.
Tina says
I came across your story today through email and as I am reading Im thinking oh my this lady has somehow heard my story. I fell into that deep pit of despair a few months ago and ended up leaving my husband and children thinking they deserved better than this wife/mother. I have recently found a church and have started attending regularly again and during this move two states away from my family I have finally heard God’s voice to me again. See, that pit had me believing that God didn’t want me, that I was no good. I’m beginning my climb out of it and finally hearing God telling me that is not the truth and how he loves me. Your story made me cry because I’ve sat in that parking lot and cried and thought I was crazy that I was unworthy and that maybe my family would be better off without me. Thank you for posting this today. You’ve given me encouragement that I’m not alone at all, that there are other women out there that are or have been right where I am now. God bless you.
Sue says
Thanks for sharing Leah. I’m a person to keep things inside and put on a face of things being ok.
The hardest part is reaching out and sharing difficult situations with others, but it is the best way.
Joan says
Thank you for your honesty.
Michelle says
God will make a way. Two years ago, in a marriage that was falling apart, with two young children, no job, no home, and no hope, God is making a way.
Suzette says
Thank you, and the Lord, for the confirmation i needed in taking the next step.
Karen Gooden says
I really don’t know where to start. My sweet daddy got real sick around this time last year, he went to a nursing home for rehab for 26 days, came home and things seemed to be going some what ok.
He ended up back and forth in the hospital, then one day the doctor says there’s nothing else we can do for him and you all need to make a decision either nursing home or hospice. I remember thinking no he didn’t just say hospice, please Lord my daddy can’t be that sick. I quit my job and practically my husband and home to help with taking care of my daddy with home hospice.
There were so many times we thought God was calling him home, but he was such a strong man and did not want to leave us.
On December 1st 2013 God called him home, the next day my uncle which was married to my daddy’s sister passed away, they both had been very sick.
I thought no God please my daddy is gone and I don’t know what we are going to do, please bring him back to us.
I was doing fairly well and was going on with my life and trying to be strong for my mama, then anxiety hit me and just will not go away. I have been to the dr. thinking I was having a heart attack, or something bad was happening to me and now I have become this scared to be by myself person and feeling like I’m going crazy, then today I get on facebook and a friend has posted your story and now I’m writing to you to ask that you please pray not only for me and my family but for everyone.
Thank you,
Karen Gooden
Lori says
Dearest Karen,
I am praying for you and your family….all these stories are so tender and touching! May God rest His arm around you and give you strength and courage to get through the days ahead.
Lori
Susan K says
Thank you for sharing your story. Your site is beautiful!
Nicole Langlois says
You”re story has really inspired me to comment on my issues today. My husband and I have major financial worries all of the time. We live paycheck to paycheck, but we have to rely on our families financial assistance to make ends meet. What makes matters worse is that my husband often feels like a total failure…..but he is not. I lost my job in May of last year and I am trying with all my might to get another one. My husband works 2 jobs and still we can’t make it alone. Mike and I both hate asking for money……it’s embarrassing and somewhat degrading. I keep praying, but I feel that I must not have real faith if I worry……a faithful person doesn’t seem to worry, they LET GO AND LET GOD. What does that really mean, and can I have some???
Noa says
Please lift up my mother in prayer because I honestly feel like she is experiencing a lot of the same things but is in denial because she wants to be strong for her family. Plus she has been having more health issues lately. I’m doing more to help because I would hate to see her to get to this point, so I am trying to trust that God will make a way for her and for us whichever way He deems best. Thank you all.
Brooke says
Thank you for sharing your story! I have been struggling for the past 2 months and in the last few weeks am finally seeing a bit of relief. God is good! Please pray for continued healing for me and my marriage and for God’s direction on where to connect in a church.
Mitzii says
Thank you!! I needed this today!
Jen says
Hello! I am definitely a “worrier” and it runs in our family. Becoming a mother has only made me want to control things more as a result of worry. I have also felt really discouraged about my marriage for some time. I am beginning to pray more regularly again which is definitely helping. Thank you for sharing so we know we are not alone in these struggles!
Laurie says
Thank you for sharing! Please pray for me, as life is so overwhelming right now… same worries as you had. Thank you!
Debbie says
God’s timing is always perfect! I went to bed last night with these same thoughts and questions filling the pit of my stomach. I tend to go from one self-help book to another (all Christian based), hoping to be “fixed”. But I never get very far into them. About 6 years ago, I actually did the unimaginable, and ended up in a general hospital for 4 days followed by involuntary psychiatric hospital admission for 10 days, followed by 1 month of required outpatient group counseling. I have been meeting with a CCEF counselor at our church on a weekly basis for one year. Although it has been very helpful to just be able to talk about my life in general, I know I need additional counseling; probably a Christian psychologist.
Please pray that the Lord will lead me to the perfect one for me, and that I will not be devoured by the roaring lion.
Kathy D. says
I am always empowered by the encouragement for today stories. The theme is alwats what i need. I can no longer work because of some disabilities but i do feel i am an important part of my world. Many people i meet are left at ease or hopeful. To continue to do that i read and share what i learn. Thank you for sharing and adding to my already precious day.
Redis says
I think your blog is part of the answer to my prayer. Am struggling with depression and anxiety. Can’t talk with family and friends about it. God will have to provide the means for a professional counselor because my budget is broken too.
Clinging to hope,
Redis
Ann Marie Peterson says
Excellent post that I’m sure will help many women.
Heather says
Thanks for posting this! Let’s me know I’m not alone. Been in the same horrible home (next to bad neighbors and a hill that is impassable during winter) for 4 long years, filled with anxiety about the direction of my kids education (keep homeschooling or not, and adequately), and the ongoing years of waiting to be used in a particular ministry. Often feel like I’m rotting away, with no purpose. Praying a breakthrough in these and many other areas.
Lynn says
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I think it really helps all of us when someone opens up and shares as you have. So many of us can relate to your story. I can’t wait to hear more!
Michele says
Your message really hit home today. I have been struggling with overwhelming stress in my life. Our finances, my health, my children’s health, my mom’s health. All of it is becoming overwhelming and I’m not sure where to turn! Your message has shown me where, or should I say whom, I need to turn to! I am unable to sleep at night and my husband thinks my current health issues are because I have literally made myself sick worrying and stressing about everything in my life. I have no joy, no happiness, only anger and sadness and emptiness. I feel like a shell of the person I once was. I have experienced several losses in the past year and a half. Please pray for my mom’s health, the health of my children and my health. thank you!
Angela says
Lisa,
I too am a stepmother but with a totally different situation. We’ve had an incredibly stressful week, as my hsuband sent one of his sons to live with his mother to ensure the rest of the family’s safety. On top of that, my daughter started having issues. I needed to read this devotional today. It never ceases to amaze me how God always knows what we need and when we need it.
Ruth says
I TOO HAVE EXPERIENCED PANIC ATTACKS. I ASK THAT YOU PRAY THAT MY SON WILL BE RELEASED FROM THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL.
Cindy Holland says
My husband had a long going affair with my Best Friend, my Prayer Partner at that. My Children were going through so much it was hard to think of myself and leave… We own a business my husband and I and working together and alway worried he was seeing or talking to her brought so much stress my husband a good man once abond a time was trapped by my Friend who was so convincing … Lying was all she knows … All while using God as her weapon …4 years later I lied in bed day after day not wanting to leave my house isolated and really numb to feelings ! God oh God I ask how did I get here and now separated from my husband one child in college and the other my son with anger issues he doesnt apply himself in school and he’s mad at me for being weak mad at his dad for what he has done I feel helpless … As you said stress can take us and God can save us … I am waiting another day for that help. God pleas fill the voids and holes in my Family’s life… Save me as I wait !
Lucy says
Thank you so much for sharing your story. You are offering a tremendous gift to Christian women who are suffering, I believe. There seems to be judgment against Christians who seek professional help, and I thank you for helping others understand that counseling and medication can be one of the many ways God works to heal suffering.
As an individual who has been on the receiving end, I know too well the feeling of not having enough belief in God because I sought professional help. God has definitely carried me through, and counseling was one of the tools He used.
Now I am on the giving end as a counselor, and I sometimes meet others who struggle because they seek help. I often use the analogy of a diabetic: Would you ever judge them for seeking professional help, rather than relying solely on prayer? It’s the same with mental illness.
Thank you! I look forward to hearing the rest of your story.
Jessica says
Thank you for putting your story out there! It helps to know that others experience trials in life. This prayer request is mostly for my mother. She is struggling in the process of dealing with my drug addicted younger brother and knowing how and what to do with helping him. It has been a long tiresome few years for her. I just ask for prayers for her because I know thru Christ is the only peace she will find. Thanks so much!
Donna says
Leah. Thank you for your truth. I am where u were. Slightly better today. Through God’s grace, prayer, this site & Agape Cafe. My teen daughter so lost. Drugs, alcohol, men, chaos. Am afraid for her survival. She does’t trust anyone or anything. Please pray for her to find the Lord today. He is the only hope for her sobriety, her life. I have given her all I have to give. Anxiety is crippling. Unemployed. Lawsuits. Physical health issues. Now Agoraphobic. Already have professionals helping me. But its all about God. I need to be reminded of that daily. Thank you for doing that for me todsy.
Kirsten Nakashima says
Thank you so much for this post. I felt like you were talking directly to me. I feel at a loss right now, not sure where to start, but know I need help to get through my situation. I know god is here to help and I feel him nudging me. I’ve been praying everyday and I feel this is his answer to my prayer. Thank you!
Jenny says
Thanks for your post. We are looking at moving out of state for a new job, away from family. The thought of packing up and moving is just overwhelming.
Jen says
Thank you for sharing your story, Leah. I also struggle with fear, worry, and anxiety. I want to be free!
Cindi says
Leah,
Once again Proverbs 31 has been a divine appointment for me this morning! I am having the very same emotional breakdown you described in your devotion… I too believe God is with me but the overwhelming anxiety causes my emotions to spend out of control. I’m sad that there are so many women feeling this very same thing. I pray that God will use you over the next 3 weeks to bring His truths to us and encourage each of us to take it out into our community, church, office, etc. We need to hear we are not alone.. Thank you Leah for being honest and vulnerable, may God bless your ministry and your family.
Marcy B. says
Thank you for letting us know we are not alone in our struggles. I am so used to holding everything in and being the “strong” one that it is wearing me out. I am getting back into God’s Word and learning to trust him with my burdens.
Jeanne Tondryk says
Thank you for sharing. I’ve been in similar situations and back again to the same spot and feeling God is far away from me. Being alone, my kids are on their own and they are high functioning disabilities, my ex husband trying to ‘take care’ of them through control and his anger with the divorce of ours over 8 years ago, trying to keep my kids wedged from me, I feel so alone. I’ve cried out for help, talked with my friends and now back in counseling. Pray that I feel loved and can feel that I’m enough.
L says
Leah, Please pray for me. I wrote a long reply to you and had to delete it. I can’t post specifics but God knows. Thank you.
Jennifer says
I read your blog on Encouragement for Today and wanted to Thank you for sharing your story.
I’m currently 9 months pregnant and a month ago my husband left our family and asked for a divorce. I have a wonderful support system of friends and family, but most of them live several hours away. I have been struggling with trying to understand why this is happening and how my husband can leave at this time. I don’t know how to help him with whatever issues he’s going through while trying to prepare to bring a child into the world. I go to church, but I’m not very active. I haven’t told alot of our mutual friends because I don’t know how to answer their questions. I’m lost and need prayers.
Thanks.
Rebecca says
Thank You for sharing your story. I can so relate as I go thru this now. The song “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North describes it all. Everytime I hear it I think “that’s me”. It’s good to know I’m not alone and others understand.
Lisa Vanderveen says
Hello. I am a mother and step-mother in a blended family of 9 total. We have had full-custody for the past 7 years. One of my daughters has been having an extremely rough time living with us and has decided to live with her dad, his girlfriend, and her two sons. They’re not married. I am so sad, she is moving out this weekend. I have another daughter who is going to have scoliosis surgery soon. She has had it since birth. In and out of a hard brace and is now 12. My step-children lost their mother suddenly, after she was just coming back into their lives after a long while. So much has happened to our blended family both before “us” and since. I have wanted to leave and give up so many times. Thanks for sharing your article. It helps me to know I’m not alone. Thanks again! Your sharing helps so many of us to be encouraged, and remember Jesus is always our helper!
Susan says
Thank you for reaching out to people, there are so many who are hurting these days. I was there once, but I too was rescued by our Savior. If you could pray health for my husband and myself I would sure appreciate it. God bless you and your family and your staff. SC
AJN says
Thank you for sharing your story! It is so nice to know I am not alone in my struggles nor am I the only one to have experienced some tough experiences.
Gail Dorroh says
I feel as if today’s devotion was written just for me. I ask your prayers today as I deal with so much stress in my daily life. I’m what I call a “statistic” – a grandmother raising my 11 & 9 year old grandchildren and some days it just takes it’s toll on me. I love them so much and I know how much they need me so I know that I can’t give up – no matter how hard it gets. This along with working a full time job; trying my best to be the wife I should be; keeping house; and on and on and on the list goes. I thank God for the daily strength that He does give me. Without God in my life I would have given up a long time ago. But as you know – even then it’s still a daily struggle. Thank you for this devotion today that was written “just for me”. God bless.
Tina says
Thanks for your devotion. I relate all too well. Wondering if I should check into the stress center. After years and years of being the “strong one” in the family, I am struggling to see any light in the future. I don’t want to be the “strong one” anymore. It has taken its toll and I feel like I can’t recover from it, let alone the ongoing stresses of life. I am a believer and know that God has a plan but am also having a hard time reaching out to that foundation I have taken along with me for so many years. I so wish for release and to be the one who gets “taken care of” for a change. Sounds selfish I suppose but I just feel so “spent”. In the midst of it all, people tell me that I need to take care of myself and I can’t even figure out what that means or how to do it at this point.
Thanks again for your devotion and sharing your experience with so many! Please pray for me!
Brenda says
I normally don’t post comments but I am currently going through a divorce. I have two boys that I am raising on my own. I worry about them constantly – I just want to know that they are going to be okay. I am trying my best to be strong but there are some days that I am so overwhelmed. I feel like I am just going through the motions. Please pray for me and my family. I am a suscriber to the Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today devotions, and usually just ignore them in my e-mail box. For some reason, I clicked on your message today and am so glad I did! Thank you!
Jamie says
Thank you for this posting. My husband says that I am going to lead myself to an early grave if I don’t stop stressing/worrying over everything. We are a dual military family and I am facing an upcoming training where I will have to leave my 13 month old (at the time of training) for 12 weeks. We don’t have many people we can depend on and I have anxiety over who will care for him while I am gone. I am also struggling with my job and the salary I make. There are so many other things I could talk about…from my marriage to my finances…the stressors seem astronomical. Please say a prayer for our little family. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all that you do for women…
Carol says
Please pray for my son who is estranged from our family and for my father-in-law who is causing a lot of trouble in our family-owned business. Both situations are causing a lot of stress and heartache to our family and nothing we try seems to resolve either situation.
Nancy says
Hello!
I want to echo your call for all people, but women in particular (mostly because I am a woman!) to not be afraid to seek professional help. I have dealt with chronic depression since 1998. It wasn’t until after I was diagnosed in 1998 that I found out from family members that depression does run in my family. I am a devout Christian; I am a wife and mother; I am an attorney; and I am a would-be writer. I am not less in any of these roles because I have a health condition that needs treatment. I am not weak, I am not failing in my faith because I need treatment and I am grateful every day that I wake up that God has placed people in my path from whom I can get the help I need.
For most of you, having depression will be, in a way, like having a broken arm. Once you get treatment for the broken arm, it heals and you never have trouble again. For the vast majority of people, depression is a one time thing. Get help; get treated and live on!
For those of you, like me, who do have a chronic problem, think of it as if you had a long-term condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. Would you refuse to treat your RA if something was available to help you live a normal life? Just like with most chronic problems, you will have an ebb and flow in your condition, but with God’s help, which includes Him leading you to professional help, you can overcome.
Make no mistake; it takes courage to deal with depression, in any of its form. For those of us who have chronic depression, it takes courage and endurance to recognize that we will fight this battle on and off for the rest of our lives. God will give you the strength, the courage and the resources to help you when you need it, and you will find each time that life possesses hope and laughter and love. Then, sometimes, you get the sweetest affirmation of all – God Himself will tell you during your prayer time how proud He is that you continue to fight this battle every day without giving up.
I know. I’ve lived it.
Shannon says
Please pray for me. I am getting better at my panic attacks, but I am still so consumed with worry and fear, that I am afraid to be anywhere other than home. I used to be ok as long as my husband was with me, but now i am scared anywhere afraid that i am going to pass out, etc. My kids want to go on vacations, etc., and I am just terrified. I go, but I have to pray the whole time just for peace, and just to be able to stay where we are. I see some of this rubbing off on my kids and I don’t want them to ever feel like I feel.
Amber Donnelly says
What a great ministry! I would like prayer for my mom who suffers from anxiety and depression. I have seen the toll it takes on her life and how it impacts all of us. I pray for her to be free and joyful with the peace of the Lord. I would also like prayer for a new job and my family’s finances. That I will be blessed doing Real Estate and Loans and still be able to be involved with my children and all their activities. For peace and joy in my home and for my family to receive the full blessings God has for us! Thanks so much.
Connie says
I’m a Jesus loving girl saved by the Grace of God yet I struggle with bipolar disorder and all the “wonderful” things that go along with that disorder. Please pray for me and my family at this time. As a Christian it’s not easy to accept mental health issues for myself…I suppose I think those issues are understandable for most people , but not for me….crazy, huh??? Prayers appreciated!! Thank you for your open and honest post!!!
Cynthia says
I understand you completely. I’m there as well so you are not alone. Just know that God is carrying you through all of this and don’t give the enemy a foothold, he wants to destroy us but we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. I love reading these verses Psalm 139:14-16. It reminds me that God created me just the way I am and his works are wonderful.
Will be praying for you!
Julie says
A powerful reading for me … at just the right time. Thank you!
Katie says
I needed this today, more than you’ll ever know. I’m so glad I found your blog through Proverbs 31.
S says
God bless you for sharing. Please pray for me to find my joy and peace in Jesus and for me to experience him in a much bigger way.
Dana S says
Thank you for your post, many of your points hit home with me. I too have reached points where I feel life is caving in on me. Only thru renewed and consistent focus on Christ, are we able to move past these points and heal. I’ve had numerous of them. Almost 13 years ago come March, I lost my husband unexpectedly – came home and found him outside. I was pregnant with our third child. Six years after that I was diagnosed with a chronic, uncureable illness (thankfully in remission). 16 months ago on the 11th, my oldest (18 at the time) died in a single car accident. Teenagers think they are invincible – he lost control of his car and hit a tree. Although my family and I did not “disappear” into a fog this time, we have been just surviving and not living to our fullest. I have felt God telling me to take time and concentrate on my family. As a single parent I never thought I could not work outside the home, but that is soon to become my reality, at least for a short season of my life. I urge everyone who reads your blog, to give your burdens over to God, He will lead you up out of the pit of despair. (And yes, professional help does help).
Nancy says
My beautiful oldest daughter has spent the last two weeks in the hospital because she starved herself almost to death. Monday she’ll go to a treatment center, where she’ll be for many months, and then she’ll continue to have professional help for years. We all (I have two younger daughters who are hurt and confused too) need lots of prayer. Right now this is all beyond our comprehension, but we have her in the care of some wonderful Christians, for which we’re grateful.
Stephanie says
Just the title alone spoke to me today. Feeling anxious and overwhelmed and often, as if it would be better to not be here…. We’ve had a thousand stressors and adverse circumstances in 2014. Just when I think things may get better, something else goes deeply wrong. My marriage feels strained at times. I’d just love us to pray together once, but no matter how often I bring that to God, nothing changes. I’ve had health complications. I feel the need to be strong and keep it together for my family, but inside I feel….forgotten.
Traci Aldridge says
I just wanted to say HALLELUJAH! Its not just me. This example of your day happens to me weekly. I am so overwhelmed and this has brought light. My husband tells me what I need to do but that Pride and Denial gets in the way. We need to remember God’s love is there and its his love that gets us through. Praise him love him. Thanks so much for your life experience. Now i need a road to recovery. I get discouraged sometimes because this is the normal conditioned life i have but i do not want to have a life that is so negative. I want to feel positive! Thanks again!
Dorothy says
I so understand the feelings you are expressing in this post. My anxiety has been over the top for a few months now. My daughter has accused my husband of doing something and sorting through fact from fiction has torn my family apart. I am trying hard to trust God to lead me but somedays that is a really hard thing to do. I pray every night for peace and understanding with whatever may come of all of this. I just hope that I am following his lead and not my own.
Katie Z. says
Leah,
I appreciate your words today–they went straight to my heart. I plan to follow your next few posts to learn about your journey….I think it may impact mine. 🙂
Blessings,
Katie
Lisa says
My name is Lisa. My husband medically retired from.the.Army after 17.5 years active duty. We have four children 9.7.6.3. My husband has ptsd and tbi from all deployments he went on. Afghanistan and Iraq. We have been out of the Army four months, and his invisible wound is slowly showing. Its been hard emotionally. He.doesnt talk for days, yells, and he.is just so angry. Its different daily. We just hope he is in a good mood. I am emotionally tired, and God knows exactly where my mind is at. When i read testimonys from your daily email。it is encouragement. I listen to klove daily and the songs are amazing. When i sing the songs with praise to God, it gives me peace.
Lisa says
I know that God is using you to remind me that He is able! I have been struggling with many of those same feelings recently and felt that if I asked for help that I would be perceived as weak and inadequate. Thank you for your sweet reminder and I can’t wait to share this journey together! God bless you as you minister to us!
Ash says
Amen. Thank you for sharing. This has encouraged me. The part of Psalm 34 that sticks right now I’ll personalize “the eyes of the Lord are upon me and his ears are open to my cry” (and of course all of His dear children). We’re reminded of His truths so often but every time it speaks to our needs. I’m going through a difficult family situation and God has been totally awesome, always by my side as He promised. and I’m sure He has a higher purpose for this period of ‘suffering’. I’ve determined in my heart that I will press on with God’s help and through tears sometimes. I look to him and give way to His will. I trust Him to work all things together for my good because He is faithful.
Shawna says
Thank you so much for sharing your story and thank you Heavenly Father for putting it in my email for me to read. It was put there for a reason. I have been struggling with what seems like weeks, but it’s actually been my entire life with insecurities and trust issues. I constantly worry to feed my mistrust and I am harming myself emotionally and important relationships in my life because of it. I also am teaching my son on an unsubconscious level these traits. I make myself physically sick from worry. I pray about it, but just don’t feel resolution. I ask that you and everyone reading this, please pray for me and that God will heal me of these demons and for me to look to Him only for comfort and security. Thank you!
julie says
Thank-you so much for this very timely devotional. I found you thru my devotional email of Prov. 31. I have been waking up worrying about family, marriage, finances, and health lately. Please pray for financial blessings for our family. My husband was out of work for a while so we got into a hole. He’s working now, but it seems like no matter how carefully we manage and try to save, it isn’t enough. I have a son with adhd and anxiety (wonder who he inherited this from….) I could relate to everything you mentioned. I know that God intended and planned for me to read this today. I wrote down the Psalm 34:15-18 verses to carry with me. I feel like I am constantly being tempted to worry from the devil. He knows my weakness. Thanks for your blog, I will try to subscribe as well. I prayed for many of the women who’ve commented above me. It feels better just knowing we all are on similar difficult journeys. Thanks so much!
Anne-Marie says
Asking for prayer for my friend Kristin. She is suffering from post-partum depression. May Our Lord send her a lifeline of love and hope.
lynndiane says
Wow! So many prayer requests here…you struck a chord. Please also pray with me for my friend, Leanne, who is a prisoner in her own home due to anxiety and depression…she needs a God-sized breakthrough.
Tara says
This post means so much to me. I didn’t seek professional help or God’s help in time and ended up going to alcohol rehab and a mental hospital after I tried to take my life. During this time, I found out that I am bipolar and that alcohol and bipolarism go hand in hand. I now see a wonderful psychiatrist and am getting help. However, no matter how much medicine I take, it doesn’t seem to ‘fix’ me. I cry all the time. I tried to take my life again, even though I know that would be against everything God has planned for my life. I am a Christian, but I feel slightly cursed with these diseases.
I almost lost my job last week because I stepped down as the position of Director. I didn’t want the stress anymore. Even though my Supervisor has promised not to let me go, this is my biggest fear at this point. The thought that I couldn’t take care of my family and could lose everything is overwhelming to me. I want to trust in God and continue to pray about it, but honestly, I’m struggling with it. Thank you for listening and PLEASE pray for me.
Tilisha Bryant says
Leah,
This morning I opened your email as I sat in my office at work..”The Day I almost Gave Up!” My husband and I have been under a lot of stress dealing with our 7 and 6 year old girls and school. It seems like nothing is working. My seven year olds grades are slipping tremendously and my six year olds behavior at school is out of control. We tried every thing, we blamed ourselves “Is it me?” But then last night we as a family cried out to God!! When your children suffer it is like someone took your heart and stomped on it!! The scripture you gave this morning summed up me and my husbands thoughts and heart. We know in due time God will deliver!!! In the meantime, we will take it to Worship right in our living room. Thank you ,because I almost gave up!!
Beth says
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have been struggling with all these issues for many years. I have been in counseling and have also sought out medical help – I have tried so many different medicines and I finally got tired of that as well. I have basically given up. There are so many issues in my life that are overwhelming. As I write this I have a marriage that is on the brink of divorce and finances that are going to result in either losing our home or selling it. There are medical bills that are mounting and we can’t even afford to pay all bills and buy groceries. I am married but have raised my daughter alone and my marriage to my husband has been rough and trying. In the last several years I have basically quit praying and I don’t really know why. I am trying to find my way back and trying to find some hope and light somewhere in the dark end of my tunnel. Prayers are much appreciated !
Melissa says
Thank you so much for sharing this. It gives hope, and reminds me that God cares, and sees, and is listening. God bless you and your ministry richly! 🙂
Angie Valdez says
Thankyou for your word I would like for you to pray for me. These past few month I have been going through so much that it seems like theore I pray things get worse. I cry out to God. I feel that at times I’m going to vo insane! But I breakdown and ask God to help me.. I ask that you help me pray for my son. He is 25 raising his child on his own and my 17 yr. Old daughter very disrespectful! That I I at times don’t know what to do anymore! She has grew up in but has not given her life to God!! She continues to do things from this world is graduating this June! Very rebellious! My husband goes to church but hasnt gave his life to Jesus! My mom.came to live with me and she is ill I have a 3 and 6 year old and I recently resigned from my job that I had been there for 17 years I TOOK a pay cut and hour cut to be near my home and so much isgoing on that at times I feel like I’m going to lose it!
Saundra Gilmer says
This story was my devotional reading for today.
My finances are in the toilet. I recently buried my mother and my mother in law lives with us and has dementia. 2 of my 3 sons have been to jail. My husband and I pastor a small ministry which is dwindling. And today I go to court to fight the foreclosure of our home.
I feel crazy. I want to run away. Why isn’t God listening or better still moving? I read this story and sat and cried. And prayed. I have a sense that God is listening and moving. I have no evidence yet. Court is not for another couple of hours but if He did it for you He will do it for me. PLEASE pray much for me today. Thank you for your story.
Dana says
Oh Leah – where do I start? My youngest son is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and recently has relapsed. I love him with all my heart of course, and I have struggled mightily with the fine line between mothering him and enabling his behavior. Last night it got down well below zero where we live, and he is homeless because his drug use got him kicked out of the transitional house where he was living (for the second and, no doubt, final time). He has been working, but I fear that he will lose his job today due to absenteeism and showing up too tired to work. I have offered to take him back to inpatient rehabilitation, but he refuses and of course the hospital won’t take him unless he signs himself in. Last night I had to refuse to pay for a cheap motel room when he asked because I knew that was merely going to enable his addiction for yet another day. As a mother, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I don’t know at this moment if he went to the homeless shelter where he has spent time before, or if he stayed in his car. I have been seeing a counselor and had an appointment yesterday, but I just feel like I’m falling apart. I barely slept last night and just kept praying to God to protect my son and to deliver him from his addiction. My fervent prayer is that he would truly embrace God and would fall down on his knees and beg for healing. Would you please pray for my son Cameron? And would you please pray to give me the strength and courage to do what Al-Anon says I must, which is to detach with love?
leah says
Dana, please accept my delayed reply to your comment. I’m so sorry to hear about the struggles your family is going through, especially Cameron. I am praying for his safety and that he would have a radical change of heart and reach out to God for help. As a godly mom, you have already planted the seed of God’s Word in his heart. May the Holy Spirit water and feed his soul so that he is made whole again in Christ. Continued prayers, Leah
Michelle says
I came across this at the right time! God just knew! I would love prayer: over the next 6 months my husband will have been gone 12+ months with the military, me at home with our almost 5 and almost 2 year old children. “We” are finishing fixing things in our house to sell it and we are moving away from my home for the first time… To Europe. I’m so overwhelmed but taking it one day at a time trying to remember He is in control 🙂 thank you for your prayers!!
Connie Allan says
I can’t begin to tell you how I needed this. I sit here crying because I’m ready to check out. My family needs God & my husband & I need a major financial Mirical. Please pray. Thank you for a glimmer of hope that maybe God hasn’t forgotten us. Thank you.
Maureen says
I have been down that dark path. After living a life of lies and deception, I also almost gave up. I ended up in a pit of depression and despair that I didn’t think I would ever overcome. But with Gods gentle hand and love I made it through that dark pit. Jesus is my rock and I am a different person after giving my life to Him.
Janna Ledbetter says
This was exactly what I needed today. The last year of my life has been an emotional roller coaster that I am ready to get off of. My son was born was born premature, my husband was arrested and sent off for 6 months and our finances are in a shamble. Each day is a struggle to get up and put a smile on my face and pretend that I have everything all under control. Worry has become my only hobby. Whether it is about money or my son’s continuing problems it is all I seem to do all day long. Please pray that I will be able to give these things up to God and remember that he is in control.
L says
Leah, you said your husband was a help to you-he was the first person you called after praying. But what about someone like me?my marriage is non existent-we live in same house with our 2 children but that’s literally it-so I have confessed,prayed cried, written Out a thankful list and read Scripture. I’ve even tried being kind to my husband who by the way has been emotionally abusive and very angry in the past, and I’ve been rebuffed. I k ow I’m a sinner so I have been praying God change me and when I do pray for him I try to be godly about it. I know God is there but I need to “feel”His presence so badly. I can’t get help b/c I’m afraid if I left or if my husband left he would try to make me out as unfit mother. I do try to trust God with that worry but trust me its not so farfetched.I do have family on my side who pray constantly for me and try to check in but they are busy and the past several days have been worse regarding loneliness-pray for me please and please help me with godly advice as to stay in house or separate for a season. I’m so mixed up and so very lonely. Thank you for the verse you quoted at top of devotion for it did give me some help-some encouragement.
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C says
Have you tried Love and Respect resources? They have DVD’s that are amazing. I was where you are for most of my marriage (13 years) until the Lord led me to this ministry and through it and much prayer my marriage has been restored. We celebrate 15 years this coming summer and it’s the first anniversary that I can say I have truly celebrated.
Misti says
Thank you for sharing your story. It touched me today…I am at that place of feeling overwhelmed with doubts, insecurities, and weariness. I have lost 5 members of my immediate family within the last few years and at times feel quite alone in this world. I worry about my husband’s health as he has had 2 surgeries in the last week on his 1 kidney, financial worries because I know those surgeries will be crazy expensive. I have church responsibilities that have become quite a burden and I feel so guilty even thinking of talking with my pastor to see about reducing some of the load. And lastly, I have the disease psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and it is very bad and I am weary of the pain, embarrassment, and depression that goes along with it. God is good, I know that in my heart, and try to count my blessings because I know it could always be worse and for that I am thankful. But prolonged stress is terrible for our bodies. Thank you for your prayers! I have a post-it note at my desk that says “Today I CHOOSE Joy” because I know I control what bothers me and what doesn’t…..I just need visual reminders. 🙂
Karen R. says
Thank you Leah for the courage to share your story. As a professional counselor, I hear so many people struggle with anxiety, depression and feel crushed by the weight of the world on their shoulders. I do not always have the opportunity to share God’s word with my clients, but strive to convey His message in the ways I provide assistance. The Lord definitely rescues me on a daily basis from all the mess I can make of my life. Thank God for sending the Holy Spirit to be with us always and remind us we are never in it all alone!
june says
It is good to know that others deal with the same issues I do. I have been it that same place more than I can say. It does creep up on you but you keep saying I can handle it However you don’t. God certainly does get me through it all . Thanks for sharing your story it really helps to see how God works in our lives!
Lori says
I can see by the volume of posts you have received that many are struggling with this issue. In the past, I suffered from post partum depression and, like you, I waited too long to seek help. It was a long journey back to “me” as well. Recently, I have been feeling those old feelings all over again. I am under a huge amount of stress and worry constantly over finances, my marriage (as our youngest is graduating this year) and the future of my children who are both making decisions concerning their futures.. . One graduating high school and one graduating college.
I believe I have exhausted my husband to the point that he weary and has just tuned my out. Please pray that God will give me the strength to seek the help I need as well, even if it means going it on my own. Thanks so much for your devotion today. Today is especially touchy for me because we are meeting with the Marine recruiter to discuss my son’s desire to join the reserves before entering college so he can get some extra money for college. As you can well imagine, this is not this momma’s plan for her little boy, but God’s will, not mine. God Bless You and keep you in His love.
Nikki R says
This is perfectly timed 🙂 God is so faithful! I love it
Sherry says
I stand amazed at God’s timing with your post today. I am struggling with fear and worry over several situations in my life right now and searching for God’s peace. Just trying to hold on to God’s promises that he will deliver amidst my fear and worry. Thanks for sharing.
Magriet says
Thank you so much for bringing this out into the open. So many people still thinks it is a shame and a lack of faith if you look for help.
I have to be honest as well though, I am bipolar and altough I carry on I have accepted it, after 30 years of treatment, I will always feel bad, and I have to just live with it,
Rebecca says
Thank you so much for sharing this devotion and your story. I went through the same thing this past summer and was actually hospitalized. I was at the lowest point in my life and was angry at God and so ashamed of myself. Since then I have been trying to rely on him more and realize that there was a reason that happened to me. I am still in counseling and currently on new medications but am trying to rely on God more and on the plan and purpose he has for my life. Thank you again for sharing your story and encouraging others who may be ashamed of their situation or having to seek help.
Julie says
Thank you for this reminder that we should always seek help when we need it. I have definitely been at this emotional low more than times than I care to admit. But God has been so faithful to help me get out each and every time. The worst are the feelings of inadequacy and failure, like I just can’t do anything right for anyone. But God reminds me that I do not have to do things or strive for things on my own strength. My biggest responsibility as a Christian is to know Him and spend time with Him. All else are secondary. Our hope and confidence can only come from Him. As I move forward in my faith, I admit that I am subject to spiritual attacks, but great faith has great rewards. I’m really looking forward to what new things God has in store for me, even if I take each fearfully.
I do have a prayer request for a dear friend who has been struggling with doubt and insecurity for some years, and now may be dealing with a health issue too. She has a beautiful spirit and I just know that God has mighty plans for her. I pray that she’ll draw close to God and claim His promises as her own.
T says
I am you… I feel like the world is falling in around me. I’m embarrassed because I feel like my troubles are all my fault and I have no where to turn. My family has it all together and would be humiliated by my failures. Please pray for me…my head reminds me that God does care but my heart just doesn’t feel His presence. Everytime I think things are looking up something else goes wrong. As I sit here writing this I’m afraid to post it for fear someone will figure out it is me but I’m desperate for prayer warriors to intercede on my behalf.
D says
I am you too. God has not given us a spirit of fear. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. He will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you. Praying for your strength & His comfort. Please don’t be afraid to let your family know where you are. I did that far too long and deprived them of the chance to pray for me and maybe get closer to me & to the Lord themselves in the process. And when the miracles come, and they will, you will be able to share what God has done for you. And you’ll be able to be there with your experience, strength & hope to help those God puts in your path. Sorry bout extra text after this post. Cant figure out how to get rid of it. (technologically challenged). God Bless. Just keep praying & keep believing.
puts in your pad
puts iin your path
Blair Garey says
It’s good to know I’m not alone. Your blog was very incouraging! Thank you!
Tina says
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I love The Lord, but I’ve noticed lately that I’ve been trying to do everything on my own. It’s gotten overwhelming and affected my mood, the way I communicate with my family, and my health to a degree. God never intended for us to live our lives that way. I’m sorry you went through such a hard time, but thankful that you’ve allowed God to use your story to encourage others. God bless you today, and I look forward to reading future posts. 🙂
Amy says
Leah,
I have struggled with depression and anxiety. I went to my doctor and he gave me medication that made me feel like I had been given a second chance at life. But the stress and worries of life threaten to steal my joy again. I’m currently pregnant with my third child and hormones can really get the best of me at times. Finances are a great burden as much as I try to make good choices. Please pray as I try to get through this very difficult season. I greatly appreciate your post and your prayers.
Patricia says
Just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience. To be open and honest with your struggle allows many of us not to hide in shame.
KP says
I find myself relating to this. A job relocated my husband, two teens and I in August. While so many things have worked out well, there have been more obstacles and challenges in every aspect our lives. I find myself so tense until I remember to breathe and call out to Jesus over and over, asking for Him to carry our burdens and protect us.
Jody says
I have actually been at this point twice. Thru the first pit I have come to know God, really know Him and was brought into His presence through all of it…I know He loves me and if I didn’t have that foundation right now I’m not sure if I would be able to fight the depression this time. I struggle with why I have to take the medicine..I quit taking it and have crashed. I have started it again but it’s a constant fight in my mind to take it. I am not in a good place, I know I am loved by Him, I just don’t care for me all that much right now. I’m working on trying to believe all He says about me. Please pray for strength and for me to focus in Him and His truths. Love that you used Psalm 34..I have imprinted that on my heart and praying it too…I want to believe for me that I am His beloved, His delight, His daughter and that I am more than a conqueror, He always leads us into triumph..that not in my strength but in His I can be Brave, Strong, smart, and am precious to Him. It is a journey and trying to find the joy in the journey and the love in the learning, to become more deeply rooted in that love. I didn’t think I would fall this far again…my faith should make me better..that’s what I struggle with.
Lisa says
Truly needed those words today. Sounds like my life now, work, a prodigal daughter, a marriage that isn’t struggles with work, days it feels like I’m going to just lose it or want to run away. But for the grace of God and the love for my children I stay. Thank you Lord for being by my side.
PL says
Thanks for being so open with your story and your heart. Please pray for me.
Laura says
Going in today for assessment of anxiety and depression. Your words came at just the right time, another confirmation that I’m on the path to healing. Your questions are so like mine. Thank you for sharing and for your prayers.
Meagan says
Thank you for sharing.
Grace says
Please pray for me I need a job.
Carol Spykstra says
My daughter, Christa, a beautiful 43 year old Christian woman, mother of three beautiful daughters, ages 15, 12 and 10 – recently divorced, is fighting many battles with her ex – she has 24/7 custody – her ex supposed to pay her maintenance and child support – late on payments, quit his $300,000/mo job. Christa has applied for jobs to no avail. She loves The Lord, has fasted and prayed, helps others “walk the walk” but does not see “relief” from her situation. Her 10 year old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her 12 year old confessed to binging and purging and her 15 year old fighting against the boys trying to take advantage of her. The daily battles are wearing down my daughter. I pray for strength for her in her battles and that financially God will provide. Her ex causes all kinds of stress for her and the girls. I pray victory for her, in Jesus Mighty Name. Thank you for your prayers for her.
Jamie says
Please pray for me. I am struggling with anxiety and I have some OCD tendencies. I’ve tried help, but I’ve also scared myself into not going back. I really needed your post and I am so glad that I found your blog today. I do need help. Please pray for me. I’ve got a husband and kids who don’t need to see me stressed all the time. I think I am ready to try professional help again.
Ann says
Jamie,
I’m going through similar issues. I’m praying for you now.
Sarah says
I’m in need of prayer and guidance. You see I’ve been asked to interview for a job that would be perfect for me. I’m a little anxious about leaving my current job of 15 years, I guess I’m comfortable there and its secure. However the new job means more money and a more flexible schedule to fit in my kids activities etc.
Add to all of that medical drama. A suspicious mass in my cervix/ uterus area which my doctor told she didn’t think was cancer but I’ve not learned the results of biopsy either. Other tests have come back good but had an ultrasound yesterday. I could even see that there was something there.
Do not want to start a new job with medical doubts.
Patricia says
Please pray for my best friend (since 4th grade), Kathy. She has had numerous medical issues and job challenges through the years. I moved out of state almost six years ago, and we have grown apart and out of touch (except sporadically), since the move. I love her so much and only want the best for her. Thank you for your wonderful Proverbs 31 message today.
rg says
Thanks for your blog, i have been debating on what to do, i was so close to the Lord and little by little fear crept in. Im so desperate but find no relief, i know God is able to deliver me, but it seems I’ve cried and cried so much ive done some serious emotional, spiritual and Lord only knows what else, I’ve had thoughts i never thought I’d have, i think so much it would be better to leave everything, but no where to go, and when i try it seems like just another wall i hit that goes up. No-one knows what I’ve gone, or going thru. I can’t even share some things. Send the more i reach out the worse things get. So I’ve tried to just stop, but that makes it worse even. I only know in the next few days i have to do something. I can’t do this any more. I know who I’m suppose to be, but that is not who i have become. My life has changed so much, no one understands and cannot relate. The only thing that keeps me alive is God, i was created to worship him and live for Him. My prayer is he will change me and bring his plans to pass in my life. Ty for your blog. I’m tired of the daily battles and i pray it wasn’t chance thati came upon it.
Kelly Hill says
Thank you so much for your ministry. After reading this post today, I can really relate. I have been going through a lot lately with my family, finances and health. I have been praying recently that God will continue to provide for my family even through these tough times in our lives. I have so much stress that I feel like I could have a melt down anytime and that no one would care. After reading your post I realize that I need to try to reach out and get some help and be patient on waiting for the answers especially from our Lord and Savior. It is hard to be patient and wait, but that is a matter of life that I have to deal with.
gil says
I needed to hear this today. I have felt so unloved all my life. I have who says he love me and I have devoted all my time to him. It happened that I saw his fone. Every day my husband has a “new” friend. I confronted him tell me I have nothing to worry about. He’s allowed to have and I have to live with it. I have 2 beautiful girls and they are his world also. I feel like walking away and never look back. I am scared because i don’t want my girls to hate me
they love their dad more than me at times
Melanie says
I was in a similar situation to yours last June 2013. I stopped my car in the middle of the road, with children at the back seat and had to call for the ambulance. Same symptoms as you have mentioned. Until today i have the symptoms and I don’t understand why. But I don’t have any incidents to be stressed of. But I ask God to help me and heal me. And i want double portion of restoration of my health.
Robin says
Thanks for the post, I really needed it. I love the Lord with all my heart, yet right now at this very moment, I no longer know what to say or do, can’t find the words to pray, sometimes I can hardly think a rational thought…. so thankful that the Holy Spirit intercedes with groanings that cannot be uttered, and Jesus, Son of God, sits at the Father’s right hand, graciously interceding on behalf of His children. So hard for me to let go and let God handle things in His perfect way – prayers are greatly appreciated.
Kathy says
Please pray for my marriage
Karen says
Praying for you, Kathy . . .
CS says
My eyes kept going back to the scripture, that God is near the brokenhearted, and then your question, is your heart broken today? Mine is. We are in awesome counselling through our church, 1 year in, and it is taking way longer than I ever thought, but I am living in faith and truth that God can heal my broken heart, his broken heart, our children’s genetic disease, and every other thing that this mommy can get too focused on worrying about. This post was so so timely 🙂 Thank you.
Sarah says
Thank you for your reminders! I almost lost it at work the other day. My husband is dealing (sometimes) with addiction driven by years of abuse as a child, has no job and has legal issues because of his addiction. I pray the Lord heals him…and there are days with glimpses of hope, then there are days where i am overwhelmed by financial burdens on top of watching him struggle and i feel like I’m the only one really working on our journey. God is bigger and i know is my/our only Hope…so here i am abiding in Him daily (& see a counselor starting today)!
Brenda Faye says
Thank you! Please pray for my marriage. We are 600 miles apart because of a snap decision to move before selling our home. We struggle every day with the separation. God is with us but we struggle nonetheless.
Tonya says
I enjoyed your devotion. I am currently going through some of the same situations. I have been to that point where I had to seek help, not only from Our Heavenly Father, but also, professional help. My prayer request is for peace that surpasses all understanding and increase of my faith.
Thank you and Blessings!
Judy says
Leah,
Please say a prayer for my son, daughter and I as we continue to heal from my husband leaving our marriage after 25 years. Their dad is finally contacting them again, but I still feel so lost (and hurt) sometimes. But yet God has blessed me in so many ways. Please pray that I will hear God’s will for me, and that He will continue to heal all families touched by divorce. Thank you, and may God bless you and your ministry.
Leah says
Judy, I’m so sorry to hear about your marriage and wanted you to know I’m praying for you and your children today. It must have been a devastating blow to all of you when he left. As I read over your comments, this verse came to mind so I’ve chosen it to pray over your family today.
“And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Continued prayers,
Leah
Annie T says
I so needed to hear this today…I sit in that parking lot almost every day and yet nobody truly knows my struggle…thank you for being my voice today!
Debbie says
Wow, so glad to read your blog and all the comments. I am not alone in my struggle to let go and let God. We need a community like this to share and be encouraged. Thankful God has provided such a community.
Elaine says
I also have worry and fear issues that take over my life..leading to control issues which really don’t resolve anything. My life is very stressful right now. Almost two years ago my son had to move home because he had lost his job and couldn’t find another one. In the same week he moved home we found out that my 18 year old daughter was pregnant. My marriage has never been healthy and has continued to deteriorate. I have my own health issues I have been battling since I was 17 years old. I had a non-cancerous brain tumor removed at 29 years old and uterine cancer at 44 years. Stress isn’t good for my health. Praise God I am cancer free!!! We have just gone through 5 months of a lot of sickness viruses and pneumonia in our home. It has been almost too much some days. My granddaughter is absolutely precious and truly such a good baby. My son has a good job now. My daughter will complete her Medical Assistant at St. Vincent’s College. Teen moms need prayer. We are all on the mend from this difficult winter. I don’t know what the future has in store for us. Only The Lord knows that. I am learning that the only person I can control is me. I am working on forgiveness and repentance at the same time. Working on me and not giving up. It really is about being obedient to God’s word and not leaning on our own understanding. So Hard!!! Fear is definitely the enemy here. Trusting Him completely is the answer. It is called Surrender. I pray for this.
Joan says
God bless u Leah for ur article today, I have no doubt in my mind that God had me in mind when he inspired u to write&encourage others with your personal story to bless&comfort others. 2Cor1:3-4. I personally needed to be reminded of Gods word&His promise to me through this verse of scripture as Lately the I have been feeling a lack confidence has all the jobs that I know am competent and my colleagues say so as well, I have not gone past the interview stage. This has really deflated my confidence&the enemy of my soul tries to speaks all sort of lies in my mind but I make sure I counter it with the word of God&my husband ensures that he constantly reminds me of God’s promises over my life&am thankful to God for him.I am a woman who is particular about being at a place that Hod eants u to be per time be it career, a job, ministry, education etc& that’s why I feel so frustrated as I feel I don’t know what God is saying whether to still remaim at this level of job I am as I feel I am past the job. I am an encourager& its amazing that colleagues that I have encouraged at different times have all moved on to higher paying jobs, but that does not deter me from continuing to encourage&bless people as much as I can even sometimes I wonder when is mine going to happen 🙂 . Like u, I think about my family finances&so I wonder in my heart Lord what’s happening as I know its His desire for me to prosper, to be blessed financially to be a blessing to others too. This also applies to the ministry God has given me a passion for which is the jewelry fashion&influence others with Christ through having a learning centre.I have the vision written down like Habbakuk says& for the last 10years been equipping myself via learning different aspect of jewelry, training etc as my passion is to see people come into relationship with Christ&experience fulfilment of purpose through him through their creative gifts. I am yet to see the reality even though I see traces every now and then&sometimes I think I know how the holyspirit wants me to go about it& then am stuck again ad everything seems to be standstill again. So am in that season of my life where I desperately want to know what God is saying, my heart longs desperately to know, whether to remain at this level of my job because he’s keeping me there for a purpose&how to see this vision&passion in me become a reality as Leah if u ask a friend or family whats synonymous with me their response will be Joan- the jewelry designer. Leah like I said earlier this article lifted my soul this morning as my heart really ached& I was just speaking to the holyspirit about my disappointments& struggles just before I felt to read the devotionals for today which was so spot on. God bless u Leah& enlarge your ministry with testimonies abounding in Jesus name. Please my prayer requests borders around my heart that I have shared& also for a deeper longing to continue to love& serve Our Lord&saviour Jesus& fulfill His purpose for my life. Thanku& God bless u Leah, your family& entire ministry!
Leah says
Joan, thank you for such encouraging words! I’m praying for you today – asking God to open doors that only He can open and close doors that only He can close – so that you will receive a confirmation from Him about your job situation. I’m so thankful that your knowledge of the Lord is strong and your relationship with Him continues to grow. I know He will continue to provide you with wisdom and guidance as you trust in Him. Blessings, Leah
Kathy says
Thank you for sharing your story. There is such stigma surrounding mental illness that many people who are suffering do not share their story out of fear that they will be rejected. My 21 year old son was diagnosed with Bipolar and it is extremely difficult to have him accept the diagnosis. He has a psychiatrist but he keeps wanting to get off his medication. Please pray for the entire family. We are going through a very tough time financially and emotionally. I know Who has the future and I trust Him completely but I need your prayers. I need to feel His touch because I am being pressured from every side.
Leah says
Kathy, I’m so sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder. I am praying for him and your entire family today, asking God to provide all of your financial needs and to comfort you during this very challenging season in your family’s life. Abundant Blessings, Leah
Lori DeFelice says
Leah
I cannot thank you enough for your sharing your story. I am in that parking lot right now and have been for way too long. I feel as if I shared my story I would be taken to the psychiatric ward immediately. Dealing with a crumbling 25 year marriage due to a beautiful but alcoholic husband, my husbands four year loss of employment (now working) has left us financially destroyed, working and caring for three children (teenagers) of whom are suddenly challenging in ways I never dreamed they would, caring for my beautiful older brother who has the devistating disease of ALS, we help my elderly Mom care for him at home, which is becoming more difficult every day as this horrific disease progresses and Moms health is compromised from all the years caring for him, I have massive panic attacks and anxiety which for some reason leave me unable to drive without terror. I feel like a failure and unworthy human being. I used to be strong and happy and now I am broken. I have tried meds which I am still on, I read Proverbs 31 devotionals every day and even tried the stress less living study but seem to fail over and over. I know that if it were not for God I would not get through another day, but I continually pick up the things I hand to him. That just starts the guilt cycle all over again as I doubt myself and how my Jesus could still be there as he must be so disappointed. It was heart warming to read how you overcame your anxiety and that it is possible to change. With a grateful heart I thank you. Your prayers would be so appreciated. Thank you for listening. God Bless you.
Anne says
Lori, please know I’m praying for you…but please, pray for yourself, as well. You need protection and healing.
Lori DeFelice says
Thank you Anne for taking the time to pray for me and for your advice.
Blessings
Lori
Dar says
Lori, I’ve been there unfortunately. My dad was in the hospital for 5 wks, then had a caregiver in his home but the grocery shopping, drs appointments, etc were left up to me, my marriage was falling apart, I was working two part-time jobs and had four kids at home. The youngest was HADD. Check and see if your brother can get a caregiver through medicare or Medicaid since your mother isn’t able to care for him. This would be a great help for her and yourself. If you can at all possible, get counseling from a Christian counselor or your pastor and talk to a Christian friend. You need to get this emotional pressure off of you. I’ve had panic attacks and anxiety before so I know what your going through. God loves you and knows all your carrying. Don’t be hard on yourself. You are not a failure in God’s eyes. Your plate is running over! Sometimes life is one step forward, two steps back and one step forward. Praying for you!
Leah says
Lori, after reading all that you’ve been through, I’m amazed that you’ve been able to manage it this far. I really want to encourage you to find someone in your area that you can talk to on a regular basis. The current circumstances you’re having to deal with is more than ANY one person can manage on their own. Sweet friend, you are not a failure in any way. The enemy is trying to heap guilt on you but you are a child of God and His Word confirms that their is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Don’t try to do this alone. Getting help will give you an opportunity to unload the burdens you’ve been carrying. Sometimes just being able to talk it out and getting those feelings out in the open can provide a much needed physical and emotional release. I’m praying for you! Leah
CC says
Would like to subscribe
Edna says
Thanks for sharing Leah. I feel like that too sometimes. At work I am not meeting one of my targets and sometimes I feel like such a failure. But i encourage myself with a scripture from Habakkuk 3:17-19. God bless you once again. I know it is well.
Marilyn says
Thanks for letting us know we’re not alone.
Debbie says
Leah… I don’t usually comment on things but this devotion/encouragement has hit home with me … Thank you for letting God use you
Debbie
Belinda says
Thank you. I’m not the only one.
lynn says
Thank you for this message today. Im a worrier as well. I found out Jan 1st that my husband of 26 yrs has been having an affair for 2 yrs. There has been so much pain, sleepless nights crying out to Jesus for healing. Im afraid and alone. I know that God is with me but at times I feel abandoned by Him. Your verses today reminded me that He IS with me, the brokenhearted. Thank you for listening.
Anne says
Lynn- please know that I’ll be praying for you today.
Dar says
Lynn, I went through this last summer with my husband after 22 yrs of marriage. It still hurts when I think about it. I’m praying for you.
Stuggling says
Wow . . . I feel like you took those words and emotions straight from me. Coming across this post was truly an act of God. I have been struggling for so long, barely keeping my head above water, and wondering if anyone is noticing. Thank you for letting me know that I am not the only out there struggling. Praying for respite.
colleen says
You have NO idea ….this is right where I am. I don’t know about professional help. I’m almost 60, I’ve had years of circumstances that I’ve tried to stay strong through and now it has all become too much. It’s past 4 am….I slept 3 hours and now I’m up….wondering…worrying….stressed to the max…AND wondering if I’ll ever be ok again. I don’t ever talk to anyone about all that is going on in my heart. Please pray.
Dar says
Leah, thank you for sharing. Your sharing may help many women. I’ve been there more than once. It is hard to share our emotional problems because “the world” won’t except it like they do physical problems. If we have emotional problems, Christians think we should turn to God and everything will be ok. We do need God to turn to but sometimes we, also, need a Christian friend, Christian counselor and or a pastor to talk with. Colleen, if you have a lifetime of problems you probably do need to go to a Christian counselor. It isn’t any thing to be ashamed of and will help you so much just to release what you have bottled up inside you. Praying for you!
Leah says
Colleen, I can tell by your words that you’re really struggling. I really want to encourage you to find someone you trust to talk with. If you’re not ready to see a Christian counselor, maybe a close friend or family member that has your best interest in mind. I think the sleepless nights are due to all those thoughts and worries bottled up inside you. I’m praying for you today and will continue to in the days ahead. Blessings, Leah
Lauren says
I loved your post, Leah. I’m going through a difficult season and some days the worry and stress consume me, too. Through it all though I’m finding that I’m learning to trust God like I never have before and it’s an amazing blessing to so clearly see Him working in the midst of our trials. Please pray for me and my husband and that God makes this unjust situation right. He knows our hearts and our needs.
Leah says
Lauren, thank you for your comment. I am praying this verse (below) over your marriage today. I pray that it brings you hope an assurance for your relationship with your husband. Blessings, Leah
“Be completely humble and gentle; Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”- Ephesians 4:2-3
Debbie says
Thanks for your sharing, I have great anxiety over the choices my son is making in his life. He has walked away from God for several different reason. I would like to ask for prayer for myself that I would be able to let him go to God and I would trust God to work in his life. Also that my son would see God moving in his life , feel the Holy Spirits conviction and return to the Lord with all his heart
Leah says
Debbie, thank you for being so honest about the struggles you’re having with your son. I am praying this verse (below) over your son today. Also for you to find strength in knowing that your son is well within God’s reach. For his Heavenly Father will never lose sight of him.
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands Isaiah 49:15-16
Tara Pullman says
Earlier today I posted those verses on Facebook. Little did I know that by the end of the day Satan would try and destroy everything I’ve worked so hard to build. It was a God thing that I read this post when I did. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and God bless you!
Sherry says
I was about to go to bed when I happened upon your story. It came at a much needed time for me. Just please pray for me as I too am going thru some things. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Leah says
Sherry, thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. I’m praying this verse over you today:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
I hope it gives you peace and assurance knowing that God promises to provide everything you need.
Blessings, Leah
J says
p.s. I meant to ask for your prayers in my last post. I am so open to everything God wants to do in me and through me. I want to get past the hindrances (I hold back a lot), & often feel like I’m doing everything on my own. I know the Lord is with me and doesn’t leave me. That’s what His word says. Sometimes, I just can’t shake the feeling of being so utterly alone topped off with confusion, frustration, and tears – lots of tears. I have a deep commitment to the Lord, want my life to be a drink offering to Him, and am consistently in conversation with him / praying. One day goes by, then another, and then another. A lot of it has to do with the deliverance He’s bringing me through in which I asked for. I’m thankful for what He’s doing & just desire to respond rightly. Part of my response I think is seeking professional counseling. So again, I am so thankful for this timely word. I’m honored the Lord brought me to your page at this very hour!
Colleen says
Thank you. I have been at that exact more moment before. I thought once I recovered that it would never happen again. I can see the pit from where I am though and oh how I pray I can fight and and have faith and trust Him and walk through the fear to the other side.
J says
Thank you for your ministry, Leah! I am having a rough time of it, and tonight has been pretty emotional as I cry out to the Lord and lay broken before Him. I’m about a month away from turning 31 and happened to see your blog through Proverbs 31 ministries right at the perfect moment tonight. I’ve been contemplating seeking professional help just to work through some wounds and soul issues I’ve been struggling with. I believe there are generational ties as well. The enemy does his best to capitalize on those sort of things, & I want to stop allowing him to by no longer coming into agreement. We can give permission many times which grants license or a foothold for the enemy. The Lord has been bringing me through some deliverance, & that’s been an answer to prayer. I have been really trying to go after Him in such a deep way. I love the Lord, oh do I ever! He is faithful until the end! Your blog is just a confirmation that I need to seek out professional counseling, because I don’t feel like I have an avenue to share/talk through where I’m at. That’s hard for me… Thank you for your heart and for sharing a very personal testimony with the world. There’s definitely power in the testimony! I bless you and wish you well, my friend! One Love, One God, One Way ~ J
Nikki R says
Prayers from someone who could have written this too. 🙂
Leah says
I can tell by your words that you have a close relationship with the Lord 🙂 I’m praying for you and believing God will guide you to a Christian counselor that can help. With Christ by your side, the enemy doesn’t stand a chance. Stay strong and stay in the Word, sweet friend. Blessings, Leah
Jackie says
Thank you SO much! I am a college student struggling with a lot of the same things you mentioned. Please pray that I continue to seek out the help I need and that I find God’s peace again.
Sandra A McLaughlin says
I am praying for my mother in law to get better. She had a stent put in her heart at the age of 89. She is in the hospital. I do not know how long she will be in there. Thank you for your story.
Thank you and have a great day.
K says
Thank you for sharing so beautifully such a difficult experience for you. I ask that you pray for a friend(H) who is about to make a very crucial decision. It’s one of those types of decisions where other friend’s cannot do it for her, but I am asking that you pray for this friend to be open to clearly find the Lord’s wisdom and direction. I appreciate your story today, I have been close to that point before, but am so grateful for the recent lessons the Lord had taught me in the past year, some amazing break throughs in studying His word, I have been able to encourage others and even claim my own victories in the face of another’s difficulty and guide them to claim their victory as well. It is truly amazing How and When He reveals himself to each of us. The one truth I can count on is: pressing on because In Know He is Faithful. Your book sounds wonderful as well. I love the people that God surrounds me with. I’m thinking you have joined that circle. Jesus Bless K
Dawn says
I read through many of the comments shared, and apparently I am not the only one who is struggling (which is an odd comfort to know). Like the rest, I will say that this would sure seem to be the Lord’s timing. I have cried out to the Lord, trying desperately to figure out the right Name… (reading through my Bible, the examples all say “… and he called on the Name of the Lord…”) for surely if I can solve this mystery, then God will hear my cry. I have waves of anxiety wash over me, and unable to control them, the thoughts that follow are “Be anxious for nothing… well, then you must not be doing it right”. I know that’s not the voice of my Father, but I can’t shake the fear that comes or the panic attacks that follow. I feel like a freak. Just lock me up. (OK, not really… unless they have a pool and good food) Anyway, I KNOW I NEED HELP. I have been *at times* literally yelling “HELP” aloud to God. I have been on anti-anxiety meds which caused other problems. I have had some counseling. I’m about at my wits end. I’m not even sure WHAT to pray or ask for prayer for. I want to be in God’s will. His will be done, in my life as it is in heaven. However or whatever Abba puts in your heart to pray is what I would ask you to pray. I don’t know what I need, but he does.
Leah says
Dawn, thank you for leaving a comment and being so honest about your struggles. I’ve chosen this verse to pray over you today. I pray that it brings you hope and assurance that God’s promises are lasting for those who put their trust in Him.
“God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Leah says
Hi Jackie, thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. I’ve been praying for you, asking God to guide your decisions and fill you up {to overflowing} with His love, joy, peace. Peace comes when we put out complete trust in Him. Sweet Blessings, Leah
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)