Strength will not come before we return to the Lord...only after.
For the girl with depression, a failing or falling marriage, a prodigal child, sickness, and so on...the girl who struggled to show up in Church yesterday...and most certainly for the one who just couldn't seem to find the ability to go at all...This is not a measure of your salvation or worth, but it is a measure of your ability to move today.
Sweet girl...you are in a hard season, and I cannot promise it will pass. That we just don't know. However, I do know that Satan will have us believe that Church, Bible study, fellowship with other believers...and God in general are all just too strenuous for you. Satan will slip the thought in that you can just return to those things when you are on the flip side.
He is a liar.
Strength will not come before we return to the Lord...only after.
If you have followed A Heart Refined for any length of time, you will know that I have quite the cognitive resume. I have battled my whole life with some level of neurodivergence, and depression always seems to be hanging in the shadows. Over the past several months, though, our family has experienced a series of situations that have ultimately not been life-threatening, but have been very scary. Everyone is ok! I promise! But they have triggered in me a fear and depression that I am learning is not only emotionally difficult, but, if fostered for long periods of time, can alter the chemistry and function of the brain as well as dysregulate your hormones...and this is where I am.
So...to get to the point...pressing myself to go to Church yesterday was more than just feeling lazy and not wanting to go. A whole mind/body battle was going on! Praise God for my dear friend (who had no clue what was going on) who followed the Holy Spirit's direction and texted me on Saturday night, sending me a song that spoke to my soul...encouraging me to enjoy worship on Holy ground. That mattered and moved me to go!! And praise the Lord for bringing me to the worship, message, and fellowship that brought glory to His name and good to my weary mind and body!
But this morning, y'all...the same battle persists! However, once again, the Holy Spirit is singing to me...and dear sister and friend who is beating yourself up for your struggle to be in godly community yesterday or communion with Him this morning...I know you will hear His voice calling you to surrender and go to Him this morning with these words...
Let Him help you sing!!! Let Him help you study His Word...
that is not about you, but, sweet girl, it is for you!!!!!
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