religion

In Unsure Times

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Romans 8:1 –

Therefore,ย there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Many Bipolar Christians doubt their faith when they go through stages of depression. In fact, in our community, this is a major struggle.

I think it’s important to memorize scripture that will ensure our faith and let us know we are secure in Christ. Part of my diagnosis with having psychotic features is that I have a fear of eternal damnation or religious persecution. I have to remind myself daily of Romans 8:1 (listed above) that I am not being punished and my soul is not in danger.

Meditating on scripture in the hard times is how we push through the unsure times. Intuitively, we know there is light at the end of the tunnel even when we can’t see it.

Followers, you are loved and you are not alone. Ever! Our future is secure. Philippians 4: 6 – 7 tells us not to be anxious for anything. So ease your mind of the anxiety that you are not saved. Pray for peace. Peace that surpasses all understanding.

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I hope your Christmas was everything you hoped it would be and I’ll hopefully see your comments and get to know some of you in the new year๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰

When it rains, it pours

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Lately, its been raining for weeks on end and many of you know it affects our mood and motivation. I remember being younger and comforted by the rain. The sound of the storm, the drizzle of rain or breeze from an open window, used to relax me. But, its not always just physical rain that gets you down.

Its emotional rain…

The feeling that you have no control over the situation. The feeling that no matter what you do your emotional home is drowning in sadness. It’s a miserable cycle. And just when you think things are beginning to look up it rains again.

So why don’t we learn to “pour” light and hope into the situation. Ecclesiastes 3 talks about their being a time for everything under the sun. We may not be able to stop the rain, but what we can do is change how we feel about it. Rain is designed for things to grow. We have to realize the rain won’t last always and the sun will shine again. And when it does it gives us hope and thankfulness for a brand new day or a brand new situation.

Just a thought I had that I plan to apply to my own life. Remember, we are in this thing together!!

Joy and Sadness in Pixar’s Inside Out.

Things We Do Deserve

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You know it’s really sad the things we project unto ourselves when we feel misunderstood or unloved. It literally causes us to withdraw and isolate and blame ourselves for the way we feel. Even when those triggers come from people who do not have an influence in our lives. I’m sharing this here because for far too long I’ve let the opinions of others make me feel a certain way or second guess myself. I’m learning I don’t need to defend myself to people that don’t really matter. Sometimes you have to let people be people and move on. Don’t let anyone get you outta character. We are responsible for the way we respond.

So I went to see my therapist on Friday and I shared with him what I was talking about in my previous post. As usual, immediately I wanted to erase what I’d written thinking I’m just overreacting. But, for some reason I decided to share my thoughts with him.

My therapist gave me alot of encouragement and he said no one deserves to get bullied. Especially from Christians who are supposed to know better and all about spreading the love of Jesus. No one deserves to feel invalidated. Every human has feelings and you shouldn’t feel less than by people who are supposed to love you.

He said people who don’t deal with mental illness do not realize how their words can affect someone who does. It can be very triggering and literally cause suicidal thoughts from people who refuse to see where you are coming from or insensitive to your situation.

You don’t deserve to be mistreated because of your mental health. You don’t deserve to be talked down to and judged because you choose medication and the Bible. Because you choose therapy and the Bible. Because you choose your mental health over their opinion and judgment.

So, I thank God for mental health medicine and doctors. I thank God for the Bible that gives me hope to keep pushing every single day. I pray this blog will be a place for people like us to feel loved and accepted just the way we are!!

So remember it’s okay to stick up for yourself and only accept the things you do deserve…now that’s real self-love!!

Miss Misunderstood

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This week I’d like to talk about feeling misunderstood. I now know one of my biggest pet peeves is being criticized or judged because I Identify as a Bipolar Christian. It hurts my feelings when people choose not to understand. Or they lack education so they assume mental illness looks a certain way. Just because I’m not schizophrenic or suicidal does not mean I am not ill. Why can’t I love Jesus and be honest about who I am and what’s going on with me? It doesn’t make me less of a Christian. It doesn’t make me lack The Word in my life. It doesn’t make me lack faith.

I can see it coming from regular people. But, when it comes from people in the Church it hits different. Then when it comes from Christian family members its 100x worse๏’”

I cannot pretend that being Bipolar and being a Christian is easy. Until you know who are you experience a lot of self – doubt wondering if God really loves you. Of course he does! Just as he loves all his children so lets be encouraged. Let’s not lose help that God is with us always. He hears. He sees. He walks beside us. Being Bipolar is NOT a character flaw.

So these are just some thoughts I plan to share with my therapist, and my prayer is that you can take bits and pieces and apply it to your life as well.

Until next time followers!!

2 Corinthians 12:9