Compassionate Love Blog: Displaying compassion for those who struggle with mental illness   (c)2016  Nancy Virden, Always the Fight Ministry

It seems in the chaos of recent days, people are growing more fearful, focusing on a negative “what if?” What if situations do not change? What if violence escalates? What if it touches me or my family?  On this Sunday, as many of us return home from worship, I invite you to ask with me, what if we consider God in all of this?

The following is from Always the Fight 2nd ed. (c)2015. 

“It has taken a long time to begin to see suffering as a blessing. The same Master Designer created both night and day. God, who saw every detail of our unformed bodies before we were born, who knew every one of our minutes before one of them occurred, is not surprised by our pain. He is not taken aback, has everything under control, and loves us still.

You see, the struggle is the plan.

It is in the not-seeing, the not-understanding that we reach out in the dark. Shuffling our feet across unknown terrain, arms outstretched and hearts beating fast, it is in pitch-blackness we search for wisdom, and grow.

Faith is not sight. Quite the opposite. It is the evidence of what is unseen. Pain often draws all of our attention, narrowing our vision to a few moments in time. That is why our faith will not thrive if limited to what we can understand. A more magnificent purpose is at play. Gold can only be made pure through fire, and if our faith is to be refined as gold, it must be tried and tested. Saint Paul even speaks of considering it a joy whenever we face troubles!

Major depression has been humbling. I am broken, but for a purpose. God has chosen to allow me to fall into the pit for the opportunity of teaching me how to climb out of it.”

Father God, In Your mercy, may our cities and nations ascend from this fear and pain with humility, willingness to lean on You, and wisdom. Amen.

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NOTE: I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I speak only from personal experiences with and observations of mental illness. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental health care.