By Nancy Virden (c)2025

A middle-aged man has never allowed the grass to grow beneath his feet; his energy, kindness, and love of helping others have kept him moving throughout his adult life. Dean (name changed) is a person one wants to spend time around. I have known Dean for over 25 years, and my respect for him is high.

Dean worked closely with patients in hospitals, which should come as no surprise given his kind nature. On his way into one a couple of years ago, he was brutally hit by a car, resulting in the need for a long recovery. When he finally returned to work, there was a new boss. Her animosity was suspicious and proven when she set him up to be fired.

Dean spent weeks in bed, not talking to anyone, except for a new job in a factory setting. His dream of growing in the health field had been crushed because the hospital was providing his training. He had to leave regular patients without a goodbye. His sense of identity, purpose, and self-esteem took a serious blow.

However, Dean is excelling in his new job and is being promoted. As time passes with this newfound success, he is feeling a little better.

I received an email last week removing me from a long-term opportunity I had been enjoying. It shook me. I felt some of what Dean must have felt as purpose, identity, and self-esteem took a blow. The next day, an opportunity arose and I grabbed it.

A 3-day evangelistic ministry journey into the streets of Warren, Niles, and Lisbon, OH, ended in a special visit with a relative in Pittsburgh. My partner and I planted gospel seeds, encouraged fellow believers, and received 10-fold blessings in return. I was challenged by a lot of fatigue, which made it difficult to function, and each of us ended up with broken phones. Nevertheless, opportunities each day to give away the gospel of John and speak the Truth to the public made it worthwhile.

Since a dead dream has landed me in bed with depression in the past (and if you read my blog, you know I am currently pushing myself to do what is necessary to recover from recent isolation), I am grateful for this new venture.

My recommended “How to react when someone fires you from your dream” is, instead of focusing on why, which leads to anger and resentment, try to consider and act on What Now? Your feelings will still hurt, and some questions will remain. Nonetheless, finding purpose in the pain and moving your unmotivated body is the best trick I know to restore purpose, self-esteem, and identity.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Galatians 6:7-10

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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