Depression: Church Rise Up!

The following is written by a long time missionary and ministry leader serving in India who was blind sided by the effects of depression. Her testimony indicates how practical steps along with truth and acceptance--and tremendous effort--made a life saving difference for her. She encourages us to have a compassionate, educated, proactive approach to depression.

I didn’t know what depression was. So I couldn’t recognize it in myself. Was it spiritual warfare? Was it burn out? I really didn’t know what was happening to me or how serious it had become. 

Over a period of several years I was emotionally overwhelmed by what my therapist calls “a perfect storm” (See blog link below). Severely draining work situations, unresolvable conflicts with co-workers and staff, living in an emotionally draining cultural environment, secondary trauma as I counseled and helped victims of abuse and assisted in crisis medical evacuations…and then the most difficult, the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back…emotional abuse and deeply painful passive aggressive behavior from the one closest to me.   

I found myself in severe clinical depression compounded by anxious distress. I lay on my bed and contemplated the knives in the kitchen and where I’d need to cut myself to take my life. I walked over bridges and wondered if I jumped if I would die. I watched trains pass by and wondered how painful it would be to throw myself in front. I avoided balconies of tall buildings knowing the temptation to end it all would be strong. 

Thankfully, someone else recognized the signs and took action to get me to a place I could receive help for the devastating mental illness called Depression. Thankfully, I had someone telling me, “it’s okay to take medication, it doesn’t mean you are a failure as a Christ follower.” Thankfully, I had a leader who didn’t kick me out of my role and ministry when in order to save my life and heal, I needed to be separated from my husband for several months. I needed time and space before my emotions could handle the strain and anxiety of working through the issues that had surfaced in our marriage and begin to learn new skills and tools for processing those issues more effectively.  

I left the mission field in less than 24 hours. My therapist recognized the signs of severe depression for what they were. He told me to get on a plane immediately and get the help I needed. In truth, it was a medical evacuation. I had no idea how sick I was. 

Why didn’t I know more about depression? Why didn’t I understand this mental illness better, when so many people suffer from it? Why didn’t I have the tools and help available to combat it? Why instead of being encouraged to seek help from medical professionals to overcome and not be destroyed by this illness, did I feel such shame and guilt for having become depressed? 

The simple reason is this. We as the church have failed to educate. We have failed to train our clergy, our staff, and our leaders in this area. Though I have my Bachelor’s degree from a Bible College and my Master’s degree from a very reputable seminary, though I’ve attended hundreds of seminars and conferences within the mission organization I’ve worked with for more than 20 years…not once have I heard anyone educate us about Depression: what it is, how to recognize it, and how to help people who are depressed. Not once. This is a massive gap in our training of Christian leaders. Massive. Statistics say that on any given day around 10% of the American population are suffering from depression.  Statistics also say that between 50-80% will not seek medical help. (http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/statistics#3)

I wonder why. I wonder how the church can help.

Depression in America reminds me of diarrhea in India where I’ve served for the past many years. Thousands of children die in India from this fairly simply treated sickness. Why do they die? They die because they don’t quickly apply the simple remedies because of their lack of education about how to treat this. Sadly, many do the exactly wrong thing. They stop drinking, so they dehydrate and die.

Depression is a similar illness in that if it goes untreated, it can kill. It is similar because many in the Church tell us to do exactly the opposite of what we need. We are told to suck it up, be a stronger person in Christ…in essence, suppress your feelings or just get over them somehow. A strong Christian will be able to “heal themselves” by pressing in to God more. This is the church’s common wisdom on the issue of depression. This is not what people need to hear. It only adds shame and guilt to an already serious problem. It is similar to not giving water to a baby with diarrhea. It makes sense to the uneducated, but it can kill.

I almost died, I could be dead. I was at a place where my rational mind no longer controlled my actions. Without help, without someone telling me it was okay to get help, to take medication, it was okay to take time off from work and ministry, eventually the suicidal thoughts would have turned into an attempt to take my life. And, I usually accomplish what I set out to do. One person took me seriously and said, “Get help and get it now.” It saved my life. 

I don’t really know what I can do to help educate Christian leaders. This is my simple first attempt. Pastors, sitting in your congregations are people suffering from depression. Now.  Today. What you say to them can and will make a difference between ongoing suffering, possible death, or life and healing. As with diarrhea in India, some simple treatments are enough for many to quickly recover. Others may need greater degrees of help. But please, dear Pastor, don’t tell them that depression is somehow a sign that they are not a good Christian. Please don’t make them feel guilty for being mentally ill. Pray for them. Yes. Maybe God will heal supernaturally. But just as you wouldn’t tell a cancer sufferer to just pray and trust God, don’t tell someone with depression that taking medication or seeking help from a therapist is somehow a sign of their lack of spirituality and a sign of spiritual weakness.

It took tremendous courage for me to seek help, to face the shame and guilt and decide that I would risk trusting someone who was encouraging me to get the medical help I needed. I was desperate. I’m incredibly grateful to God that person told me so strongly to seek treatment. 

Please somebody, would you educate the church, pastors, Christian leaders and missionaries, yes and even ordinary believers about how to recognize and treat this disease called depression! Simple things like raising the depleted seratonin levels through taking a six month course of Prozac can work wonders in enabling people to overcome this disease. I have to say it again. Please don’t reinforce the stigma that says you are a weak Christian if you can’t get over depression without medication. This is a lie straight from the mouth of the destroyer--the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy us. Other simple tools like recognizing distortions in our thinking can turn someone in early stages of depression around. See this website for more info on this: http://addictions.about.com/od/overcomingaddiction/tp/cognitive_distortions.htm

Many can recover fairly quickly from depression with someone to talk to regularly, and a course of medication. Others need to be treated with more complex therapy, drugs and yes, much prayer.

Please wake up Church and be the Body of Christ again! Recognize that treatment and medication for depression are not “second class miracles.” Please don’t make someone who is depressed feel worse by your condemnation of them for the illness they suffer from or for needing help. Please don’t tell them that taking medication is a “cop out” and is what people do who don’t seek help from God first. Please don’t tell them they just need to pray, read the Bible and worship more. Please don’t send them verses saying they should “Rejoice in the Lord always.” This kind of response is common from Christians and Christian leaders. Unwittingly we become contributors to the advance of depression rather than partnering with God to see people healed.

 

Instead, surround those suffering from depression with love and encouragement. Help them recognize the lies they are believing or the distortions in their minds. Set them free from the “shoulds” they live under and teach them about the incredible grace of God. Reach out to them. Make a place for them to be real and honest about what they are feeling. Recommend some good books about those who have gone through grief or depression and experienced healing. These are things we all can do. These are things the Body of Christ has the responsibility to lead the way in. 

My prayer is that God would enable us as His Body to be compassionate, kind and loving toward those who suffer from depression. That He would teach us to recognize symptoms of this life threatening, but increasingly common mental illness, and to do what we can to partner with God in seeing His healing released. Just as it is an extension of His love when you take a sick person to the hospital and pay for their treatment, it is no less an act of His love, to take a severely depressed person and introduce them to a qualified therapist or help them see a doctor.

Father God, let us rise up and be who you want us to be as Your Body. Teach us to love, not condemn the sick and wounded. Whether you heal depression instantly and supernaturally through prayer, or whether you heal through medicine and treatment, let us be those who partner with You God to bring healing to those who are mentally ill. 

Christ follower, Pastor, Leader, what will you do today to further educate yourself about depression and how to be a help? 

For more information about depression see: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

A Perfect Storm written by Jeff Williams

Restored and Held Together by The Body of Christ

*Publishers Note: This blog is more from the author of My Journey, as her journey continues...we urge you to reflect on the fact that in Christ, all things, especially people hold together. 

"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body."  (Colossians 1:15-18, The Message)

During my recent vacation from sanity, I had a friend ask me if I wasn’t just decomposing from our trip.  She meant decompressing, of course, but the thought of decomposing stuck with me.  Synonyms for decomposing include:  going to pieces, breaking up, breaking down.  Decompression is the “gradual return to conditions of normal pressure.”  Was I decomposing or decompressing?

Going on a trip is a break from routine, a relaxation of responsibilities.  But when relaxation is found in the familiarity of routines and responsibilities, a vacation can be stressful in unforeseen and insidious ways.  Even knowing what I needed to maintain mental health, the different schedule of the vacation precluded being able to include all that I needed within the day.  As the vacation continued, I became a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.  Without the requisite space and privacy to worship alone, without being connected to a community of believers, I slowly “decomposed” into self-destructive thoughts, which led to depression and eventually self-destructive behaviors.

As I returned from vacation, I sought out the much-needed solitude that I had missed.  Unfortunately, the decomposition process had gone too far.  I was “going to pieces”, and lost myself in the waves of depression and pain.  During the next week, I spent most of my time locked in my closet, losing track of the time and of the day.  My internal chronometer still feels incorrect from the loss of days that I cannot account for.

But there was something else that I had missed.  I needed to reconnect with my community.  I needed the support from a loving, faithful, Christ-filled body of believers.  Being in communion with others of like minds; souls and goals connected as a singular unit—the bride of Christ.  It is a life-giving force that is unexplainable in the natural world.  But supernaturally, it is understood.  The Body of Christ, the Church, is a singular unit with a singular goal.  When we connect, either physically or electronically, our goal should always be to lift up each other, since we are all one bride.  When a part of the body is injured or in pain, the natural response of the body is to work on the healing and restoration of that part.  Ignoring it or amputating it is not an option.

Healing could not occur until my decomposing self reconnected with the Body.  Then healing and decompression could begin.  Sharing my pain, allowing others to encourage me, minister to me through scripture and exhortation, pray for me, even sing to me; these were all necessary ingredients for the initiation of my healing.  “Decompression” did not occur in an instant; repeated prayers, emails, and time spent together have been pivotal as I move back towards mental health.  Living a life in community is more than just a casual relationship with limited knowledge about each other.  It is sharing the dirty, ugly parts and experiencing the unconditional love of Christ in physical form as we allow ourselves to be vessels to be spirit-filled and poured out to fulfill the needs of others.

Having experienced the love of true community, my response and desire is to reciprocate.  I want to know more about these people who have loved me so thoroughly.  I want to give to them, pray for them, and express our Father’s love for them to them.  I want to learn how to love more like my Father loves me.

*Finally, the author, her husband and the publisher want to suggest that you prayerfully listen and watch Jars of Clay, "Shelter", which resonates with this post, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoDmFQWOL4Y

*Again, the author would be happy to receive your comments and questions and to respond privately.  Please submit these to Jeff.gtre@gmail.com and they will passed to her.  

 

My Journey*

Six months ago I wanted to die.  Stuck in repetitive counting and cleaning rituals of OCD, drowning in depression, convinced that I was worthless; I began counseling mainly out of love for my family.  I wanted to live for my husband and children.

The journey I have been on since then has been painful, surprising, and beautiful.  Painful because I have searched the depth of my illness:  genetic inheritance, family values, and peer abuse were all contributors; but the main barrier to my wellness was my own reactions and beliefs about myself.  I had learned to protect myself from emotional pain by escaping into my OCD rituals, and denied my sensitive, emotional self.   I was surprised to learn that I am extremely sensitive, and at first I was not at all pleased with the “new” me that was emerging.  Even though one of my goals had been to become more emotionally aware, I had not expected to what degree I would become emotional as I revisited painful memories.  

The journey has been beautiful because I have learned and experienced so much more than I thought possible.  I have questioned beliefs, searched my soul, and re-evaluated my priorities.  I have experienced the breathtaking healing of prayer.  I am learning about the needful interdependence of the church.  I am beginning to reach beyond my own pain and give to others.  I have met my Father in the depth of my pain, and He has been faithful to provide a needed phone call, email, sunrise, or song to remind me of his overwhelming love for me.

I’ve experienced grace like I never knew existed.  My therapist's unconditional acceptance of all my behaviors and insistence that I see myself as a beloved daughter of the King has transformed my view of myself.  Being able to accept grace instead of hating myself for all my failures is thrilling.

I began this experience with specific goals to achieve, and I have achieved some of them.  But I have learned that there are better goals to achieve, and have accepted that I may not be completely healed of my OCD.  I fully expect to be on medication for the rest of my life, based on my family history.  I am beginning to realize that I have bought into the lie that I am not worth as much as others because I am a woman, a housewife, whatever.  I am learning that I can have an opinion, and it is valuable. As I begin to assert myself, I am finding that my husband appreciates my opinions.  Letting him know how I feel is beginning to create a more intimate relationship between us.   

I have built many “protective” walls in my life, denying how I really feel, and they are coming down. When I wake in the morning, instead of dreading the coming day, I can pray now.  Some mornings, I still just pray for strength to get up and make it to the breakfast table.  But most mornings, I wake with the potential of the day shining through.  I am overwhelmed with the possibilities of each precious day.  But whether I wake in joy or sadness, I wake in the loving arms of the One who loves me, no matter how broken I am.

*This is a true story known to blog host, Jeff Williams.  Comments and inquiries for the author, a middle-aged, married mother of two, can be posted on this blog, or sent to jeff.gtre@gmail.com who will forward to the author for private response.

A Delaration of Hope - by Jessica*

I have spent much time on my knees, and have incidentally done much soul-searching. There are elements of my cognitive and emotional life that remain in need of a make-over, but how far I have come compared with where I have been is nothing short of astounding. Standing in the aftermath of several severe traumas has left me emotionally and psychologically crippled; not to mention, compounded the struggle to maintain sobriety. It has been a long and strenuous journey, wherein my obstinacy has all but guaranteed that I would be travelling much of the road kicking and screaming. Nevertheless, I continue to press on. The credit for this ensuing accomplishment belongs to God, but I also know that I would not have had the wherewithal to pursue the endeavor had I not had the continual support of family and trusted therapists. The purpose of saying all of this is twofold: self-affirmation, and a heartfelt gratitude for those-supernal or otherwise-- who loved me enough to stand by me despite the ugliness of my behavior, and the residual pain from past wrongdoing. This also serves as a declaration to those I have influenced that I am building a steadfast foundation-- faith in my Father above and confidence in myself-- that will ultimately prevail. 

When it comes to building personal relationships, my aforementioned traumas have stunted and abated much of the progress I had hoped to make. However, I know that if I continue to tread along the path that leads to healing, I will gain the strength of character required to “make it work.” All I seem to be lacking is the relationship…and a wrecking ball to break down the walls I have erected. I have been through many horrible relationships, and have had the heart I wore on my sleeve ripped off and stomped on. I have also endured emotional and physical abuse. These events only provided me with more bricks with which to keep building that wall. I have slowly come to realize the painful irony circumscribing this edifice: the isolation protects me from pain, but also inflicts me with a new pain: an intense longing for a relationship that would go unsatisfied –thanks again to that darn wall. Nevertheless, I have picked up many valuable lessons from all of the above. The pivotal lesson I have learned is that who I am within, at the very center of my being, can never be taken away from me; it was fashioned after the likeness of God, and made unique by those same Hands. What I do, or have done, will not change this divinely imbued identity.  The light I have inside is the very light of God, and can never be fully extinguished, although the struggles of this world may at times temporarily shroud it. My past serves as a testimony to the fragility of life and its relationships. For this reason, being grounded in faith, and learning to love myself is of the utmost importance; the foundation from which is used to build the rest. It is still hard work to maintain, since I am an imperfect vessel; and with all that I have been through in my life, the “yellow caution flag” still flies. All of the resulting pain, though, is notwithstanding, as the wisdom that comes from having endured it is invaluable. My hope and prayer henceforth is that my sharing this will fan the flame of hope in others who are reeling amidst similar struggles.

I will end this with a quote from of the greatest litterateurs, Victor Hugo: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”  ~Les Miserables

*Jessica is a 32 year-old IT professional.  Her testimony is published by her permission.  Please leave your comments for her below.

Transformational Publishing is a division of Grace and Truth Relationship Education, Jeff and Jill Williams, Springfield, Ohio 2011.

LiveStrong Faith: Lance Armstong's rebirth, and Jesus the Cure for Sin

LiveSTRONG Faith by Ben King, http://tailwind89.wordpress.com, reprinted by permission)

*Publisher's note: Ben King is the reigning U.S.Road Race Cycling Champion.  This blog is printed here with his permission.  Please pray for Ben as a neo-pro with Team Radio Shack for the 2011 season.  Below he captures the essence of Lance Armstong's work as an evangelist for a cure for cancer and inspiration to patients and survivors, AND Jesus as the cure for the disease of sin.

By Ben King

The pitiful thing is that over the past twenty days I had been grooming those few nasty hairs sprouting on my upper lip in a shabby excuse for a mustache. As trashy as it was, I wouldn’t shave. It symbolized hope. Besides, I was only a few hairs short of Lance Armstrong who was also sporting a scraggly ‘stache to raise cancer awareness as part of Movember’s campain. It is the same reason that dozens of burly NFL players had dressed in pink the previous month. When I was young I lost my grandfather to cancer, but a routine physical checkup never ended with the life shattering news that my time may be up. As a member of the Trek-LIVESTRONG cycling team, however, part of my job description is to “proudly wear the LIVESTRONG brand, helping to spread awareness for the global cancer fight.” It seemed appropriate to state in my bio that I was “most excited” to represent the cause, but could I define the cause? It became my priority to develop a personal understanding of the value of LIVESTRONG’s mission throughout the season. The exploration drew remarkable parallels to my understanding of the Christian mission.

During my freshman biology teacher’s lecture, dread and righteous hatred throbbed in my throat as she described the way cancer invades, perverts, and kills. My first impression of this inner decay was “it is the epitome of evil.” Malignant cancer is the perfect synonym for sin. Although it may spread slowly, once the disease occurs, it remains. Exercise and diet may slow it down but neither will remove the disease. In the same way good deeds cannot dispose of the sin in a life. Once you have sinned, you are a sinner. Once you have cancer, you are sick. It is a condition that cannot be bartered with. It’s not fair, and its the meanest thing on earth. Give a patient a knife, point out the tumor, and he is still helpless to cure himself. The chilling truth is that millions are benighted or live in denial of these death waging dooms. Like a redeemed sinner, Lance reacted to his rebirth into life after cancer by reaching out to those affected by the disease through creation of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

LIVESTRONG employees go about their work with a religious fervor. Because these are faith comparisons, do not get the idea that they go about judging the cancerous, beating medical texts, or any other negative religious stereotype. For a people in supposed celebration of hope this hypocrisy would be revolting. What I mean is that they race to work, smiling and eager to provide hope and promote the LIVESTRONG brand. Lance is a passionate anti-cancer evangelical. In conjunction with his dramatic 2009 cycling comeback, Lance set out to make LIVESTRONG disciples of all nations through his global cancer campaign. Beginning in Mexico with our Trek-LiveSTRONG U23 team, Lance raced around the world gathering pledges from dozens of world leaders to commit to fighting cancer. He preaches beside his LIVESTRONG saints believing that awareness will inspire life saving action.

The next time I saw Lance was post Tour de France in Aspen, Colorado. We rolled along a bike path bordering a crystal river between snowcapped mountains, and I wished we were fishing instead of training. Stroller pushing jogger moms did double takes as Lance greeted each of them sprightly. I commented that because he didn’t win the Tour de France the media hype surrounding his comeback must have focused the spotlight on his cause rather than his athleticism. He bobbed up and down on his pedals as we skirted a rock wall, “you know, that’s exactly it. I mean, I didn’t try not to win, but this comeback has done so much good for LIVESTRONG, and I’m having as much fun on the bike as ever.” Lance did not allow his pride to prevent him from his most important objective, and he knew exactly where to point the attention.

Jesus, facing a radically divergent defeat, had been thrashed to pieces and as the blood drained from his wounds and the spit dried on his face and the nails tacked him up to expire and rot in public view, “the people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”’ (Luke 23:35) Instead of shaming them with one more miracle, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:32) In surrendering Himself, he fulfilled his mission providing a cure for sin. Sin upset the perfect equilibrium of God’s creation, and like cancer sin causes death. Since God’s “cause” is to know, love, and be loved, He performed this mystical blood transfusion as a blameless sacrifice to restore our spiritual health. LiveSTRONG and Christ exist for hope of life in the face of death. LiveSTRONG is a church for those affected by cancer.

A boy with pale freckled skin and creamy orange hair stood beside our deliciously decorated dinner table. “Who asked this question?” Lance asked. Doug Ulman, president of Livestrong, had selected it from a bin of submissions as the last to be addressed during the Ride for the Roses awards banquet. The fragile looking boy had already been identified as a cancer survivor. His awkward stance and downward gaze seemed almost abashed of his condition, yet his participation displayed vast appreciation and humility. Lance continued, “The question is: What do you think about while you ride?” His answer was less practiced than others he had given that night, and he hesitated searching himself for the answer. “The road, my schedule, family, my new son,” are among the things he ponders during those therapeutic hours in the saddle, “-but I also think about you.” The boy’s mother choked on her Adam’s apple and a hot stream of tears escaped her eyelids. As our director Axel Merckx says, “Lance is much much more than a sports figure. He is an inspiration.” Inspiration of real hope. Hope that is represented by the LIVESTRONG cause.

What One Couple Can Do, Another Can Do

She'd been angry most of their marriage, and he'd been morose.  Both had good reason for their emotions from life before they met each other, but they'd accrued their own history through their own interactions.  It was a caustic combination, and a post-mortem on their marriage would show that it had been ready to blow for a long time.  In August 2003, Sharon had had enough.  She asked Richard to get out of the house.  He obliged, understanding that compliance with his wife's demand was his only choice if their marriage was to have any chance.

An incredible saga ensued.  I know, because I was their counselor and eventually their marriage coach.  They warned that they might be one of the most difficult cases I'd ever seen.  They were right.

But even though death knocked at the door of their marriage throughout their 16 month separation, it didn't die.  Why not?

Sharon desperately and stubbornly pursued God. She wanted to obey Him more than she wanted her out of her painful marriage.  She persisted through intensive Bible studies, Prayer, Christian Counseling and godly friendships. 

Richard was fueled by a strong conviction about something Jesus said, “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate,” (Mark 10:9) so he stubbornly refused to be a party to any voluntary dissolution to his marriage. He too spent much time in Bible study and pursued God through worship, prayer, counseling, scripture and more.

Janurary 1, 2005 is an unforgettable day for Rich, Sharon, their kids and those who love them.  About 200 of their friends, family and Church gathered for their reconciliation ceremony.  It was a lovely and exhilarating time of worship, prayer, renewal of vows, and even repentance by all for periods of unbelief in the miracle that this incredible couple pursued. Later this month they will celebrate their Silver Anniversary!

The point?  What one couple can do, another can do.

It get's better.  The rest of the story is that the Wildman's now minister to couples around the world through the ministry God birthed through their reconciliation.  It is appropriately titled, Stubborn Pursuits, and you can find them through their website, www.stubbornpursuits.wordpress.com.

This is the first of the multitude of stories we believe that God is going to share through Transformational Publishing.  What's your story, or a story you've been a part of?  Remember, releasing such stories into the lives of other's may be the inspiration needed for them to faith for the transforming miracle they're hoping for.

God bless,
Jeff Williams, Founder

What to Write

What to write?  Write what you know about, what you've lived and experienced, what you're passionate about, that which can help others as you have been helped.

The economy of the Kingdom of God is about paying it forward...giving to others from what God has given to us.  Interestingly, this is also the best way to retain what you've received. It keeps you fresh and grateful, and provides built-in accountability to practice  what you are preaching to others. For example, the married couple that struggled in the past to save their marriage is reminded of the heart and skills they need to use to stay healthy as they teach the same to others.


Do you think that you don't have anything new to say; that the story of what God has done in you isn't unique, fresh or compelling?  Let Him and others be the judge of that.  Even if your story of transformation is similar to the story of others, it is unique because you are unique, and the way you tell it will be unique.  And the way others hear it will be unique.  Write in faith, dispense what you've written (on this website, on your website, your own blog, a self-published book, etc.) and wait for a grateful reader to surface.  Trust that there is at least one person out there that needs to hear your story (i.e., the story of what God has done in your life), to inspire and equip them to cooperate with His plan to transform their life!

Does the mountain look too big to ascend? Does the elephant look to big to eat?  You've heard the answer to both: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Confucius.  And an elephant is eaten one bite at a time.

Trust that I'm not lauding myself with the following example, but rather making an attempt to bridge you from thinking about writing to writing.

My reluctant journey to accept the identity of writer by actually writing with purpose was two years.  It began with motivation to be helpful to others.  It began simply as an act of faith that God would call my mind to something helpful when I opened my laptop.  Miracle of miracles, He brought things to mind day after day.  Eighteen months later I'd logged 5 days/week , writing about 350-700 words per entry. No one was more surprised than me. I didn't know how much I had to say; rather, I didn't have any idea that He wanted to say so much through me.


So there's the challenge.  Steward today by sitting down to a blank page to pray, "What would you have me say?"  Often He will have already brought a person or a group to mind.  He's had me write to married couples in crisis and pain, and so I write as if speaking to them.  An effective question that has helped to develop many an outline has been this, "If I have only one opportunity to speak to this person/group, what must be said to inspire and equip them?"

What's your story?  Recovery from hopelessness in a relationship? Survival of teen pregnancy? Recovery from drug addiction? Overcoming a debilitating mental or emotional illness? Successful negotiation of extended family conflict? Adjustment to a cross-cultural ministry setting? And on, and on it goes.  The content it is possible to write about includes all of life!

What to write about?  Write about what you know that might be helpful to people God brings to mind or across your path.  And never, never, never underestimate the potency of the uniqueness of your story, and the unique way that He inspires you to tell it.


Ok, now go open a blank Word document, and pray for inspiration.

God bless, Jeff