difficulttimes

Stay in peace. It makes the difficult times more tolerable. #MentalHealth #peace #self -image #difficulttimes #calm

First of all, I want to give my gratitude for a warm welcome I received here, thank you all! So it's time to post my third thought.

Honestly, I would have thought that one would become used to having a difficult day with yourself, especially when this has been part of your life for a long time. Is this even possible? Can we really get used to those days where everything feels so heavy, dark and impossible? Those days when a simple task seems like a mountain to climb and all you choose to do is not to leave the comforts of your bed. Because the outer world seems like a hell of a frightening place, and you are simply not up for it. So can we ever get used to it, a difficult day(s)?
#Anxiety #Depression   #MentalHealth   #difficulttimes #Selfesteem   #IrritableBowelSyndromeIBS   #FearOfAbandonment   #pandemiclife

Hi everyone. I just joined hoping to get some support from people who actually know what it’s like to have depression and anxiety. I take medication and have tried many different kinds, however i just feel like my anxiety is getting worse. If anyone has any tips or tricks to help cope or get through the difficult times please let me know! thank you! #Anxiety #Depression

intercede for me. pray for me,
for this battle wears me out.
this temporal despair
of living in the shadows of these giants.
my body and soul is tired.

intercede for me. pray for me.
this season of life overwhelms.
the pain. the waiting.
the change. the uncertainty.
perhaps – one day – this will be a blip.
right now, it’s a mountain.

intercede for me. pray for me.
what’s your perfect instruction
that will revive my soul today?
“never will I leave you or forsake you!”
then why do I feel alone in my suffering?
why so overwhelmed as I sit on my couch?

intercede for me. pray for me.
surely, you must be carrying me
for the duration of these difficult times.
please, don’t let me go,
or abandon me
to this temporal despair.

© Mark Bryant. October 17th, 2019.

#MightyPoets
#MentalHealth
#Depression
#Anxiety
#overcome
#shadowsofthesegiants
#difficulttimes

Psalm 19:7-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.

Hebrews 7:25 New Living Translation (NLT)
25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Coming through hardship.
I’m doing the best I can.
Yet there’s always the accusation
that I can do better.

Why do I always feel it’s not good enough?

My skin is wrinkly and pale
from living in the shadows of these giants.
I keep asking God to do His perfect work.

It’s scary.
His plans are above and beyond mine.
Can I trust Him with…
My hopes?
My dreams?
My desires?

Will I believe
that ALL He has in store for me
is for my good?

In the midst of difficult times,
I’ve done the best I can.
I feel like I should be rewarded
- not punished -

But the reward is eternal life, and
“joy that sees through and beyond a circumstance
to a better outcome. [a]”

© Mark Bryant. October 7th, 2019.
[a] Keith Stevenson. October 6th, 2019.

#MightyPoets
#MentalHealth
#Depression
#Anxiety
#overcome
#shadowsofthesegiants
#difficulttimes

Ruth 2:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

These difficult times have thrown me under the bus
and made me think that it’s my home.
Greasy. Dirty.  Dusty.  Rusty.
The shadow of something giant.

I’ve forgotten that shadows
can only be caused in the presence of light.
God’s light penetrates the darkness
-there is no darkness in Him.

And as for the temporal big things?

I may be living in the shadows of these giants.
Depression. Anxiety. Unemployment. Never good enough. Tiredness.

Yes! It’s DAUNTing!
But God is bigger!
God is light!

He’ll expose the darkness for what it is
and I’ll experience his victory.

© Mark Bryant 30th September, 2019

#MightyPoets
#MentalHealth
#Depression
#Anxiety
#overcome
#difficulttimes
#shadowsofthesegiants

James 1:16-18
So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

The waiting in the midst of extremes.
Where the worst has seemingly happened
and a new normal emerges from the difficult times.

Because the “new” normal is different to the “old” normal,
it’s considered inferior. Worse.  Not easy to accept.
The “new” normal seems weighted towards the negative.

It’s almost like there’s a waiting…
To come out the other side in victory.

The waiting.
Again with the waiting.

The opportunity to learn painful lessons
that ultimately prove good,
but it’s so hard.

The waiting

Please work in me what you need to.
I’m struggling,
but please do your perfect work
in the waiting.

© Mark Bryant 29th September, 2019

#MightyPoets
#MentalHealth
#Depression
#Anxiety
#overcome
#difficulttimes

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

Loyalty and kindness
= the favour of God and man.

But what is favour?

Demonstrated delight.

Is it the life of luxury?
Of financial success and no job stress?

Or is it more-so something else also?

The “hidden” presence in difficult times?
That God is working good in the bad?

Although I can’t see “what’s yet to come,”
God sees it, and it’s his favour.
His demonstrated delight.

People may not see his favour upon me.
I may appear stricken and forgotten,
but God hasn’t forgotten me.

And although I’m imperfect
-and sin every day-
God loves me.

He shows his demonstrated delight in me
in ways I may not yet see or understand.

© Mark Bryant 28th September, 2019

#MightyPoets
#MentalHealth
#Depression
#Anxiety
#overcome
#difficulttimes

Proverbs 3:3-4
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favour with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

Penetrate my heart
with your words of wisdom.
Open my ears
so I can hear them.

Remove the scale
and soften the rust.
My can of WD40
just attracts dust.

Penetrate my heart
with your words of wisdom.
Open my ears
so I can hear them.

Difficult times
have hardened the surface
and clouded the view
of what is my purpose.

Penetrate my heart
with your words of wisdom.
Open my ears
so I can hear them.

I don’t know how
I could be any clearer!
More than finances,
I hold you dearer.

Penetrate my heart
with your words of wisdom.
Open my ears
so I can hear them.

© Mark Bryant 27th September, 2019

#MightyPoets
#MentalHealth
#Depression
#Anxiety
#overcome
#difficulttimes

Proverbs 4:20-22
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.