The Never Ending Gifts

At the end of the day, when Bob and I sit down and talk, I like to tell the story of the things that happened to me that day. Bob has learned to listen patiently, but what he really wants is the bottom line. On this blog, I’ve enjoyed telling stories of how God helps me with my anxiety and depression issues, but today I want to talk plainly about the bottom line of emotional healing from God.

Part 1

To get God’s full help and support for our emotional issues, we first need to be on board with him and agree to follow him. I did this in the spring of 1979 and began my relationship with God by:

• Clearing the air by admitting the hurtful or offensive things I’d done and then asking God’s forgiveness.
• Inviting Jesus to come in and lead my life.

If you want to do this too, pray a simple prayer like this:

“Dear Jesus, I know I’ve made some wrong choices and done some hurtful things. Please forgive me. From now on, I commit to following you and doing things your way. Amen.

When we invite Jesus in to guide our lives, we join God’s family and gain a spiritual connection with him.

Part 2

To get help for our emotional problems, we can ask God to help us.

God knows how our emotional issues developed. If you’re anything like me, when trouble comes my way I put up defenses—walls to block the pain and protect me from getting hurt again. Then I change direction and do things differently. I’m a little more cautious when I meet a new person. I hold back my enthusiasm to avoid disappointment. I go on in my new pattern, unconscious of why, and the wall I put up becomes invisible. I forget it’s even there.

After years of putting up walls and coping by turning to the left or right, I find myself lost in a maze.

I don’t know how I got here—why I’m anxious, tense, defensive, or depressed—and I don’t know how to get out. But God sees the maze from above. He sees those invisible coping device walls that served a purpose at the time but no longer apply, and can tell me which way to turn to get healed (see my other blog posts). God’s just waiting for me to ask for his help.

Ask for God’s help:

• With an open heart, willing to change.
• Listen for God’s answer when you pray, read the Bible, attend church, and talk to Christian friends and mentors.
• Do what God leads you to do, such as letting go of an issue and trusting God more, forgiving someone, or seeking a counselor.

I’d heard people pray for all kinds of physical and financial problems, but I didn’t know God could help us with our emotional problems until I went to him and asked. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows all and sees all, and is willing and able to help us heal. When he does, he also fills us with peace and joy. I want to drink the whole glass of that loving provision.