Finding Encouragement

[SNOOPY]

So where do you find it?

I know there are people out there who seem to always be on top of the world...I'm not asking you. LOL

Now for those who get distresses or down every now and then, how do you find encouragement to get back up and press on?

Anyone ever listen to any kind of encouragement tapes? Know of any?

 

[Christ_empowered]

Other Christians. I come to this forum and/or call the 2 solidly Christian friends I have for honest advice and strength through the struggle. I don't think self-help and/or therapy go very far. Trust me--psychobabble used to be my religion. Its vapid and banal and will end up making you a shallow, vapid person. Thinking good thoughts and trying to feel good all the time isn't what its about. Its about developing joy that comes from a right relationship with Christ, fellow believers, and fellow human beings in general.

 

[Tina]

Each time I feel down, angry, stressed or discouraged, I go home and worship God. About 2 or 3 songs into the worship, His presence and peace never fails to overwhelm me to increase my faith and joy...

 

[ivorhughjarse]

don't confuse Happiness and Joy

Happiness is from "happenings" good happenings in a day could be from going somewhere or doing something or being in a certain person or persons company. That is happiness...happenings. We all want it, but don't need it unless our Joy is down then a good day can lift us

Joy is something deeper it's from "J" Jah God. It is a deeper because it is an understanding and accepting of our situation and enjoying that day whatever our situation. It is not accepting defeat in a situation as many situations can change but accepting the reality of that day that moment in life and being settled in our spirit.

Happiness comes from life
Joy comes from God and Joy is the best to pursue

 

[reba]

Nice to 'see' ya again Snoopy!

 

[for_his_glory]

My encouragement comes from knowing the promises of God that he will never leave me nor forsake me, but will always bring me out of any bad emotion, trial or tribulation as long as humble myself before him and draw on His strength.

 

[SNOOPY]

Other Christians. I come to this forum and/or call the 2 solidly Christian friends I have for honest advice and strength through the struggle. I don't think self-help and/or therapy go very far. Trust me--psychobabble used to be my religion. Its vapid and banal and will end up making you a shallow, vapid person. Thinking good thoughts and trying to feel good all the time isn't what its about. Its about developing joy that comes from a right relationship with Christ, fellow believers, and fellow human beings in general.

I have no close friends, or any real Christian friends.

I'd have to look up some of the words you used to respond to the rest of your post. LOL

.

 

[SNOOPY]

Each time I feel down, angry, stressed or discouraged, I go home and worship God. About 2 or 3 songs into the worship, His presence and peace never fails to overwhelm me to increase my faith and joy...

That seems on my level, I can handle that.

Thanks

 

[SNOOPY]

don't confuse Happiness and Joy

Happiness is from "happenings" good happenings in a day could be from going somewhere or doing something or being in a certain person or persons company. That is happiness...happenings. We all want it, but don't need it unless our Joy is down then a good day can lift us

Joy is something deeper it's from "J" Jah God. It is a deeper because it is an understanding and accepting of our situation and enjoying that day whatever our situation. It is not accepting defeat in a situation as many situations can change but accepting the reality of that day that moment in life and being settled in our spirit.

Happiness comes from life
Joy comes from God and Joy is the best to pursue

I think you misunderstood my question.

I know the difference between Joy and happiness, although I have experienced little to no Joy in my life.

I'm asking more to the point of how to get out of a depressed state that comes on time and time again.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I get severe depression now and then (OK, regularly). I have Bipolar I. I get "psychotic depression," which means in addition to depression there's voices, agitation, and paranoia.

Prayer helps tremendously. So does realizing that God will get you through this. Cling to Him, pray, read your Bible, fellowship (or come here...we're nice people). Medication...can help. From my extensive experience with psychiatry, I'd say avoid meds if at all possible, but do take it if you're approaching the breaking point. See what I'm saying? Pills can help with extreme mania, extreme depression, but if its milder than that, you're probably better off with non-medical intervention.

Get out there...or read. Reading helps me. There's even a name for that...bibliotherapy, I think. I find that non-fiction is better, because fiction often fills your head with the author's own morals and ideals. Non-fiction just expands your knowledge base and takes your mind off your own issues. Just my experience, of course; some people get better by digging into classic literature.

I hate to say it, but try to develop something of a Tragic Worldview. Our society likes to tell us that pain is bad and traumatizing, etc. I think a better, and probably more Christian, way of looking at it would be to say "OK. Pain is inevitable. Experience it, accept it, grow through it, bear it as best as I can." That's what's helped me go from doped up pill head to a more productive Christian on just 1-2 meds daily (Bipolar I patients regularly take 4+ meds, btw).

Meditation. I don't mean Eastern meditation, where you chill out and empty your mind. I know that gets a lot of good press these days, but I don't think its consistent with traditional Christianity. I think Christian meditation, where you examine parts of the Bible or reflect on your own life and the grace God has shown you, is probably more productive and constructive. I think the Catholic Church has a long tradition of all sorts of meditation. I'm not a big fan of Catholicism, but I mean--its up to you. Just know that its out there.

Hobbies. I'm hardly one to talk here, but hobbies are good. Writing, gardening, exercise, researching a favorite topic...all good.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Broncobilly1972]

Try reading psalms, I like psalms 51 when I need encouragement

 

[Elijah674]

So where do you find it?

I know there are people out there who seem to always be on top of the world...I'm not asking you. LOL

Now for those who get distresses or down every now and then, how do you find encouragement to get back up and press on?

Anyone ever listen to any kind of encouragement tapes? Know of any?

Hi Snoop's!:waving
If you read Heb. 12:3-8 carefully you will find that [we all] are in these verses of Christ's Word! No one is on top of the verse 8 ones who [ARE PARTAKERS!]
Heb. 12
[3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
[7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

And about Encouragement? There are two Truths seen of many in Phil. 4:13 + 2 Cor. 12:9 (and this was apostal Paul)

You are a women 'i' think it says? Anyway, if one has ever worked clearing wooded land? Many old trees have VINES going from the trunk to near the top. And Christ says that He in comparrison is the VINE.

OK: If one had even found a way to dis/connect a vine such as this.. quickly? other than to cut it off at the botton which is sometimes around 3-4" wide, then hook a log chain to it & fasten it to a tractor (or whatever) & then watch of the shaking of the tree even while it is coming down? This is my understanding of How Christ clings to His own. Even if it was cut off & left on the tree, it would stay there for a long long time!

And sure, the ones of Gen. 6:3 + Rev. 17:1-5 have the VINE removed, but look at the 120 years of the Holy Spirits STRIVINGS + Noah's preaching?? Where Christ the VINE is seen removed, these ones removed it by their own free 'stuborn will' to do so.. and it still did take a long period of time of up's + down's.

Again, remember that satan has the ownership power to give out rewards! (Matt. 4:8-9) So this is not to be a test of Christ's 'SAINTS!' Read again Heb. 12 above

--Elijah

 

[SNOOPY]

Now we're getting some good input..

I'll looking into reading these verses you all have offered up, thanks!

The vine reference really hit me as well. In my first church 20 years back I helped clear a good sized field our church owned where most of the trees were filled w such vines that had to come down...lots of poison ivy too. 2