A Change of Perspective

Today I started training for a new mini-job…and I liked it! It felt good to actually be doing something that is productive, and that will hopefully bring in a little extra money. And that gave me a tad bit of hope for tomorrow.

It got me thinking about perspective. I don’t often have a very good view on life. I focus on the things that I’m struggling with, instead of holding on to the joys and the blessings and the many things that I have to be thankful for. In any respect, my perspective could most definitely use an overhaul!

When I don’t feel motivated to do anything during the day, it brings me down. But instead of letting how I feel pull me into a pit of despair, I want to focus on taking a baby step towards accomplishing some goal, and thanking God when He helps me to take that step. When I feel alone and like no one understands what I’m going through, I want to focus on praising God that HE understands, and try to reach out to someone else who may be struggling. And when I want to give up because things are just too hard, I want to focus on the fact that the Lord has gotten me this far, and rejoice because He posesses an unlimited reserve of strength that is available to me for my journey.

I know that this change of perspective – this refined focus – is going to take time. But if I can apply this new outlook to even the smallest of everyday tasks, it will start to because more of a habit. And then it will become natural. And that’s the way I want it to be! I want to be a positive person.

Will you pray for me I seek to adopt a more positive perspective? I would greatly appreciate it. And what about you? Would you also like to change the way you look at life? Please feel free to leave a comment so that I can pray for you as well.

And remember…

Tomorrow is going to be amazing! ❤

Thy Will Be Done

So I’ve been struggling with mental health issues for about 20 years. It started when I was a teenager and there were a lot of family issues going on that caused a great turmoil in my heart. And it just kind of grew from there. I’ve been diagnosed with severe, chronic depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and generalized and social anxiety disorders. I’ve seen countless doctors and I’ve tried almost every medication available for these issues over the years, and this past year I started a new venture of getting electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). The treatments have helped some, but every day is still a struggle.

I share all of this not to draw attention to myself and my difficulties, but to something the Lord has been teaching me through it. I’ve been hearing a song on the radio that really resonates with me and with what I’ve been going through. Take a moment to listen to it – you might enjoy it. Song: Hillary Scott’s “Thy Will”   But basically it talks about how it’s so hard sometimes to understand what God has allowed into our lives…and we may never understand until heaven. But the cry of our hearts should always be: “Thy will be done.” No matter what we’re going through, we can always trust that our heavenly Father will bring good out of it.

So whatever you’re going through today – whatever trials are taking your breath away with the pain that they cause – whatever situations are testing you to the limit…just know that God will, in His own timing, work it out according to His perfect plan.

The Journey

Oftentimes when you’re on a journey

You don’t know what’s up ahead;

All you can see is the heartache

And the pain you’ve felt instead.

Looking back on the road you’ve traveled,

You see bad and you see good –

So many things have happened

That you haven’t understood.

You pray that tomorrow will be better

And that you’ll learn the reason why

Each day is such a struggle

And each night a time to cry.

But you know your Heavenly Father

Holds you safely in His hands,

And you trust that whatever transpires

Is part of His loving plan.

 

Photo by: Toni Lluch