If it were not for hopes, the heart would break. - Thomas FullerI came across this quote and it spoke to me. Most people who struggle with depression, suffer because they feel hopeless about something in their lives. I had written a post called, Functionally Depressed. It talks about the depression that people hide from friends and family.
Proverbs 13:12 – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
The subject of hopelessness has been on my heart recently. Maybe you know someone who is depressed and needs a friend – a bit of encouragement. Maybe it’s you. I urge you to reach out to someone in your life – a friend, loved one, pastor, etc. – if you are struggling with hopelessness. Sometimes we can hide our sadness so well that no one sees our pain. God sees your pain. God feels your pain. Let Him reach out to you and place hope back where there is none.
I’m reminded of the story of the young actress in
Tomorrow is a brand new day. New hope comes with a new day. Life can change in an instant. Don’t give up and don’t quit.
Learn from yesterday; live for today; hope for tomorrow
© Nadine Z. 2008
21 comments:
How true and spoken from one who's very name means hope... I love you.
Tom
I have thought a lot about hope, and how it is what got us through many of our really hard days - hope in the Lord and His ability to work things out. He is doing that right now in our family.
Are you close to Olympia? My nephew and family just moved there and we love that area - hopefully we'll get out there someday.
that was beautiful Nadine! I heard on the radio a couple days ago that more and more people are dealing with depression then ever before. I was thinking its no wonder! I mean The way gas prices are continually rising, it is making everything else rise as well! Sometimes I think for most people this makes it hard to live! I think it is SO important to reach out to God and lean on him, He WILL get you through!
Thank you Jesus For you have given us Hope!
Blessings Nadine!
Beautiful message; great words and quotes.
Lately, I don't have time for depression, but I've been there. Keeping busy and focusing on the HOPE of a better tomorrow is essential to prevent depression. Once you're there however, in a depressed state, it may take a little more than hope to get you through it. Caring friends/family are important. We need to look out for the warning signs and be available when someone's down instead of thinking, "so and so is just moody all the time." So and so doesn't have to be! :)
Hiya Nadine,
I know no matter what there is always Hope indeed.
I know of friends who are depressed and stressed out, I reached out but many times they either take it in good spirit or simply continue with their depression.
Still, I have hope and I always keep track and reach out to them. I always tell them, I am only a phone call away.
Thanks for the wonderful post Nadine :D
hugs. thanks for the encouragment!
Yes - tomorrow is a brand new day!
Have a good one - Kellan
Preach it siesta! Through this long adoption process it's the only thing that keeps me going somedays.
H olding
O n
P raying
E ndlessly
This is so true. It's hopelessness that drowns us into a state of depression.
You could write a whole book on hope! Thanks for your encouraging words.
Very encouraging! Thanks.
Hope has been really mulling around in my heart lately. We see such hopelessness in this world, and here we have the answer in Him!
Thanks for the encouraging words.
God bless,
Brenda
A great post. Odd that I just happened upon right after my husband spoke to you in a dream last night about something similar. I am happy to know that your name means hope. Never let go the gift you have to bring that hope.
The saying goes "It's always darkest before the dawn". Seems to me that what feels like your very darkest hour is the worst time of all to give up, and therefore the time when the battle will be the most intense.
Perhaps we need to be trained as warriors as well as poets!
I have a dear friend who had a hat she wore when she was depressed. Everyone in the family knew to stay away when she wore "the hat." They laugh about it now, but I sometimes wonder what it would have taken to help her remove that hat.
Can't say I'm not ever there...I live alone and though I am working toward my dream, the progress I see is small at best. It's easy being excited for the future when others see your vision; but, it's not so easy sharing what is really going on inside through the process of making it all happen. I've had to make a point of being more real with the people who know me best.
Beautifully spoken. HOPE! Precious words. Precious thougths. Awesome Saviour who provides our HOPE! Blessings Nadine!
A great post, well written and a voice of encouragment to any who read.
Blessings
Beautiful, girl. I have a friend who desparately needs to read this right now. I'm sending her the link to your blog. xo and happy 4th.
Beautiful encouragement...
Sometimes when certain things don't seem to get better, it's easy to lose hope. I think many of us have certain things in our life like that...but you are so right- things can change in an instant.
And with God, all things are possible!
Beautiful quotes throughout your post, Nadine. Thank you so much for sharing Hope...
Wow. I just left a comment on the above post telling you how much your support means to me. And now I read this. God knows what is in my heart right now, doesn't He?
Who am I Lord that thou are mindful of me?
It breaks the heart and heals it all at once.
Thanks Nadine.
Jen
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