Hold on, I have faith in you.

Dear brothers and sisters, I am writing to you on behalf of some experiences as of lately. Recently within this past week or so, I've been informed by several friends of how they're struggling. Some have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both along with being bipolar. For these friends, even a few I am completely shocked to hear this from really made me feel sad for them, but alas, it made me all the more want to pray for them. These few people are some of the people who have helped me greatly with my faith in Jesus and I want to help them, too. So, I ask that you who are reading to please keep these few beings in your prayers. Yet, I must tell you a brief story of a friend of mine: (I am leaving names unsaid due to privacy and respectful matters) It had to of been last week that she had been texting me upset and stated how she never felt happy, felt as if God wouldn't want her and did not love her at all because of her past mistakes. She felt that God wouldn't want anything to do with her because she did not pray and read her Bible. She also stated that God must not love her because of all of the hardship in her life aka illness, depression, a hard relationship with family, and struggling with relationships generally. While her texting me this and as I read everything, my heart sank, yet..I knew her exact feelings. I explained to her how she is not alone and I've been there. I know exactly how she feels and that sometimes we go through hardship because God is teaching us and it's apart of His plan to help us grow stronger within our faith in Him. I gave her some examples from my life in the faith to help her understand and reminded her of how much God loves her along with some encouraging and reassuring Scripture. She thanked me and we continued to talk about her struggles. She asked if we could Skype and I said yes of course and we did on a Monday after my class in that evening. After her just pouring all of her heart out to me, I feel I could completely relate and said to her, "Gretchen, Jesus loves you so much. He gave His life for you so that you could live. Life was never meant to be simple, but with Jesus we are made strong and we are able to endure anything in life, whether it be depression, anxiety, or struggles within our faith. God knows how you feel and He will see you through. Keep the hope that lies within you alive. God is faithful. He has never left your side. It may seem as if He did, but trust me, He didn't. Sin blinds us from God so we end up lying there feeling fear and unsure of what God wants for us and of us. Simply, God wants nothing more than to love you. Don't be afraid to let Him in. He's waiting on you. It's your choice, we have free will. The moment you make the choice to let Him in completely, that's the moment He'll completely set you free. I pray that He sees you through and I pray that you keep hoping." She cried and thanked me. She explained how hard it was to stay faithful and to keep praying after no answers. I told her that sometimes we aren't answered right away because it's a process. Everything with God is a process and we shouldn't expect anything from God right away because that teaches us no patience and that is handing us things straight up without any actual form of conscience of learning and processing the entire situation itself. I told her that I was learning the same thing to be patient and that it takes a lot of meditation and prayer. I encouraged her to keep steadfast in the faith and do not lose hope because there is a light at the end! She said it was hard and that she still felt that God wouldn't want her. I told her that she was created in the image of God and was surely chosen to be of His kingdom. That she can find a strength and peace within this time and God has never left her side, neither has those who love her. I prayed to God right there and then, asked some of those in the faith that I trust with so much to pray for her and to keep her in their prayers. I briefly shared her thoughts with them so they had an idea of what to pray about and lift up to God. Mind you, I mentioned the fact her parents were in denial of her diagnosis, felt she was making it all up, and didn't want her to be on medication thinking she did not need it. This made my heart cry out to God praying and pleading He would see this family through and that God would bless them with a solution, wisdom, and understanding. Friends, a few days later said friend texted me telling me she was put on anti depressants, told her parents, and the doctor told her she should continue therapy and start these anti depressants. She feared her parents would not understand as before. But, they did! They told her that it was okay, allowed her to get medication to help her with the depression and anxiety, to continue therapy, and we very understanding of her condition. PRAISES BE TO GOD. When she texted me telling me that her parents were finally understanding and allowing her to go on medication, I rejoiced in God. It's amazing what God can do. Now she has started the medication and is continuing therapy. So far, positive results. We are keeping her in our prayers along with the many others who deal with the same struggles. The point of sharing this story is, many people of the faith honestly do struggle with all sorts of matters, it's just the few that make the mindset to be very negative and hard to deal with is those derived within the emotional and psychological issues causing all forms of negative thoughts making that person feel they're not significant to God, should have life, or anything of the sort and much more. To those who struggle, YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE. Hold on and take heart in the faith because you have a strength within you from God that keeps you holding on. You have a hope that has been instilled within your heart to keep you going and that is your faith in Christ Jesus. You have been chosen by God to live a life according to His will and He sent His only son Jesus Christ to die for you out of LOVE. Deuteronomy 7:6 New International Version (NIV) "6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." 1 John 4:8-12 New International Version (NIV) 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. You are so much more and He loves you. I love you. There is a peace and strength at the end of each day that is given to you by our God. Just know that you are strong. You have the will to keep going and stand firm in the faith. He promises to give you a strength that will last and a firm faith that will keep your eyes set on Him. He really does. Isaiah 40:29-31 New International Version (NIV) 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Psalm 29:11 New International Version (NIV) 11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OzzywdDozo It's going to be hard, but know that it's going to be okay. It may not be soon, but it will be alright at some point according to His timing. Know that you're not alone and God understands. It's okay, I promise to be here by your side to help and support you through your struggles because I love you, too. It's going to get better and there is a light. It's okay, no matter your struggle, you have me and Jesus. <3