Even in The Valley. By Christina Cannon.

Psalm 139:7-10 ESV
“Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

I have shared with you that I have an autoimmune disease that causes me to be fatigued and not feel well. The fatigue is with me 24/7. The not feeling well comes and goes. I have been in a flare since mid-November. Not feeling well causes my mood to be down. This time around has been one of the most difficult.
Those of you who deal with depression know the journey. It is a battle to keep your thoughts positive and to move forward. I have wanted to seclude myself and hide. I pretend to be okay.

I am sharing this with you because many of you are struggling as well. I want to be transparent in my messages in hopes that others will be encouraged and know that they are not alone.

I have often written that we do what we know we need to do, even when we do not feel like it. That’s what I have been doing. I have not secluded myself from God. I have been speaking to Him, relying on Him for strength, and pursuing His presence.

It would be far more difficult if I were to distance myself from Him. I have learned not to give in to the lie that God is not near. He is near to us always.

We have many resources at our fingertips. I utilize those every day. God’s word encourages me. Listening to messages and ensuring that worship is playing in the background are the tools I use to stay connected to my Father. I am doing what I know to abide in Him. God is my help!

If you are one that is struggling right now, I want to encourage you to stay connected to our Father. He is with you and will not forsake you.

Just as God was with Joshua, He is with us.
Deut 31:8 ESV
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

How you manage your mindset will determine the outcome.

1. Fix your eyes on Jesus. I know it is difficult to do when your mind struggles to believe the truth. But you must believe!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5 ESV

2. Seek truth in God’s word. Read or listen to scripture that encourages your soul. Refuse to believe the lies the enemy is throwing at you.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 ESV

3. Listen to sermons and worship music to stay connected to truth. Subjecting yourself to messages that encourage you and speak truth to your soul helps to keep the focus on Jesus.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

4. Refuse to allow the enemy to gain any ground. Pray continuously. Even when you do not feel that God is near, He is.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 ESV

It is so easy to distance ourselves when feeling down or experiencing hardships. We must abide in Jesus continually. That is the only way to live out our lives. We must choose truth over our feelings, as our feelings can be deceptive.

Jesus is our help and our hope.

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield
For our heart is glad in Him because we trust in His holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.” – Psalm 33:20-22 ESV