Depression

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>
>But I also personally know people who are saints of God who
>nonetheless live with a constant sadness.  For whatever reason,
>they just can't get over it.  One woman I know kept visiting the
>pastor for prayer and encouragement.  People in the church try
>to encourage her and pray for her.  The woman eventually stopped
>asking for prayer because she feels so incredibly guilty being a
>"burden" on the church, even though she has done absolutely
>nothing wrong and the church is there to encourage her.  She
>lives seperate from the world.  She is faithful to the church
>and ministry.  She is one of the kinder people I know.  She
>spends hours in prayer in her home, interceding for God-knows
>how many people.  She is *always* bringing visitors to church
>(mostly kids that she babysits and their parents).
>
>Yet she remains deeply depressed.  And she feels guilty all the
>time, because she feels her constant depression is a result of
>a lack of faith or because of some secret sin that even she
>doesn't know about.


My guess would be that this woman was hurt greatly somewhere in life, and
needs emotional healing.  Healing takes time.  When someone has been deeply
wounded, healing isn't over night.  It usually takes years, but the Lord
will perform the healing.  I am learning not to feel guilty about my pain
because feeling that way keeps me from dealing with it and talking to God
about it.  Sometimes it means getting honest with God and asking Him to
reveal to us where the pain is coming from.  Sometimes it comes from
unforgiveness that we are not aware of.  This doesn't mean we are lost,
just that we need healing.  The Lord is very merciful and long suffering
with us.  Much more so than most people.  People get frustrated when
someone isn't "fixed" right away.  I believe in instantaneous deliverance,
but I have found that emotional healing usually is more gradual.  It is
like layers of an onion that have to be peeled of one at a time.

Love,
Rachel





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Rachel Ramos, Senior Support Specialist
UT-Houston School of Allied Health Sciences
PO Box 20708
Houston, Texas  77225-0708

voice: (713) 792-4466, x3072
  fax: (713) 792-5352
email: rramos@acad1.sahs.uth.tmc.edu
===========================