Finding joy in life’s storm

By Melodie Eaton Steele

Being depressed is not the same as being sad. Depression can include sadness, but it’s more than that. It can come with rage, irritation, pain, paranoia, anxiety, intrusive or racing thoughts, obsessing, indecision, brain fog, insecurity, and hopelessness. It can manifest as indifference or aversion to things that usually bring pleasure. It can persist as perfectionism and an inability to turn your brain off at night. It can be accompanied by insomnia and mania or by lethargy. It can have absolutely everything or nothing to do with circumstances and can hit seasonally or randomly and without warning. It is usually isolating and debilitating. It can spiral lower and lower until its victim feels helpless, discouraged, and defeated. It will pull down bystanders in its wake.

I pray that my catharsis on these pages may help others to know that we humans are not alone in our struggles. Once I started writing, what came pouring out of me was a deluge. The pen is mighty, as a sword. Hence, I sit with my iPad buckler and record my thoughts. I pray that my story may inspire and encourage. None of us is beyond hope. The blood of Jesus has to be effective to cover my sin and my weaknesses; otherwise, I’m lost. I attempted life on my own, apart from God. It was disastrous. I have now set all my hopes on Him.

All the best! Melodie