I look normal, a little larger than life (in more than one way), but otherwise I look like everyone else. Yet, I have an invisible disability.
I am a traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor and struggle with many issues, including treatment-resistant, chronic, clinical depression. I also fatigue easily and can become overwhelmed under certain forms of stress, particularly when I’m not well rested. The fatigue problem is contributed to by the fact that my TBI impacts sleep.
Mostly, with the help of medication, a team of doctors and lifestyle management, it stays under control. Yet at times, it can still sneak in, and the depression will sink me for anything from a few hours to months.
There isn’t much I can do to make the problem lessen once it hits. I can remove myself from people and stress, rest, and that’s about it.
When I’m resting, I turn to the LORD. Some favorite passages of Scripture have carried me through.
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:1-7 ESV
At other times,
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 ESV
I can also turn to other places, including promises for overcomers in Revelation and many of the Psalms.
Where do you turn? Tell me in the comments.
May you turn to Him no matter what you face and be blessed .
Kevin.
SUMMARY
I live with an invisible disability that can sink me into depression for hours or months. When it hits, I rest and turn to the LORD through the Scriptures that carry me.
TAKEAWAY
When something sneaks in and sinks you, and there isn’t much you can do about it, you can still rest and turn to the LORD.
God has called you by name and you are His. When you pass through the waters and walk through the fire, He is with you.
Nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, so turn to Him no matter what you face.
