I am a person that internalizes everything. I’m always thinking, analyzing things. I pick up on a lot of things and build huge stories around them. Often this serves me well, but it also makes my full of doubt. I am constantly aware of others. I am picking up on their moods and how they look at me, talk around me, and act around me. I think these things through for a long time after the fact. Days later I am likely to be thinking through conversations and trying to figure out if what I said could have been done better or if I misunderstood things.
This often leads to a lot of self deprecation on my part. I beat myself up over everything. I feel like way too much is my fault.
I know I’m not the only person that feels this way. That is why we are going through a series on happiness, and more importantly depression. Tonight we talked about appearances and how we can begin to obsess over our appearance. How the words of others become a part of us, and how the patterns of this world beat us down.
We also talked about how God desires to transform s by renewing our mind. He wants to break that pattern and make something new within us. He wants us to know that we are valuable. Not because of how we look, what we have, who we know, or any other thing that we do. We are valuable because He has said we are.
The Creator over everything, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of all eternity has said you are valuable. He has said that nothing in all the created universe can separate you from His love. He has paid the infinite price for you.
Today know that you are valuable and share with someone that they are valuable.
The OC Josh says
Although I’m not depressed, I could have written the entire first paragraph of that. For me, it was harder coming from a different school than most of my friends.
Helen says
Thank you, NIck.
bman says
I do the same thing (just ask my wife!). But, it’s a journey (and I can’t help myself but continue the cliche) not a destination.
Thanks, Nick!
(also, I’m glad to be back on the ball about Google Reader-ing. Sorry for the disappearance)
jasonS says
Boy, am I with you on that one. I don’t know how Jesus did it always ‘perceiving their thoughts.’ He addressed what was at the heart of it though. I don’t know, it’s a hard one! Glad you’re addressing it though…