Wow... Brad, you've gotten good witness from AA and IB. Let me try another tact:
I would agree to shrugging off the mantle of BP as your identity. God can heal all of us. Sometimes, His choice is to say "no." But I felt AA was saying that while the disease is real, and your faith can be strong, the outcome is not the same as what you tell your mind. Feed your mind good things and if the Lord sees fit to allow you to continue to struggle with the disease, don't take that as an admonishment.BP indeed is a bio-chemical imbalance and imperfection in the chemistry of the brain, but if He allows you to continue with that malise, then God will use that to help you relate and communicate to others.
Diabetics are always diabetic. Alcoholics are always alcoholics. Those are physical limitations as are yours. They manifest in physical attributes. What I read in both sets of advice were "tell yourself positive things" and trust that the Lord will give you the strength to balance what the body's chemistry doesn't allow...and keep praying for the disease to be lifted, willing to accept whatever cross it is you will bear.
They'll correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is what my heart read into their words.
AS for the feelings of inadequacy, you make me smile. That is a struggle more of us share than most will admit. I keep being reminded that God does NOT call the qualified, he equips those He calls!
With your background and struggles, being a minister to youth...could be the difference between more posts here like the 2 we had over the holidays --of youngsters taking their lives.
There is a difference between confessing to another hurting soul struggling with mental health issues that you have your own and living as though that is all that you are... bi polar. You are already demonstrating such feverant love for your fellow man... I'd also encourage you to find another name... Name yourself the future you see Him calling you to!
I often wonder if we can truly relate to others until we ourselves have faced the "dark side" and know the agony of desolation emotionally? I don't know. What I do know from here on this forum and throughout my life is that those who reach out with the greatest love, when you get to know them, are often those who have already (or continue to) struggle(d) with tremendous doubt and suffering.
Christ did for us, why not us for Him?
Prayers for your continued passion to seek the Lord's will in your life. Prayers for you to find renewed strength and a surge of uplifting joy from the love shown here. Prayers for perseverance in those times when things appear dark and cold trusting in the Lord and crying out to your Lord for His redeeming Mercy and Grace.
You have obviously been called...and HE will equip you.
Letting God drive the bus doesn't mean a free ride... I tell myself daily it also means we need to keep a LOT of windows cleaned, and keep those many tires pumped full of air... He gives us plenty to do while we allow him to drive the bus!
Shalom, my friend!
Topic: There's a LIGHTHOUSE on a hillside.....amen (Read 2061 times)
