March 24, 2008

Finally Getting an Answer.

(AKA "And you thought that one post was long!")

I'm sorry for my abrupt absence over the last week or two... I have been busy with house guests this past month and then have spent the last few days winding down... doing nothing much at all. Ezra has also suddenly started having a really difficult time napping (even though it is obvious he still needs to nap- he's a grump-a-palooza when he doesn't sleep during the day), so most of my afternoons have been spent trying to coax, convince, bribe, or snuggle a hyper toddler to sleep- a feat that is only surpassed in difficulty by one thing: WRESTLING HUNGRY MAN-EATING ALLIGATORS.

My free time has been sparse, but Ezra's school starts up again this week and I will try to keep you all updated while trying to scale the mountain of THINGS TO DO that has been piling up over the last few weeks.

Here's what has been taking place in my head lately:

I was taking the anti-depressants faithfully for about 16 days while still begging God to tell me if I was doing what was best for me or if I just needed to step back and let Him do some stuff in my heart. I was so desperate for an answer from Him that I spent many nights laying in the dark on Ezra's window seat after everyone had fallen asleep- looking up at the stars through the branches of the tree in the front yard- promising Him I'd do whatever He wanted me to do... I just needed to hear His voice.

"All I'm asking for, God, is a whisper. An inkling. Anything at all..."

All day long, everyday, I was still unsure about the pills I'd been swallowing. I researched them. I talked to anyone who was willing to listen about them. I looked into other options. One day I'd be convinced I was on the right path, the next day I'd find myself hovering the bag above the trash can- moments away from chucking the things all together.

It didn't help when the Sunday before last, a woman stood up in front of our church and said she'd been completely healed of depression. It was something that had been in her family for generations... she'd been on medication for YEARS. Then God healed her and told her to stop taking the pills, and she said she'd never felt better in her whole life since then. She'd stopped cold turkey.

My stomach churned and I forced my hands to clap as the community cheered and praised God for her healing. I'd only been taking the pills for a few days. I felt two inches tall. I felt jealous. I felt like I just didn't have enough faith. I felt awful for feeling this way instead of being genuinely moved by her testimony- moved toward HOPE instead of DESPAIR.

Chris reminded me that it would be the same if I had had cancer... and someone else stood up and said God had healed them of cancer. It would be a hard thing to not feel... unseen by the God who supposedly sees all.

After two and a half weeks on the medication, I still hadn't noticed any considerable changes. They say it takes 4-6 weeks to build up in your system. I have, however, noticed HEADACHES. Grinding ones.

Then, a couple of days ago, Chris took Ezra out to breakfast, and I snuck away to a local cafe and spent a good chunk of time sipping coffee and frantically journaling. I hadn't picked up a pen in 10 days. My hand couldn't keep up with all I wanted to get out on paper.

And THAT'S when God decided to show up.

In my journal, I started asking myself about who God is... who He has been in my life so far. And I began to feel that the God who I'd gotten a chance to see over the past 25 years absolutely did not need me to be taking those pills. I suddenly caught the realization that He was strong enough to take care of it- and that He would take care of it. And the thing that He wants to do through me isn't going to be easy by any means, but at the end of it all, He wants to get ALL the glory for the transformation in my life and my heart... and for ME personally, at this time in my life, that means kicking the pills to the curb. Simply because, when this season in my life is at a close, I feel like he wants me to be able to know that HE ALONE did the transforming thing inside me... so that no pill would get even a fraction of the honor He deserves.

This might sound harsh to some of you right now, and I understand that. Just as the testimony at church on Sunday was hard for me to hear two weeks ago. I'm not making ANY blanket statements here... I am not saying that all medication is bad or that everyone should stop taking them. I'm not saying that at all. There are people out there who desperately need this kind of medication to correct an imbalance that could potentially threaten their lives... just as people need chemotherapy when cancer is ravaging their cells. I get that and respect that fully.

But what if much of this generation has bought into a lie? That even the tiniest bit of discomfort needs to be corrected and smoothed over? What if we are over-medicating ourselves... simply because we've never had a chance to learn that hardship alone produces character and faith in a society that has a quick fix for EVERY ailment- from bad breath to flat chests to balding heads?

Obviously, there are some who need medication to function. But I am not one of those people. I am not consumed by thoughts of death or wanting to die. I am simply feeling BLAH. Uninspired. "Bummed out". And I'm choosing to work through it- even if it's the harder route- without medication. Because I feel like that's what God is asking me to do.

As I sat in that coffee shop, God started showing me all the people of faith in the Bible that, if they were here today, would be PERFECT candidates for medication. Moses. Wandered in the desert for 40 years with a pack of grumbling Israelites who kept saying the SLAVERY he'd just freed them from was better than following him through the sand. Abraham. Who FINALLY got the son God promised him when he was ancient years old- but then was asked to sacrifice that very son on top of a mountain... JUST BECAUSE. These guys trusted God and worked through all these heart-wrenching issues without anything but faith. So, I really think I can work through these "blues" or at least allow God to teach me something meaningful through them- because the God that led those people out of the desert and made Abraham a father of many nations is the very same God who I believe in today. He has not weakened. He has not aged.

Finally, God led me to Isaiah 35. And I read it and felt like it was written just for me. I felt like jumping up onto my table in the coffee shop and halooing for joy. But I didn't.

When I got into my car, I felt prompted to stick in a CD that was laying on my seat that a friend had randomly given me the week before. Charlie Hall's "On the Road to Beautiful". I'd never listened to it before. I stuck it in, and the first song that started playing had some the very same words of Isaiah 35 in it about feeble knees and weak hands:

"I can see that my hands are trembling. I can see that my legs are weak. I can see that my head is spinning, but I will overcome. And I know that my heart is hurting, And I know that my soul it aches. And I know that it seems I'm failing, but I will overcome."

Then, this past Easter Sunday, my pastor stood up and preached about really GETTING what God has done for us... what it really means for us today. And...YEP! You guessed it! He opened his Bible to Isaiah 35. Time stood still. God was trying to make a point. WITH LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS.

After church, some friends came over to me and prayed for me. They prayed that God alone would be my joy. That He would be the smile on my face. And I cried and felt released from all the stress and worry of the "pills or no pills" debate that had been raging in my head for weeks and felt TRULY hopeful for the first time in... far too long.

So. There it is. I promised God I would tell it straight... even if no one else could understand. And that's what I've tried to do. I hope that none of you feel I am being harsh or insensitive.

This year, Easter symbolized HOPE for me. I felt like I woke up and found it sitting right in my basket... like one of those really great gifts that you don't even realize you need so badly until you've gotten a glimpse of what life could be with it hanging around. (Like warm fuzzy socks or a really good wine bottle opener.)

So... Happy belated Easter everyone!

21 comments:

Awake said...

Isn't it amazing where the holy spirit finds us? As long as we're open to Him.

Good for you Emery.

IndianaJones said...

You came to what I came to although it took me a whole lot longer and I didn't actually take the drugs in the mean time...just wallowed. I'm glad you are seeing what God has for you in your life so very clearly. It seems to make it that much more meaningful to endure the suffering when you are confident that it is that very suffering that is God's will. I will be praying that God will continue to give you such clarity. Thank you for your honesty and transparency once again.

R-becca said...

That made my day. I am so glad you are free from that uncertainty and battle in your head. Don't let anyone try to change your mind.

Love you!

Hunny Bee said...

Yeah! You got that answer you have been needing and the God who loves you and looks over you and tenderly cares for you chose to reveal Himself in just the perfect way.
I'm admire your choice to work through 'the blues' and take the discomfort instead of medicating it away.
I made that same choice many years ago and I haven't regretted it. I've learned to embrace the periods of depression and just LIVE through them. God is the same even when I'm not. He always provides for my needs, emotional or otherwise. And sometimes in those trials, or long afterward, I realize He's been giving me glimpses of Himself all along. And new glimpses of myself. Things I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I have so much more confidence now than I ever have before.
I hope everything works out for you and that you can relish in the hope you have been given.
Blessings, Melissa

anna joy said...

that chapter of isaiah, titled 'the joy of the redeemed' has been one of my favorites, and possibly my theme verse for the last few years. I constantly am texting it and emailing it and giving it to anyone who will listen. I actually just emailed it to someone today. It is so cool how God works, and how his words never change and his purposes never change. I'm so glad that God has reminded you that you've already HAD victory this whole time, and that you just had to walk in it. Praise the Lord!

Nikki said...

AMAZING, Emery. Seriously. You have such inner courage and faith. It inspires me and I know you are doing the same for others.

PS. Ezra's Easter basket...can I have a copy??? Tee Hee.

Court said...

This post was def worth the wait! =) Thank you for being so brave and sharing your experiences with us. Your blog inspires and ministers to me!

Excellent Parent said...

YOUR AMAZING!

Katy said...

WOW!!! Thank you for your words! It is amazing how God can take something that we perceive as a terrible, awful thing and turn it into good or let us grow and learn from it. Thank you for sharing your heart with the world and your struggle right now. I will continue to pray for you and your family and that God will guide you through this and bless you and your family through it!

Anonymous said...

Oh I'm so happy for you! I love when the Lord really just opens it up for us. I know it is all in his time and that is what so many of us struggle with. GOOD FOR YOU!!! You have truly sat and waited for God to speak to you. That is amazing. May God now fully heal your heart. I'll keep you in my prayers.

-Your sister in Christ

Talia said...

AMEN to this all. I'm so glad for you, and I loved hearing how the Lord took that one chapter and used it so strongly to show you what you needed. That's wonderful.
This post seems so YOU again. Yay!! I was anxiously awaiting it. :)

Jenna said...

Beautiful. Inspiring. Courageous. Sounds like you're on the right track.

Alison said...

Thanks for such refreshing and hopeful words. I'm so glad God spoke to you in such an amazing way...thanks for sharing with total strangers too...you are a brave woman!

Annie Peterson said...

Romans 5:3-5
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit..."

This is such a testimony, Emery! It is such a joy to hear how He has broken through for you. This is totally His heart for you, and it is amazing to read you write about it! Jesus is truly amazing...

Andrea Terry said...

:) I am SO happy for you, Em! God is mucho grande faithful and you are so so so blessed!

Scarletpilgrimage said...

Awesome! I suffered for years with depression and had a healing from it. I can totally relate. Praise God!

Anonymous said...

Isn't God amazing. Thank you for sharing how he showed up...that is awesome.

I had such a similar struggle back in December when I was hit with debilitating PPD...I won't go into details because it's your blog and I don't want to influence you in any way. But I will say that God showed up for me, too, and he helped me out of the darkest days of my life. You're doing a great job of seeking God and trying to do it how he wants you to do it!

Anonymous said...

Oh and just to clarify, I didn't take the meds. I struggled with the "to take or not to take" dilemma the same as you did, and he showed up and gave me the answer...and the answer was to let him deliver me from the acute, debilitating part (he did), and to just let him walk me through the remaining depression (he has and still is).

I am so glad you wrote about this, and YES I understand every bit of it!

Shawna Herring Photography said...

WOO HOO EMERY!
YAY GOD!!

piper said...

Amen Emery, Amen!

I met you last Easter, and you have taught me to hope ever since.

God is good. Life is good. :)

Bee said...

I'm just getting around to reading this part two of your initial post.

Look at all the lives you have blessed, too by your testimony. (Ecc 7:10-14)

Wonderful and inspiring. Thank you for being so bold to share.