It's OK to feel: a self-journey from depression to joy

Well a few days ago I joined the ranks of Pinterest, found out that I have a lot of friends on facebook that are on there too, anyway I am getting used to that and from what I can tell I am loving it :) it's really cool...

anyway I've been helping one of my best friends these past few days, she's been going through a LOT, I felt so bad because last night she told me that she was so numb, I seriously almost started crying, because I remember feeling that exact same way (for different reasons but the feeling was still there) and I spent a while like almost afraid to feel because I thought that if I started then I wouldnt be able to STOP crying....and I ended up bottling up everything, and sooner or later I've blow a gasket, it was really bad....

then God totally revealed to me that you know it's OK to feel, it's healthy even....and if you start you will stop at some point...but it is needed or else you start to get super stressed about little things, worry starts creeping in, anger and resentment come, and sooner or later you blow up at the closest person...

God told me to come to Him with everything I'm feeling, He promised to take the pressure off my shoulders, and He promised to replace it with His peace.

anyway if your going through some storms in life, and your worried about feeling "too much" go into a quiet place and talk with God about it, it's OK to cry out to Him, it's OK to not understand what He's doing, and it's OK to FEEL....

it took me a while to get out of the depression and numb state, there were times when the only thing that kept me from "harming" myself  were my kids, there were times where I would have to think of THEM before myself so that I wouldnt hurt myself because the pain was so much. in my teen years I struggled with self image, and insecurities, in order to cover that up and mask it I started taking artistic photo's of myself....

I looked at these and I saw a hurting girl, I almost didnt recognize myself, I remember that numbness and depression...
I compared these with photo's taken recently

and I saw a complete change, God showed me that He took me out of that darkness of depression, He broke off chains from abuse, and words of discouragement and numbness....He took those things and replaced them with JOY, PEACE, and HAPPINESS....
now I know a lot of people would be surprised to know that I struggled with depression and self harming thoughts, because I tried my best to hide it, I tried to  ACT like the happy girl....but I see honestly that photo's really are windows into the secrets of the soul (through the eyes) so yeah....the amazing thing is God took me OUT of that darkness and He shed His LIGHT on me.

and I really want to encourage you, if you have gone through depression, or any other thing like that, God wants to take that away and replace it with HIS joy and peace...but you need to give up those dark feelings and thoughts to Him.

anyway I wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences with you

<3
With Love,
Krysten