How do you cope?

[youthwalk]

I've found it difficult to deal with my bipolar at times. sometimes I just feel so hopeless. I remember and know that God has a plan for me and that His timing is perfect...things are still so discouraging at times. I wonder about whether I'll get married, whether I could make someone happy...I worry because one of my deepest desires is to marry and have children. Most of you seem older than I am, some of you are married...how did you do it? I'm still hoping beyong human hope and believing in faith that deliverance is coming soon. I was told by a prophet once that I had a smile that God was using to draw people to Him. That I was a liberator...how can I liberate when I am not completely liberated?

 

[goldenviolet]

God bless you sweetheart.
the greatest healling is the salvation Jesus gifted to us from the cross.
i am not healled, but i am comforted. no doctor or pill can provide for my spiritual needs. yes i still struggle, but i am free .... my bible is the sword of the spirit (biblical armor), and it protects me.... i do have phycotic break throughs, i have other diagnosis too. during my confused times, i had to learn it was my time to be ministered to. we all need to be at times. let me encourage you. God gave me a wonderful hubby and lots of wonderful children. we have ups and valleys, but we have eachother and alot of love. i had to learn we all fullfill the purpose God has for us. no matter what we are built like. God will provide for all your needs. everything will be ok.

this is a sermon i copied that really touches our fears and moods...
Highs and lows often affect the way we perceive our relationship with the Lord. If we are emotionally high, we have found favor with the Lord and for some reason feel more adequate to worship, more accepted. If we are low due to the circumstances of life, then we must have displeased the Lord and are somehow being punished and so we are spiritually depleted.
It concerns me that in these scenarios the perceived acceptance of the Lord is dictated by one's emotions. The truth of scripture must set us free. We are accepted by the Lord Jesus and we are in Him. Whether high or low our Lord awaits us and has accepted us. We are His beloved. It is self-absorbed that our moods determine our position in Jesus. If that were so, we would all be desolate without salvation. The question we must ask ourselves is this: does my mood affect my devotion to my Lord? Is He Lord when things aren't going my way? Has he forsaken me?
Hand in hand with our emotions are our circumstances. Often our devotion to do the Lord's will in our lives is affected by our circumstances. If all is well and our environment pristine, we linger with the Lord in times of great intimacy and fellowship. Yet these times are all too few in our world. The other times when the slightest variation rocks our lives we are strewn into preoccupations and predicaments and our devotion to do the will of the Lord is set aside. Yet we are never too busy to do the will of God.
The truth is, it is in these times when our dependency upon Him is crucial. I am reminded of this: whether I am having a good day or a bad day, regardless of whether I feel happy or sad , I am always loved by my Lord. I am accepted by His love and grace. I am a chosen vessel set aside for good works. And regardless of my circumstances it is my privilege and call to do the will of the Lord Jesus who saved me.

apply God's promises to your own life, then you can feel as special as He says you are.

1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (it means out of God's love he gave as this gift... not because of what we can do or deserve, but because He is merciful)
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ( you don't control your salvation, God does... so you CAN'T loose or ruin it)
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (you just need to believe that God is your Father and except his ways are better than yours... you have to believe in Him)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (no matter what you do or go through who holds your salvation? so you can rejoyce and know that God will rescue you, from even yourself)
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (everything has a purpose and will shape you and your faith.... don't worry about how you are going to change your many flaws. God tells us He will help us. our struggles and trials help)
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (we don't see Him but we look for Him and take joy in what we believe, we are HIs)
9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. (we will recieve our inheritance)

different versions...................

!!!

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
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1 Peter 1:3-5 (NLT)
3All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.
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1 Peter 1:3-5 (ASV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIRV)
3 Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a hope that is alive. It is alive because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. 4 He has given us new birth so that we might share in what belongs to him. It is a gift that can never be destroyed. It can never spoil or even fade away. It is kept in heaven for you. 5 Through faith you are kept safe by God's power. Your salvation is going to be completed. It is ready to be shown to you in the last days.

 

[DLX]

I guess you really need to see yourself apart from your disorder. It doesn't make you who you are. I was married at 19 and had my first daughter at 20. Bipolar disorder doesn't change who you are inside.

Lexi

 

[justafayes]

amen

 

[Alive again]

Where to begin??? Being 45, well almost 46, (This thursday is my bday.) I would echo what others have said already. Being bp is only a small part of who I am. Yes, I have days (and sometimes longer) where my bp feels like it is taking up all the energy I have. There are many things about this illness I hate, but God has used it to create in me an understanding heart. He has introduced me to many people who I can minister to. Literally, God has use this illness to shape me and to open up ministry doors to me. People are comfortable talking to me about difficult things, they would never share with others. Because I don't hide my weaknesses and struggles, they know I will love and support them thru theirs. I have been married 22 years and have 2 children. My son has bp. (yes, it can be inherited.) My life fell completely apart about 12 yrs ago. Just this last year have I begun feeling better. But God has left me in a situation where I have an income thru SSD (I used to be a RN), and I can drive. So rather than sit around the house, I take those I know in the communtiy who cannot drive: the poor, the sick, etc. and I take them to the food bank, or get free bread from the bakery and hand it out in the Name of Our God, and thus I have had some amazing opportunities to share my love for Christ with others. My hubby and I are currently looking into doing foster care.

Oh yes, there have been tremendous struggles and challenges along the way, suicidality, angers and near divorce, my son's bp, etc. But thru it all, I have learned and am still learning, THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL. I can indeed trust in Him alone.

So do not despair, "For I know in whom I have believed" and it truly sound like you do to!!!

Blessings and prayers and feel free to pm me anytime!

 

[angelkiss]

One of the best ways I've learned to cope, is to involve myself with as many activities as possible. I have lots of animals that keep me occupied, and since I don't have children, they are my children. Never a dull moment! I read my bible, do art, write, clean, anything to keep me going. I just found this forum a couple of days ago, so that's added to my list as well. I have not been very motivated the past few days, but I do a lot of writing on the puter. You're always going to have good days and bad days, you just have to learn to use coping skills. There are those times they won't work, but it's worth a try. I'll be praying for you.