Ask for faith!

 I was moved today when my cousin shared a Facebook post asking about what people do about mental health when doom and gloom sets in. I replied, "Write poetry!"  Of course that's my personal refuge, but really, in those deepest moments of despair, that's not the time I'm most inspired to write.  In fact, in those godless times I am often not capable of doing anything productive. I have learned that despair is a symptom of a lack of faith.  

When we have faith, we don't despair, we know that God has our back and is working out a plan for our best and highest good.  So what can we do when we find ourselves in the devil's pit?  This is when planned action can turn us around.   Just as we all need to have a plan of action for any emergency, we all need a plan of action to avoid the all-too human condition of despair, and we need a life-line to pull us out when we are incapable of doing it on our own. If we make a habit of being grateful, we can steer ourselves away from the chasm of  doom and gloom, a slippery slope where once we begin to lose footing, it soon becomes nearly impossible to escape.  

Making a daily habit of listing things that bring us joy...even the simplest of things...puppies, kittens, flowers, favorite foods, beautiful people, the feel of silk and velvet and satin, rainbows, sunsets, sunrises, the sound of the ocean waves cresting...the smell of grandma's kitchen...the simplest things that bring pleasure and joy--starting and building an ongoing list like this is a good start.  

When we start listing everything / anything that brings even a glimmer of joy, soon the light begins to overshadow the darkness.  We need to always remember that God wants us to be joyful!  We need to stop trying to control everything and let God do the work.  Our hopes and dreams will unfold in ways unimaginable and the reality will be even more fantastic than we've ever dreamed possible if we simply "Let go and let God."  

"Let go and let God" has become one of my favorite mantras.  It is the quintessential meaning behind John Lennon's song, "Let it Be".  Similarly, as we are told through the bible, "Be still and know that I am God", we know that through stillness--not only in physical action, but also in the quieting of our minds--our deepest desires soon come to fruition, as our thoughts shape our reality.  When we start listing things we like, our mind begins to focus on those things. The beautiful thoughts begin to dominate, and soon they overcome the despairing thoughts, enabling us to rise up out of the dismal pit of negative thoughts that kept us in chains of despair and faithlessness.  

When we're losing traction on a slippery slope, it's time to stop using our feet and start using our wings, and when our wings aren't working, we need to call on our angels who will surely come to our rescue!  Ask and it shall be given.  Ask for faith!