This is a continuation of a series every Friday where I will be highlighting the growth and healing of one of my readers, a new reader each week. These, my sweet ones, are their brave and vulnerable stories. Take heart…you are not alone.  -Elisabeth

I contemplated writing my story, in fact I have been contemplating writing this for a while now. I thought to myself, is my story worth reading? In fact I’ve thought that many times but we all know where the enemy comes and how he tries to make us stay quiet. He throws his tactics at us through our thoughts and wants us to not talk about our testimonies because that in fact gives God glory!

So here I am bravely sharing my story for Gods glory.

When I was a young girl I suffered from major depression. I would sit in my room for days at a time looking out my window feeling helpless. I did not understand why these emotions overcame me and why I even felt the way I did. All I knew was it was real and what I was experiencing was awful and I could not get out of that mind state.

When my dad divorced my mom, I was crushed and I felt my whole world fell apart. I no longer just felt depressed, I started having feelings of rejection and literally was walking depression. The enemy started to make me feel that I did not matter, my future did not matter, and I was nothing ! He made me feel that my future had no hope and I should just give up on life.

As time went on I started self-harming. I hated and despised what I saw in the mirror because of my rejection issues. The thoughts that ran through my mind were “maybe if you were a good daughter, your dad would love you.”

The pattern only got worst until one say I felt a sense of love from Jesus, walking into a church where I felt accepted and no longer felt rejection. Time went on and I started to feel a peace that I never felt before. I started to love myself, and started to view myself as a daughter of a king. I no longer despised this person, I no longer was walking depression but walking with strength and dignity.

I found hope in God and was completely transformed. God erased every feeling I had that was negative. He showed a love of a father. And even though I didn’t have my earthly father around for some important times, Jesus’s love was never ending and still is constant in my life.

I hope this encourages someone today, I hope that when you read this you are blessed.  The chains that were once holding me down are now broken and I am free in Christ, and I pray the same for you. Whatever the enemy may try to say about you do not ever listen to his schemes and lies but ALWAYS listen to what your Heavenly Father says about you!

If this sweet woman’s post resonated with your heart, please know that you are not alone. Here are a few resources for you:

If you would like to join my closed Facebook group called Hope & Healing, you can find it here.
If you’d like to receive my free e s-book, You’re Going to Make It Through, you can get it here.
If you need a nudge in your healing, I would love to work with you! Join me for one of my coaching courses.
If in a difficult marriage: Surviving in a Difficult Christian Marriage is available as a PDF/e-book: www.elisabethklein.com/books
If separated/divorced: Unraveling: Hanging onto Faith through the End of a Christian Marriage is available in paperback/e-book: http://tinyurl.com/phowp95
If a single mom: Moving on as a Christian Single Mom is available in paperback/e-book: www.elisabethklein.com/books