I’m an Overcomer!

Overcome: to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat

   Let’s be honest for a moment. We have all overcome things, are struggling to overcome things or are trying to figure out if we have enough strength to overcome things. It’s part of the human condition. Sometimes it just seems so much easier to let our struggles pull us under. 

   If I’m being totally transparent with you, I will say I’ve been in the pull-me-under-and-let-me-drown mode far too often. I never talk about this because people think I’m either comparing my struggles to someone else’s, change the subject or don’t care anyway. But I have a selfie on my phone that God put on my heart and wanted me to put this out there. I in no way seek pity or sympathy. But I believe there are others out there who suffer in silence, thinking they have no other choice. I’m here to tell you differently!

   23 years ago, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and put into the category of “major depressive disorder”. 15 years ago, I had the added diagnosis of an anxiety/panic disorder. I’ve been on and off medication as we’ve had doctors move, didn’t have insurance, and now can’t afford the copay for the yearly checkup. Most of the time, I just pretend like I’m fine. Eventually my brain starts to believe it and I’m ok for a period of time. 

   About 6 years ago, Mandisa had a song called “Overcomer” that really showed me I could overcome any obstacle if I just held on. The chorus says:

“You're an overcomer

Stay in the fight 'til the final round

You're not going under

'Cause God is holding you right now

You might be down for a moment

Feeling like it's hopeless

That's when he reminds you

That you're an overcomer

You're an overcomer”

   I’ve spent lots of time hiding in the background over the years. I would shy away from pictures because I knew my smile was pretty fake. But I’ve fought hard. Oh boy, have I ever fought hard! Last week, we went to see the sunset at the beach, which has become my refuge. I call it “my happy place” because I truly feel like I can be me and I can just feel carefree. (Much of the time I don’t have a phone signal, or at least so a strong enough one to do much. 

   While Drew sat on the sidewalk at the edge of the beach, I ran through the sand to stick my toes in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. On the way back up, I took a selfie. That selfie popped up on my watch a couple days ago. When I saw it, God said, “Do you see that face? That’s the face of joy...the face of an overcomer!” You know what? He’s right! I have overcome so much! I still have a long road to go. But I know I have two choices. 1. I can let depression control who I am, how I act, and how I respond to people. Or 2. I can control depression and choose to not allow it to master me. I can choose to say, “Satan, you’re NOT going to zap my joy!” 

I choose #2! Reach out to me if you need someone who understands and will care! 

I'm Not Peter Pan

    The other day I had a student ask me, "Mrs. Wohlford, do you ever wish you could be a kid again?" I just chuckled and said I didn't think I would want to be then moved on through my day. But I've been thinking about it and realize I do have a firm answer to that question. God told me I was supposed to write a blog post about it. I'm no eloquent writer, but here I go...

    Do I ever wish I could be a kid again? NO! Now, I can't say my childhood was bad. I had three older brothers who loved to make my life miserable but would go to great lengths to protect me from anyone else hurting me. I had parents who were always available when I needed them and grandparents, aunts and uncles who always showed their love to me in many ways. I grew up in a safe home, got new clothes for every school year (and I even loved all the ruffly ones my grandma made for me). I participated in Girl Scouts (where I learned to pitch a tent, build a campfire, cook over said fire, etc) and church youth group. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles financially supported my summer missions trip to Brazil and my parents even took time off work to travel to Florida with my high school band/choir my senior year. I had a great childhood! But I'd never go back for anything!

   I started working a few months before I turned 16.  Two weeks before my 18th birthday, I left home to attend college a couple hours away. I didn't know at that time that I wouldn't move back into that house again. Three months before my 22nd birthday, I married my husband. So, since I've been 16, I've been working to provide for my own needs and then the needs of my husband and eventually my family. I've done more loads of laundry than I could ever count, made countless grocery lists, paid rent and utility bills, worked many hours at various jobs, nursed my husband and children through different illnesses and injuries, worked my way through college while raising teenagers so I could realize my dream of being a teacher, vacuumed way too many times to keep track of and washed enough dishes to feed an army for a week without reusing dishes. But I still wouldn't go back to being a child.

   {Editor's note: this paragraph does not apply to all children, but a large number of children} Kids today have so much pressure to perform. They're expected to be the best on the baseball, soccer or football field, behind their musical instrument, in the martial arts studio and in the classroom. They are nearly solving algebraic equations by fourth grade, are spelling words in third grade I didn't learn until at least fifth grade, and reading longer novels than I read in high school. They're inundated with information through social media, video games and cell phones (my thoughts on kids and social media/cell phones is a whole other post). They spend hours playing video games and minutes actually getting exercise or fresh air. Many don't even know how to find things to do outdoors and say they're bored. When I was a kid, my favorite toy was the outdoors. If there wasn't something to do, we made something up. All the playground equipment at recess was full? We went and made up a game. Kids today call my childhood boring. I call it blessed. I knew how to interact with people because all of my interactions with friends were face to face. We didn't have e-mail or cell phones. We couldn't be on the family's home phone long because there was no call waiting. We knew how to make friends and be friends. We knew how to respect everyone - teachers, neighbors, parents, bus drivers, cashiers, waitresses - everyone was treated with respect. No, I wouldn't want to be a child again today.

   So, I'll take my achy bones, my knees that make it hard to stand up when I kneel down to help a student, my back that screams every time I bend over, my feet that ache from standing too long. I'll take every wrinkle on my face and every gray strand of hair on my head. I've worked hard and lived to earn every one of them. The above will not be part of my answer to any student who ever asks me if I wish I could be a kid again. My answer will continue to be, "No, I don't want to be a kid again. If I was a kid, I wouldn't be able to be your teacher." However, I'd be glad to take a nap like kids can. I haven't had a nap in years. 🤣🤣

Please Hold

   I've gotten too good at feeling God directing me to write blog posts and pretending like I don't know what He's talking about. I convince myself that He certainly can't want me to write something. After all, I'm nowhere near as eloquent as other people who write. But then I'm reminded of Moses. God gave him a specific message but Moses resisted because he was "slow of speech and of tongue." He urged God to send Aaron instead. But God used Moses and I need to work on being open to Him using me even when I don't think I'm good enough. So, here goes...

   Many times, I hear people say things like "my world is falling apart", "God doesn't love me" and "I can do this on my own." I admit I've been guilty of all these and more. Sometimes I've uttered them in a span of less than five minutes. Let's be honest...when things seem to be going all wrong is right when we give up and assume God stopped loving us. We say we just need to hang in there awhile longer. Often times, when we're talking to people who are going through rough times, our response is, "Hang in there!" Perhaps we have this backwards.

   One of my favorite Casting Crowns songs is called "Just Be Held." Human nature is to be self-sufficient, to go it alone and be in control. However, we just aren't strong enough to handle everything life throws our way. The bad thing is that Satan knows that all too well. He's often quick to remind us. But if we're willing to let go of that rope we're clinging to, Jesus is there to hold onto us. The good news is He will never let go, no matter how many times we may kick and fight against Him.

Stop holding on and just be held!
💙Brenda

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
And where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who won't let go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
(Stop holding on and just be held)
Just be held, just be held
Just be held, just be held

Just Be Held - Casting Crowns

 

Imagine

Tonight, Drew brought home a couple movies we’ve been wanting to see. The one we chose to watch tonight was I Can Only Imagine - the story of the well-known MercyMe song. I’m not normally good at doing anything while watching a movie because I get distracted and either miss the movie or don’t get my work done. Tonight I added in a third thing...and did all three well. While I was working on some work for school and watching the movie, I was also doing some thinking. Here goes:

As a little girl, I always had heaven pictured like the balcony at Cedar Road Missionary Church where I grew up. I really don’t know why. There was nothing particularly ethereal or grandiose about the space. But it was a space that was a big part of my life. I pictured Jesus standing underneath the wood arched ceiling. 

As I grew up, I imagined heaven looking more like a disco studio with bright gold streets and everything around me glittering. I saw Jesus with a glowing gold orb around his head. Just chalk it up to growing up in the 70s and 80s. 

As an adult, I seem to focus my attention more on what my reactions will be when I get to heaven rather than what it looks like. Clearly I’m not the only one. You see, I think we often like to think we know just how we’ll respond in any given situation. But entering heaven may not be so easy to predict. 

Oftentimes I’ve pictured entering heaven and running into the waiting arms of my grandparents. I’ve envisioned seeing my dear childhood friend again. I imagine sitting at the feet of Jesus asking him every question I’ve ever wanted to ask.

But then I realize I really don’t know what it will be like. I’d like to think I’ll walk right up to Jesus and thank him. I’d love to believe that I’ll worship openly in his presence. But the reality of it is that I’m sure I’ll be in such awe, captivated by his presence that I imagine myself being completely frozen. Kind of like if I ever had the chance to meet Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith or any other celebrity. 

The fact is, none of us know how we will act or feel when we enter the presence of Jesus. But one day we’ll all find out. Some of us will hear him say “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of my presence” while others will hear him say, “Away from me! I never knew you!” I know which group I’m in. Do you? If not, I’d love to chat with you! 

❤️ Brenda 

Such a Time as This

If I said my summer job has been a walk in the park, I’d be lying. It’s a lot of wear and tear on my body at times. It’s having to say no to people when my heart wants to help them. It’s knowing I’m completely different from my coworkers. There have been many days I’ve questioned my purpose in being there. There have been days I felt so unappreciated that I felt like giving up. But I don’t give up. Today, I found my purpose in being there. Today, with just two work days left before I get ready to go back to school, my purpose showed up.

Most of my coworkers are much younger than me. Only one is older. Today, one of the young girls came back from lunch in tears. Friends, let’s face it...sometimes life just stinks. Sometimes all the bad stuff hits at the same time. A few of us were at that point today. It was a rough day. You could feel it in the atmosphere. And this sweet young lady was hurting. She simply walked up to me and said, “Can I have a hug?” I hugged her and she simply wept. After a minute or so, I said, “Would you mind if I prayed for you? Because, you know that’s what I do.” She said she was fine with that so I did. We stood there hugging and crying together as I prayed.  Afterwards, she thanked me and I told her I needed that moment today. I admitted I was struggling to feel like I had a purpose there but had just found it.

Friends, if I’ve worked through this whole summer for 5 minutes on July 24, so be it. Those moments were so worth it. Your purpose may not be revealed to you right away, but God will put you in the right place to fulfill your purpose when He needs you too. Remember, Esther didn’t find out her purpose in becoming Queen immediately. She went through some struggles first. If you’re like me and struggling to see your purpose, hang tight! It’ll show up when you least expect it. 

Don’t Listen

Some days it’s hard to hear the still, small voice of Jesus as He whispers, “Peace. Be still.” Those whispers seem to be drowned out by shouts of criticism, doubt and dislike by people around us. Those shouts are tools of Satan that he uses to try and break us down and draw us away from a loving God. God has much bigger plans for us than to have Satan continually drag us down. 

I picture Satan dragging me through the mud by my hair, much like we’ve seen cavemen depicted as doing in movies and shows. Perhaps those cavewomen weren’t strong enough to reach out and grab a branch and resist. Maybe there wasn’t a branch within reach.

But I have a Vine that I can reach out to. He’s always within reach, if only I will stretch out my hand and grab onto His. He will always rescue me from Satan’s grasp.

There will always be people who will tell you you’re not good enough. But that’s a lie! Jesus died on the cross because we’re all good enough! You’re the apple of His eye. Nothing you’ve ever done or ever will do makes you worthy of His sacrifice. That’s why it’s called “grace” - it’s an undeserved gift. 

Don’t ever let people bring you down through their criticism. If they don’t like you, they can choose to stay away from you. Fact is, Jesus loves you and longs to spend time with you. Listen carefully- you’ll hear Him calling your name.

Fear is a Liar - Zach Williams

Stormy Weather

Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes He calms His child.

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:29

Wohlford, party of 2 has beeen stuck in a storm pattern for awhile now. Feeling like we just can’t get ahead financially, too many things to get done and not enough time, and now some fairly major health issues with Drew. Some days I just want to wave a white flag and shout, “I GIVE UP!!”

Life is hard. God never promised it would be easy. But He did promise He would never leave us or forsake us. Does that mean we can do anything we want and He will just with there and wait to bail us out? No!

But if we remain faithful to Him, He will remain faithful to us. He longs to give His children good gifts. He longs to bless us. But He won’t cater to our every desire when we’re complaining about the storm.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had plenty of chances I could have complained about the storm. I could have had a pity party. Ok...I’ll be honest and say I did a couple times. The storm seemed so dark. I just wanted to make sure God could still see me.

No, He hasn’t calmed this storm. In fact, it hasn’t really decreased in intensity. I won’t lie and say I’m not concerned. But I know God’s umbrella is huge and He will ride out this storm with us.