“Although He was a Son, He learned through what he suffered. And He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey him.” Hebrews 5: 8-9

When we go through a tough time we often hear the phrase “there is a reason for everything.” Sometimes it can seem very cliche. Almost like we say it because we have too. Not because we truly believe it. However, I have come to realize that any pain or suffering we go through can actually be used for a reason.

Think about if we never experienced any negative feelings. We were never hurt or disappointed by a person or situation. Never knew what it was like to lose something or someone we loved or wanted. We may not have any motivation or any reason to treat people a certain way. We would never be able to emotionally connect with other people. The ability to extend compassion would be limited.

Sometimes we think of God as this figure floating in the clouds forgetting he walked on earth as a human. He has experienced human emotions, therefore he can relate to us. Which is so amazing! As you read the Bible you see has experienced loss, sadness, betrayal, and disappointment among other things. I believe one of his gifts to us is that he can give us the ability to turn our pain into gain. We can use our experiences to help others overcome their pain. We essentially can turn our mess into our ministry.

I may not have all the answers as to why I had the expierence of postpartum depression and anxiety. My mind does question from time to time the ins and outs of what happened. I was such a functional person and in the most important moment of being a mother, I lost it. That is one way of looking at it. Or I could say God chose me to go through this experience because he knew I was strong enough. I was strong enough to recognize the pain and reach out for help. I was strong enough to share what I felt were shortcomings with all of you. I was faithful enough to lean on him and show that to the world. In turn, it is possible that it may have encouraged someone out there. If that is true, I thankful to God for the opportunity to turn my mess into ministry. I am thankful that chose me and had faith in me that I could make it through this trial. How can you change your perspective on what you are going through?