Since the writing of this blog post, Dr. Mike went on to be with the Lord. The content of this post is worth the read. So helpful to me and I hope helpful to my readers.
Dr. Mike Ferguson has been a great help to me lately. Watch video of me talking about his ministry and professional help HERE. I’d highly recommend him as someone you can trust. He’s trained as a psychologist to help de-escalate situations that are high level anxiety problems, as well as deep depression. He’s helped me tremendously during a very stressful time in my life. He’s also a Suicidologist, therefore, helps those who are in an acute state (ready to commit suicide) and chronic thinking on suicide. God has used Dr. Ferguson in many cases, so I would not hesitate to offer his information to anyone in distress or heading in that direction. His website can be found by clicking HERE or text or call him at 417-502-9662. His email is [email protected] (the site, number and email are no longer in existence as Dr. Mike is with the Lord, but if you need help, reach out to me and I can find help for you, or you may talk with me - all conversations are confidential, and I share with no one.) A helpful tool he gave to us is the file called, “List of Self-Encouraging Thoughts for Greater Distress Tolerance.” We noticed that the sayings are good and helpful, and wondered if they are rooted in Scripture so Christians may benefit from the Word of God being sown into their thinking, which is most helpful as God can and does use His Word to transform the believer throughout his or her entire life. May these Scriptures, as well as the original coping thoughts be a help to those who need it. See the following below with links you can click on to get to the Bible itself: COPING THOUGHT: “I’ve already been through many other painful experiences, and I’ve survived.” SCRIPTURE: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43.2) COPING THOUGHT: “This, too, shall pass.” SCRIPTURE: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24.35) COPING THOUGHT: “My feelings make me feel uncomfortable right now, but I can accept them.” SCRIPTURE: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12.9) COPING THOUGHT: “I can be anxious and still deal with the situation.” SCRIPTURE: “For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.” (Psalm 18.29) COPING THOUGHT: “I’m strong enough to handle what’s happening to me right now.” SCRIPTURE: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6.10) Note: our true strength comes from God alone. So, though we really are weak, not strong enough to handle life’s trials, God’s strength is what we are to lean on, that we may not boast nor feel we have to carry heavy burdens on our own. He is our comfort. He is our strength. He is our rock. COPING THOUGHT: “This is an opportunity for me to learn how to cope with my fears.” SCRIPTURE: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1.2-4) Note: this does not mean we need to disregard our feelings of sadness, anger, hurt, or fear when God says to count it all joy. God means we can accept the trial and have a deep-seated joy (separate from happiness) in that He is allowing the test to strengthen you and your faith in Him, not self. Life is a process and He promises to make us more like Christ, who was dependent upon our Heavenly Father as seen in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus’ sweat was as blood, the trial was so difficult. We would never say of Jesus that He was chipper and happy at that moment, but in deep distress, yet with joy, knowing the Father’s will was perfect. That is your hope, also. COPING THOUGHT: “I can ride this out and not let it get to me.” SCRIPTURE: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10.5) COPING THOUGHT: “I can take all the time I need right now to let go and relax.” SCRIPTURE: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” From Jesus Himself! (Matthew 11.28,29) COPING THOUGHT: “My anxiety / fear / sadness won’t kill me; it just doesn’t feel good right now.” (John 11.35) SCRIPTURE: “Jesus wept.” Note: Jesus had real feelings just like us. He is 100% man and 100% God. When in the flesh upon this earth, He was tempted in all points. Can you just imagine someone telling Christ, “Just be positive!” No! He wept. He was very sad. COPING THOUGHT: “These are just my feelings, and eventually they’ll go away.” SCRIPTURE: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21.4) COPING THOUGHT: “It’s okay to feel sad / anxious / afraid sometimes.” SCRIPTURE: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Note: this is just saying that God understands. We don’t have to change our feelings to fit anyone’s desire for how they want us to be. Allow yourself to go through the feeling with the knowledge that God went through it, too. COPING THOUGHT: “My thoughts don’t control my life, I do.” SCRIPTURE: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3.2) COPING THOUGHT: “I can think different thoughts if I want to.” SCRIPTURE: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12.2) COPING THOUGHT: “I’m not in danger right now.” SCRIPTURE: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27.1) COPING THOUGHT: “So what?” SCRIPTURE: “Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2.22) COPING THOUGHT: “This situation sucks, but it’s only temporary.” SCRIPTURE: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4.17,18) Forgiven much, Tamara Jack Check out my 90 lb. Weight Loss Journey with Weight Watchers HERE! To contact me, email: [email protected] (You can contact me for prayer, too.) Where to find me: Facebook: AssisiRosaries Page HERE YouTube: AssisiRosaries Channel HERE YouTube: Tamara Wigs Out Channel HERE Instagram: AssisiRosaries HERE Instagram: TamaraWigsOut HERE
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