Her Spacious Soul

On Depression: Everything is Not Okay, by Hannah K.  

I have been through periods of life where every day has been characterized by some kind of anxiety. Sometimes it could be seen on the surface- and sometimes my anxiety brewed more dangerously beneath the surface.  As a predominantly “happy” person, bouts of depression cause a conflict in my soul between the need to be authentic about  my struggles and the desire to maintain a cheerful exterior.  It can make asking for help all that much more difficult.  It is easy to assume that the happy, cheerful, strong person has no need of assistance and suffers no lows–but nothing could be further from the truth.

During one particular low, I felt as if my footing had literally been ripped out from under me. A series of negative events plunged me farther and farther into depression, each event seeming to follow after the other like a train of dominoes. From that place, what I wanted most was for others to recognize that everything is not okay–even if I could not always communicate how badly I felt.

“The Lord will take care of me… the Lord will take care of me… the Lord will take care of me..”  Some of my journal entries included God’s promises written over and over, as if their repetition would seal their truth in my soul. Continue reading →

Born To Deliver book review, by Hannah K. 

I recently had the opportunity to review a copy of Born to Deliver by Kathy Brace, with Natalie Wickham. Kathy and Natalie were kind enough to contribute a copy of this book so that our readership could be introduced to the story.  Thank you so much to the two of them for their kind offer!

One of the great qualities about this book is that it is true, which in and of itself is unusual for a book of this nature.  The writers summed up the story well in a letter they included with the book, saying that it “is a true story that shares the reality of the consequences of sexual promiscuity and chasing worldly  happiness, but also the beauty of God’s redemptive power when we surrender our hearts and lives to Him”.

Born to Deliver takes a candid look at Kathy’s personal struggles to find purpose and live by faith despite the “wreck of her past”.  I appreciated the realness of this book, which you can tell is written from a place in the author’s heart.  Nothing about this book seemed contrived, like books on the subject of redemptive love often are.  Rather, it stands out because the reader can relate to Kathy’s searching.  For example, Kathy writes, “How was I supposed to know what real love was, anyway?  I had never seen it or experienced it“. Continue reading →

Thoughts on measuring up, by Rachel (our newest writer, who hails from Canada).  Welcome, Rachel to our blog team! 

If I am made in God’s image, then sometimes I think He must be disappointed in His creation.

The older I get the more I realize how debilitating my relationship with my image is and how long and arduous this daily journey has been. We may be fearfully and wonderfully made, and I know that my body is a strong temple (a vessel wherein I house thoughts, passions and moments of sheer praise) – but it is also an entrapment.

See, I hate it at times. Utterly loathe it. There are some days when I look in the mirror and immediately hone in on every. single. flaw: real or imagined. Why can’t I be Gwyneth Paltrow? I wonder, as I follow the curve of my waist to my hips. Why do these jeans give me a muffin-top?  Why do I not have the self-control to stay away from the tub of frozen yogurt in my fridge?  Why does my hair lack luster? Where did that zit come from (you can you get zits in your 30s?! stupid world..); of course that girl has an engagement ring: look at her! She’s gorgeous… me? Lackluster, hips, penchant for frozen yogurt….ugh.

I think some part of me always wanted to be the ideal girl. By that I mean the girl who looks good in camping photos. Continue reading →