It's okay to struggle--don't let people shame you

This has been on my heart for a while; I'm writing to those who are humble and human.

I cannot stand social media sometimes. People seem to think that you can only post good things, or only your opinion matters. ("Don't ever try to see the other side's point of view! Shame!") Everyone always has to have the higher ground. No one can feel empathy when it comes to social media, unless it's a story of an injured dog being rescued.

Some people can't seem to stand it when someone is open and vulnerable about going through something hard. Even if they're pointing back to their hope in The Lord.

Why is that? Society has brainwashed us into the picture perfect family photo culture we are in today. HOW DARE I ever share about how God is working through my trials?! HOW DARE I not be happy all the time!!

I'm here to shed light on how toxic that is. As human beings, we are meant to build others up. We are supposed to stand behind each other in hard times. Yet somehow, it's not okay to be open about our lives? This is not healthy thinking.

DO. NOT. SUPPRESS.

I'm here to tell you that if you have ever lamented or were open about your issues, and someone shut you down... that response is not of The Lord. My God is a God who listens and cares, Who can even relate to these feelings of regret or anguish. (Inserted at the bottom of the page is a page of a book that expresses this further. Please continue reading because it could be life changing!)

I do also want to say, however, that there are healthy and unhealthy ways to express these feelings. This looks different for everyone. You cannot let it consume you. You express it, fix it, and move on. You can't let it weigh you down.

The people who can't be bothered with your issues probably aren't in a healthy place themselves to deal with it. If they need to take a step back as you struggle, that means they have their own heart issues to address.

I would love anyone reading this, whether you're the struggler or the comforter, or if you've experienced both sides (which I'm sure all human beings by their twenties have experienced), to read this one page of this book to understand more of what I'm trying to say with references.

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Here is an excerpt from the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero. To give more context to the single picture here, the writer is talking about Job from the book of Job (the oldest book in the Bible).

It goes on to say that sometimes if we suppress the negativity or if we are told not to feel those things, they can ooze out in unhealthy ways. I'm sure everyone has experienced this. DO. NOT. SUPPRESS.

Personally when I'm going through stuff, I read Psalms in my Bible reading time. It's so relatable to see the raw feelings that David and other writers put out there.

Just like those writers do, after lamenting, I point out how God is working through it. I really have learned so much subconsciously about how to deal with those pent up emotions through reading a lot of the angst from the Bible.

I want you to know, whoever is reading this, that you're not a screw up. You aren't a mistake. Your life isn't falling apart. God is working through it and it's okay to hash it out with people and God. Try to see how He could be working through it. You got this.

2 Corinthians 13:11 "...Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace...."

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