Lately, I have ben listening to the new Third Day Album with my husband. It is so hard to pick just one song to call a favorite. In fact, I like the whole album.

All of the songs lead you to one direction: the ever present love of God. One of the songs states,"If you ever feel like giving up, I'll be there. If you ever feel so alone, I'll be there. I'll be there to hold you"

It reminds me that God is with me at all times: those times when I feel that nothing goes right and that overwhelmed feeling sneaks up. Being one who battles depression, I catch myself using the words, "I'm tired' I have learned this is my spirit's code for depressed or oppressed. It has nothing to do with the physical; but instead everything to do with the emotional and spiritual.

I have to stop and take a deep breath and find a place of quiet. In that place, I have to pour myself out before God and enter into His presence. I have to be still... then I realize that it was not God who withdrew His presence, it was I who walked away and took on the cares of this life. I needed to remind myself that no matter what occurs, God is present.

Depression comes when I do not release those cares that weight me down. The human spirit was meant to be free and in communication with our Father Creator. When we take on burdens and let them mount up, we are overwhelmed and become deaf, blind and mute in our relationship with God.

Depression is a genetic thing for my tribe: the wiring in our brains makes us predisposed; but the Spirit of God offers hope and victory. I am thankful that God allowed the creation of medicines that help with the chemical side of thing. But I know so well that without God in my life, the medicines would only take care of the chemical imbalance and not the total situation.

I am thankful that God is always present, that He is aware of everything that goes on. I am thankful that like every good parent, He gives us the freedom of choice full knowing that we might not make the right choices all of the time. And like a good parent when we do make the right choice, He is there to get us back on track: I am thankful that He rejoices when we choose right and walk in the path He desires for us.

I keep thinking that in His Presence there is everything we need