We live and die by our thoughts

When I was in outpatient treatment for alcohol and drugs, I was given some pamphlets on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) created by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. Even in my fog-like state, it made a difference.

Years later, still battling anxiety and depression, I was led to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy started by Dr. David Burns, its concepts originating from REBT. The books that taught me CBT techniques were Feeling GOOD Together and When Panic Attacks. The basic concept is “if you change the way you think, you can change the way you feel.” (Burns, Panic Attacks, Ch. 1)

Each time I used this, it really helped. In the Bible it says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (New King James Version, James 4.7.)  I knew I could pray like Jesus did, “Get behind me Satan” to resist, but I also realized CBT was a wonderful way to fight as well. 

I made up charts and put them around the house to remind myself to do CBT but fell out of the practice of using this wonderful tool to help with anxiety and depression.

Recently, I became badly depressed, dangerously so, and couldn’t seem to get out of it. In despair, I begged Jesus to help me, and that’s when I was reminded of CBT. Back to When Panic Attacks and my old charts.

Often, a problem will arise, and I get to believing the devil’s lies and have this negative thought: There is no solution for this particular problem. That lie is easily disproven by a CBT technique called Examine the Evidence where you simply examine facts to dispute the negative thoughts. This is the thought I came up with to dispute that negative thought which I made into a giant chart:

‘Every single one of my problems has been solved sooner or later, my entire life, thus all present and future problems will be solved too. That’s a fact!’

Many problems have been solved in minutes, hours or weeks. That’s not bad. There were many that took months but considering the timeline of our lives, that’s not horrible. The problems that took years are a lot more difficult to understand, like, for example, childhood. But here is a fact. If anyone is reading this along with me, we got out of childhood simply by growing up. Eventually, you grow up and get out!

“By willing endurance we cause suffering to pass.” (Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, Ch. 12)

Even the suffering of Jake did ultimately get resolved. Unfortunately, sometimes the only solution to certain problems is death. But that wasn’t bad for Jake. He ended up in paradise. Paradise! 

There will come a day for us that all of our problems will end. Forever. No more anxiety, fear or depression. Hallelujah! Our task is to survive this world until that day comes without hurting others or ourselves.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21. 4-6)

When I make mistakes, it’s easy to feel down, but I have to listen to the words of Corrie Ten Boom when that happens.  “I had to surrender my “if only’s” to Jesus.” (Boom, A Faith Undefeated) ) It’s ok. I messed up. I’m a human being. Now I have to pray and wait for God to save me like He always has and believe it.

There is a wonderful quote by John Bunyan I love that I think goes well with CBT.

“My [sisters and brothers], think about how valiant you have been on this journey till now. Apollyon couldn’t defeat you nor could all that you saw in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What hardship, terror, amazement you have already gone through.” (Bunyan, Pilgrims Progress Seventh Stage)