s@ssy spont@neity

A friend and I were talking about burnout and depression.

They affect us, yes.  But do they define us?  No.

Burnout, depression, S.A.D., and the like, they affect our moods, our energy levels, our interactions with others amongst many other things.  Yes, it's hard to understand.  Yes, it's difficult for us to live with, and yes, it's difficult for those around us as well.  We don't deny this.

We know that for someone on the outside looking in it can seem like it has completely taken over our beings, that it has consumed us, that it defines us, but it doesn't.  That's only the tip of the iceberg.

Christ defines us.
Our identities lies in what Christ has done for us, who we are in Him, and who He has made us to be.   If you look closer you'll see that there's more than just fatigue, tears, sadness, and darkness.  If you look deeper you'll see character being built.

You'll see faith being anchored more firmly in Jesus.
You'll see grace, mercy, and forgiveness being comprehended to greater depth.
You'll see endurance and patience slowly ripening.
You'll see wisdom gained.
You'll see hope blossoming, hope that cannot be shaken.
You'll see kindness and empathy that only those who've experienced such brokenness can know.
You'll see love that's been refined.

Yet, the sad part is that people don't understand and don't see beyond the surface.
We do not allow our burdens to define us, but sadly others do.
So to add grief onto grief we've been misunderstood.
We've been given up on.
We've been passed over for someone else.
Someone else who is less "complicated", is less "difficult",  and whose life is less "messy".

But there are those who do stand by us who understand like Christ that love is not convenient, love is not easy, and love is not painless, and who understand that there is no one on this earth who isn't complicated, who isn't difficult, who isn't messy.

There are those who truly love like Christ.
Who sacrifices self, who endures through hardship, and who bears pain.  Even that not of their own.
And to those people we say "thank you."