It's for me, too

Psalm 103:6: The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

In my line of work, it's super easy to become mentally, physically, spiritually exhausted. Why, you ask? One reason is the simple fact that we are expected to maintain certain -lofty- numbers. The main reason though is because we spend our days working with, consoling, educating, validating the mentally ill; some of them suffer with Major Depression, some of them deal with the crippling psychosis that comes with Schizophrenia. That's not to say that it's a pain to work with them, but it can exacerbate one's own preexisting symptoms. Sometimes, admittedly, I feel like a bit of a hero...and other times, I feel like crap, thinking that I'm not making a difference. The above verse is one that I have painted and hanging in my office, kind of like a banner representing why I do what I do.

But something hit me today, in the midst of my own (lifting) depressive episode. Those words are not just for "them"--it's for me, too. The Lord is working in me and will use this for good later-- my own, or someone else's. I'm not saying I'm "oppressed" by a person or by society or any of those things-- but oppressed mentally, bound by the shackles of my depression.

So if you're in the midst of something, too, remember that the Lord works righteousness, justice, and good through bad situations.