This entry was written back in about 2015, but the insights are just as valid today as it was then, helping Barbara to come out of her deep depression out into the light of God’s love.

As Barbara and I pass through the valley of the shadow of her depression, we can rest in God, knowing that “…the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Heb. 12:6). This present suffering has brought out wrong thinking and values from my wife’s past so they can be corrected. This is proof that you, Lord, love us by taking the time to discipline us for our good.

I praise you, Lord, for your loving work in us, on us and through us, pointing out sin, wrong thinking, negative attitudes and unbiblical beliefs that keep us from really living: “…we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and [really] live!” (Heb. 12:9).

Thank you for chastening us through difficulties–so that we might share in your holiness. Thank you for correcting us, even though it may be painful, so that we might respond with faith, confession, surrender and obedience, thereby receiving the fruit of peace and righteousness (Heb. 12:9-11).

In all this you gave us the opportunity to do the dance of faith on the stage of grace.

Praise you, Lord, for your care, your consistency, your chastening to bring patience and power, fullness and fruitfulness, maturation and more (James 1:2-4). Truly you are the perfect Father: wise, loving, good, firm, persistent and forgiving.