Postpartum Depression: Light in the Darknessనమూనా

Day 4: Direct Your Thoughts in Alignment with Scripture

I love it when I read a scripture on the page that I’ve known since I was a little girl, but it lands differently. God’s Word is far more powerful than a lot of us have known to comprehend. God’s Word is sharper than any double-edged sword. That means it refines, corrects, and shapes you into the person He has called you to be.

The first problem many of us face entering motherhood is receiving guidance from well-meaning individuals about who you should be as a mother. We take these things as truth instead of going back to the blueprint of who God says we are.

Become an observer or witness of your thoughts instead of attaching yourself to them immediately. If there is a thought that does not align with what God’s Word says you are, then be vigilant about taking authority over the thought, and replace it with the truth of who God says you are. This is a practice just like any other transformation or skill. Once you have authority over your thought-life, everything changes.

One of the main reasons I created so much pain during my postpartum depression journey is that I formulated an expectation of how I should be and feel as a mother that was disconnected from who God says I was. Yes, I did that to myself. So then when I faced the reality of motherhood, the gap between how I thought I was supposed to be and feel and what I was actually feeling was massive. This gap made me feel defeated. I felt like a failure in all the major roles of my life- being a mother, a wife, a strong employee, daughter, and friend. This tortured my soul and ate away at the small amount of self-worth I had left. Some of the thoughts that consumed my soul were:

“You don’t know what you are doing.”

“You aren’t doing enough.”

“You are a failure.”

“You aren’t qualified to be a great mother.”

“You don’t deserve to be a mother.”

“They would have been better off with someone else.”

“You’re no longer beautiful.”

“You’re a lazy mom, and you’re always tired.”

“You aren’t loving them like you should.”

“You are not enough.”

“You will never feel like yourself again.”

“You will never have joy again.”

God led me to one of the most impactful scriptures. Philippians 4:8 says to think on those things that are true, honorable, right, lovely, pure, and admirable, things that are excellent and worthy of praise. So I started doing that and consistently redirected my thoughts and focused on good things. This started to shift my spirit and being. God began stirring up my faith by leading me back to scriptures I had been storing up in my heart for years.

Some reprogramming of your thoughts has to take place as a part of your healing journey. And I’ve found some of the best life-giving, transformational thoughts in God’s Word. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern (this includes thought patterns) of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We can’t always control every thought that lands in our mind, but we have been given authority through Christ Jesus to direct those thoughts. One of my favorite scriptures says to take captive and demolish every thought that goes against the knowledge of God. And we know what God says about us, so we know what is true. Direct those thoughts accordingly, Sis. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The scriptures I had been etching on the layers of my heart during my walk with Jesus prior to facing postpartum depression sustained me when I was in the darkness of depression. As we walk through wrapping this devotional together, latch on to the scriptures that speak to your pain and take them along with you for life. Take a look at some of the scriptures below that I used to replace thoughts that were not in alignment with the mother and woman God created me to be. Ask the Lord to lead you to scriptures that will help you to be an active director of your thought life.

• I am convinced that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:37)
• I have the mind of Christ, which means I’m smart, intelligent, and equipped. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• God’s Word says I am above and not beneath, which means I am worthy of the highest love. (Deuteronomy 28:13)
• I am clothed in God’s righteousness, which means I carry no form of shame in my heart. (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• I know I am strong in the Lord and the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10-11)
• God, Your grace is sufficient for me in every moment. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• I am so thankful that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. (139:14)
• I have been appointed for this assignment of motherhood for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14)