It happens every year during January and February, after the New Year’s celebrations are over; goals  are written down and life just moves along. But for me, I realize my life will never change. New year. Same me. Yeah, hooray, I get to live in a body with a mind of its own! Oh, believe me, dystonia during wintertime can get mundane and discouraging. The struggle is real! Sometimes, I just get so tired of dealing with dystonia and I feel alone. Yes, I have a couple days where I feel sorry for myself and cry a river or two. After that, life must resume. Would you like to hear my pep talk I give myself?

“Abigail, you’re a daughter of the King. You have a wonderful family. You have a great church family. You are able to stay home by yourself. Shall I go on? You are very blessed. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and live the life God gave you! Use the talents He has given you. Remember you are never alone.”

How do I resume life? Crank up the music on my phone and listen to songs like “He is There” and “He Can Take It.” Saturate myself in scripture, listen to podcasts and books. Turn my focus on others and move forward with the Lord’s help.

Have you ever gone through a time of depression, discouragement, or winter blues?  If you have, may I encourage you with some verses that have helped me.

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my  soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 147:1-5 Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Psalm 73:25-28 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Lastly, I would like to share these words from the song “He is There.”

He is there when I need Him.

He is with me when I fall.

He will come when I am fearful.

He will hear when I call.

He will lead me through the valley.

He’ll help me climb the mountain steep.

He is there through every trial.

He’s such a friend to me