Have you ever experienced that period in your life where nothing ever goes right or your way? You wake up being blamed for this, that, or the other; by the end of the day you're just worn out and try to take a minuet to relax just to riled up for another thing that's all your fault? Your friends move off to college and you're stuck behind for another year, and you feel all alone and forgotten. Ever get so mad you scream so loud and could literally punch a hole in the wall and rip everything to shreds and still not feel better, only because that mess and destruction is all your fault? Do you ever sit and cry so hard that your body is literally in shock and collapses as you beg and plead to God to make it all stop because you can't do it anymore; you're all out of hope, strength, and you're just hollow shell of your former self and it scares you. It seems like no one will tell you what's wrong or help you. You're tired of putting on a fake smile and pretending that everything is okayed and just keep it bottled up. You spend all your time hating yourself and what you've become, and can't seem to find that silver lining. You've convinced yourself that you are worthless, unloved, unwanted, and just a burden to everyone you come in contact with. You can feel your heart breaking from all the pain and hurt.

Yeah, I've been there, I am there. Let this be of comfort to you, you are not alone.

It's time to let it all out. Say exactly how you feel. Cry until your eyes are out of tears and your face is drenched. Scream, but maybe into a pillow for the sake of others. Punch that pillow if you want to. Let it all out in the open. Never leave things bottled up, you never wan to get to the point of exploding, so here's your chance to explode and it'll be okay.

Now it's time to settle down. If you're anything like me, you've made your room a mess and all you want to do is clean it and make it pretty again. Put away any distractions, clear your mind and just plop yourself down and be still. Hear the words that you don't want hear, that I even don't want to hear that I'm going to say anyway...

1. You're okay.

How can you be okay? You just went on a rampage. Well, you were able to stop and calm down, and pull yourself together weren't you? You are OKAY.

2. There is nothing wrong with you.

I know you want to think that you're all messed up and broken and want to put a label on your 'condition', but so does everyone else. No one has it all figured out and no one is perfect. Yes, you may be dealing with a mental health issue where you have to take medications to make you 'normal' but there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Sometimes our brains react to events in our lives in a more traumatic way than we would think it would. That doesn't mean it's messed up, or that you are.

3. You are loved.

If you weren't loved no one would be there to comfort you, listen to you, or help you. I know you're thinking, Okay, well no one does that for me. Well maybe they are expressing love in different ways than you want, but it's the thought that counts. Trust me you are loved, take this time to really think about what has been done for you, that no one had to do. It was because someone thought, cared, and loved you enough to do it.

4. It does get better.

How many times have you heard this? Even in my situation, I don't feel it getting better because my highs always seem to come crashing down back into depression and sadness. But I have hope that it will get better. I believe that I have been/ am on this journey for a reason, I don't know why, or for how long, and yes, I want out of it. But I was never promised no pain in life, or that everyday would be totally awesome. I can actually look back and see that thing are getting better, no I don't feel like it is, but it really has, I just have to stop and think.

I believe in a God who does love me; so much that He sent His Son to die in my rightful place on a cross, and descend into the torment of Hell just so that I may have eternal life with the Father. And why should that make you feel any better that someone literally died? Well, He died for you, if that isn't love then I don't know what is. Also, IT GETS BETTER! He defeated death! He ascended out of a literal living Hell, to be seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus, the Son, took on ALL of the pain, guilt, shame, and evil, ALL OF IT, upon Himself. As the old song says, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone, Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!"

But why are you still going through hard times? I can't completely answer that, but here are some Bible verses that may help, because they help me:

-For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

-Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1Peter 5:7 (NLT)

-Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

-"...In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

So in conclusion, just sit down and JUST BREATHE! You have made it this far, don't stop now! Trust me, even when it's hard keep fighting. It will all be okay.