³¹ What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] ³² He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?--Romans 8:31-32, AMPC

The LORD is so good to help us! Having to deal with my widowed mom's physical and mental afflictions in the days of her life, the LORD revealed to me that, for almost 60 years, I'd been afflicted with grief and sorrow--which Jesus broke the power of at the cross! 

Most of it came down through family lines; generational curses, especially on my mother's side. Gee, she's been depressed since I've known her, although there have been bright moments of fleeting happiness, amazing creativity, lots of kindness and generosity, and deep compassion for others. 

It takes to power of God to deliver people, even Christians, when we know something is wrong, but don't know how to fix it. As we grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, and as the Holy Spirit leads us (because only He knows what we can handle; what we are willing to confront and conquer, with His help!), we can take authority over the demons behind these wrong things that have oppressed us, and also lean on Daddy God for His Grace to overcome our fleshly bad habits. 

This will continue until we get to Heaven, because the dear Holy Spirit Who is Wisdom; Who is the Spirit of Truth, will always be leading us higher, to become more like the dear Savior Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. – Romans 8:29, KJV

So, becoming more like Jesus is quite a process.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do  his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. - Hebrews 13:20-21, KJV

Thank the LORD that He sees the totality of our lives, and knows what we can become—for I would have given up on me a long time ago! However, we are never without His help, if we will just receive it. Hallelujah!

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]—Hebrews 13:5, AMPC

The LORD has helped me understand, through much pain and trial and error, and other junk, that I've spent way too much of my time, energy, thought, and even money trying to please her and others that cannot really be pleased. 

I love her, and she loves me, of course. We've proven that in covenant ways; when things are falling apart and the hardest, we've been there for each other, as the LORD has orchestrated things. That is the root of true love: not abandoning those to whom you are attached, especially in the hardest of times.

Then, we cooperate with the LORD to work on our souls (mind, will, emotions). That’s where the trouble is, for our spirits are united with Christ, and perfect, once we truly repent of our sins and receive Christ Jesus, the firstborn Son of God, the only Messiah, as our Savior and LORD, and thus become born again.

³ Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, - I Peter 1:3-4, AMPC

Everyone who believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring). - I John 5:1, AMPC

Great is His faithfulness, amen--and, praise the LORD, He is never depressed! He is never angry, nor critical, nor condemning, nor double-minded, and many other things that humans often exhibit and others think is God.

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. - I Peter 2:16, KJV

Anyway, I really want to focus on the positive here, so let me do that: The LORD has liberated me! Hallelujah! He has made me much more glad than sad, and is helping me recognize and root out every little last root of wrong, of sorrow and sadness, so that the seeds of thanksgiving and peace and joy and more good things can grow and produce abundant fruit.

Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy! – Psalm 126:3, NLT

He is so faithful and good, and continues to put His Grace all over my life, to continually reveal to me Who He is (which has, of course, been different in many ways that what most of us have experienced from parents, pastors, and other leaders in our lives!). 

Where doubt entered in decades ago about my worth, and whether I was really loved and accepted (even though there were several proofs that I was all these things, but not knowing how to really recognize nor defeat the doubt and unbelief and anxiety about that), these thoughts afflicted me for decades.

I started realizing after a point that this junk I was experiencing in various ways was different than what I was hearing preachers say about God, and different than I was reading about in the Word. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:- Ephesians 2:8, KJV

So, being born again is instant, praise the LORD, but the sanctification of working out our Salvation is a process which will only be completed in Heaven. So as He teaches us His Word and we agree with it and walk it in, we start having more of Heaven on earth—which was the Plan from the beginning (Genesis 1).

Heb 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.- Hebrews 12:1-2, KJV

Through many traumatic events for a few decades of my life, the LORD kept drawing me to Himself and His Word. Hallelujah!

He taught me to worship Him in spirit and truth. Hallelujah!

He has truly freed me and turned my mourning into dancing and my sorrow into shalom! 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:- Psalm 30:11, KJV

He can do the same for you. Hallelujah!

Ask Him today; cry out to Him, and He will help you! He is faithful, gracious, merciful, and always willing to help you! 

Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. - Psalm 20:6, NLT

Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. - Psalm 28:6-7, KJV 

Amen!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.