1
The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on April 01, 2026, 08:05:22 PM »Happy Birthday mathis and LemonPuff 
News:
Welcome to the Depression Forums
Any information given and held by forum admin at the registration stage is held in the strictest of confidence in accordance with the data protection act and is only seen by the individual member and forum admin.
Please note, as some of our members are minors, any foul language or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated and will lead to the perpetrators account being deleted.
The Samaritans:
08457 90 90 90* (UK)
1850 60 90 90* (ROI)
Recent Posts
2
The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Amanda_George on April 01, 2026, 09:16:46 AM »We've got two birthday bunnies on the forum today who are prolly sick to the back teeth of people making jokes about the date so I'll keep my mouth shut and just wish mathis and also LemonPuff the best day possible today!
3
Christian / Re: Devotions
« Last post by Pip on March 30, 2026, 06:08:17 PM »https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/10/31/you-are-not-alone?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8_t4qfG9uG4qCUgfpTPquaMCujgAfqysE0TNNf4SIegLD9kmg3yCNGc9fLBiTuEjN17zTfHbj-Pi4wdWGsgNKx76TZnQ&_hsmi=329331643&utm_content=329331643&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
You Are Not Alone
October 31, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
Sometimes it can be hard to make friends. It takes time to form deep connections and build the kind of trust where a friendship feels safe and stable. If you’re struggling because of a move or a recent friendship breakup, or maybe your life circumstances have changed and created a disconnect with those you used to have more in common with, those struggles are real. I understand how that feels. Feeling left out and lonely isn’t something that’s reserved only for playground games and middle school dances. I’ve still felt that same sense of loneliness even as an adult. No matter how you feel today, I want you to let this truth, God’s Truth, surround you in a symphony of compassion and comfort: You are not alone. You may feel lonely, but you don’t have to live lonely. So what can you do?
You can refuse to isolate. It can be tempting to look at others on social media, laughing, connecting and cheering one another on, and make assumptions. It’s easy to assume they don’t struggle with loneliness. It’s easy to assume you don’t fit in or belong. It’s easy to assume the world just seems to be moving on without you. But all those assumptions will exhaust you and tempt you to isolate even more. Isolation is never a cure for your longing for real connection. I believe the most powerful cure for loneliness can be found in togetherness. Togetherness reminds us we are all so very human, united in our struggles, our laughter, our tears, our need for Jesus, and our tender care for one another. So I have a challenge for you today. Do you have a friend in your life who speaks Truth?
Listen to her. Stay connected to her. Let her lead you back to God time and time again. Because just like the breaking of bread sustains our physical bodies, breaking secrecy with trusted friends nourishes the deep places in our souls as we open up our hearts. I love what Proverbs 27:9 says: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
Togetherness is such a beautiful thing. I pray today God gives you an opportunity to pursue togetherness with safe people because chances are you’ll be a blessing to them in their lonely feelings as well.
You Are Not Alone
October 31, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
Sometimes it can be hard to make friends. It takes time to form deep connections and build the kind of trust where a friendship feels safe and stable. If you’re struggling because of a move or a recent friendship breakup, or maybe your life circumstances have changed and created a disconnect with those you used to have more in common with, those struggles are real. I understand how that feels. Feeling left out and lonely isn’t something that’s reserved only for playground games and middle school dances. I’ve still felt that same sense of loneliness even as an adult. No matter how you feel today, I want you to let this truth, God’s Truth, surround you in a symphony of compassion and comfort: You are not alone. You may feel lonely, but you don’t have to live lonely. So what can you do?
You can refuse to isolate. It can be tempting to look at others on social media, laughing, connecting and cheering one another on, and make assumptions. It’s easy to assume they don’t struggle with loneliness. It’s easy to assume you don’t fit in or belong. It’s easy to assume the world just seems to be moving on without you. But all those assumptions will exhaust you and tempt you to isolate even more. Isolation is never a cure for your longing for real connection. I believe the most powerful cure for loneliness can be found in togetherness. Togetherness reminds us we are all so very human, united in our struggles, our laughter, our tears, our need for Jesus, and our tender care for one another. So I have a challenge for you today. Do you have a friend in your life who speaks Truth?
Listen to her. Stay connected to her. Let her lead you back to God time and time again. Because just like the breaking of bread sustains our physical bodies, breaking secrecy with trusted friends nourishes the deep places in our souls as we open up our hearts. I love what Proverbs 27:9 says: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
Togetherness is such a beautiful thing. I pray today God gives you an opportunity to pursue togetherness with safe people because chances are you’ll be a blessing to them in their lonely feelings as well.
4
The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on March 30, 2026, 06:00:06 PM »Happy Birthday tarle1976
5
The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Amanda_George on March 30, 2026, 10:05:17 AM »Our final birthday bod of March is tarle1976! 
6
Christian / Re: Devotions
« Last post by Pip on March 29, 2026, 05:25:21 PM »https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/10/30/rest-in-gratitude?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_IJAim5SErXczP9R85IO1_cBBdulOfxtuBDQjV6D4tPKEpILllEx553ol7U_2KodYjbehUwe7KKs8lCD4iitiJ-WIhWw&_hsmi=329331207&utm_content=329331207&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
Rest in Gratitude
October 30, 2024
by Becky Shannon
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
Do you ever find yourself wishing for life to slow down, only to feel like you’re trapped in a cycle of living from one chaotic season to another while feeling pressured to add even more things to your calendar?
If so, you are not alone! As a wife and a mother of five, I have often felt this way. Not very long ago, all seven members of our family came down with mycoplasma pneumonia. It was one of the hardest seasons I’ve gone through. Two of our daughters were hospitalized for a combined total of a week, my husband used up all his vacation days, and I was so tired that my pneumonia returned even worse for a second time. All I wanted was to rest and to see my family get better so we didn’t miss our summer. Something the Lord taught me through that experience was that looking at life through a lens of gratitude helps me rest in Him, refocus, and not get caught up in the discontentment of my circumstances. It was so easy to wish things were calmer, less stressful and less tiring, but God supplied what I needed, and there were so many blessings to thank Him for along the way. The enemy wants us anxious, distracted and afraid of missing out. Sometimes we can become so consumed and discontented with life that we end up completely missing out on the most important thing of all our relationship with Jesus. Practicing gratitude can remind us of how much we truly have, even when our physical measurements tell us we’re lacking. As God’s children, through Jesus, we have an inheritance that is not from this world (Ephesians 1:11-14). Spiritually, we are rich beyond what we can fathom and blessed beyond measure. God has set us up with every single thing we will ever need to thrive (Philippians 4:19). All we have to do is ask and receive. If you’re currently feeling stuck in a busy season of anxiety and chaos, I want you to know that there is a never-ending supply of what you need: peace, rest, contentment, joy, hope and love! Life may not slow down or wait for us, but we are not alone. In the chaos, the stressful situations, and the demands of everyday life, Jesus is right there waiting in the midst, offering us a personal invitation to enter into rest and contentment at His feet!
Rest in Gratitude
October 30, 2024
by Becky Shannon
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
Do you ever find yourself wishing for life to slow down, only to feel like you’re trapped in a cycle of living from one chaotic season to another while feeling pressured to add even more things to your calendar?
If so, you are not alone! As a wife and a mother of five, I have often felt this way. Not very long ago, all seven members of our family came down with mycoplasma pneumonia. It was one of the hardest seasons I’ve gone through. Two of our daughters were hospitalized for a combined total of a week, my husband used up all his vacation days, and I was so tired that my pneumonia returned even worse for a second time. All I wanted was to rest and to see my family get better so we didn’t miss our summer. Something the Lord taught me through that experience was that looking at life through a lens of gratitude helps me rest in Him, refocus, and not get caught up in the discontentment of my circumstances. It was so easy to wish things were calmer, less stressful and less tiring, but God supplied what I needed, and there were so many blessings to thank Him for along the way. The enemy wants us anxious, distracted and afraid of missing out. Sometimes we can become so consumed and discontented with life that we end up completely missing out on the most important thing of all our relationship with Jesus. Practicing gratitude can remind us of how much we truly have, even when our physical measurements tell us we’re lacking. As God’s children, through Jesus, we have an inheritance that is not from this world (Ephesians 1:11-14). Spiritually, we are rich beyond what we can fathom and blessed beyond measure. God has set us up with every single thing we will ever need to thrive (Philippians 4:19). All we have to do is ask and receive. If you’re currently feeling stuck in a busy season of anxiety and chaos, I want you to know that there is a never-ending supply of what you need: peace, rest, contentment, joy, hope and love! Life may not slow down or wait for us, but we are not alone. In the chaos, the stressful situations, and the demands of everyday life, Jesus is right there waiting in the midst, offering us a personal invitation to enter into rest and contentment at His feet!
7
Christian / Re: Devotions
« Last post by Pip on March 24, 2026, 05:45:14 PM »https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/10/29/but-im-scared-to-get-hurt-again?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9-ZwaMcou_-pX9lvSS36HmHA1wAUGBhkacNi-MyfPvVl_dxx4bzd5DBtU7uNguL_QPtUQ6dKMFWONGpHwy7h_4H1HBOQ&_hsmi=329330531&utm_content=329330531&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
But I’m Scared To Get Hurt Again
October 29, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
When life gets hard, we may feel justified if our hearts also get hard and the lens through which we see the world becomes tainted by past hurts. When this happens, we may stop believing the best can still happen in our circumstances. We may stop believing the best about people and resist trusting them again. We may carry the wrong that one person did to us into other relationships and become overly guarded and overly suspicious that history will repeat itself. Because we’re scared to get hurt again, we may easily start assuming other people will hurt us, assigning them wrong intentions they don’t have. But, friend, if we were sitting together over coffee today, I would reach for your hand and encourage you with this: When life gets hard, let your heart stay soft. Let your thoughts stay true. Don’t fill in the gaps with worst-case scenarios. Don’t assume what others are thinking. You can listen to your discernment: If something feels off or untrue, ask questions, verify answers, and realize sometimes people aren’t honest. But at the same time, remember many people are honest, true and real. The world is full of good-hearted people. People who want the best for you. People who cling to the Truth of God’s Word and encourage you with the wisdom-filled words from it. The Bible is also clear that we need the support of biblical community, like Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I’ve found that when trust has been broken in a relationship, trust issues can only be worked on in the context of relationship. That doesn’t mean we must return to a hurtful relationship to work on trust. (If returning is possible, then that’s great. However, sometimes that may not be possible or safe.) But what it does mean is we can’t isolate ourselves and work on repairing trust alone. There are still good people in the world. Not perfect people. But people worth trusting, who live the gospel message in the most real and beautiful ways. Find those people. Do life with those people. Embrace the gift of those people. And if you’re looking for those people, I’d personally love to invite you to join me and Circle 31 Book Club in reading my new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t, starting in just a few days on November 1. Together, we’ll gather as a community of women who are nowhere near perfect but desire to build relationships and safe connections (and have fun, of course!). For now, pray with me and find out more details about Circle 31 Book Club below.
But I’m Scared To Get Hurt Again
October 29, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
When life gets hard, we may feel justified if our hearts also get hard and the lens through which we see the world becomes tainted by past hurts. When this happens, we may stop believing the best can still happen in our circumstances. We may stop believing the best about people and resist trusting them again. We may carry the wrong that one person did to us into other relationships and become overly guarded and overly suspicious that history will repeat itself. Because we’re scared to get hurt again, we may easily start assuming other people will hurt us, assigning them wrong intentions they don’t have. But, friend, if we were sitting together over coffee today, I would reach for your hand and encourage you with this: When life gets hard, let your heart stay soft. Let your thoughts stay true. Don’t fill in the gaps with worst-case scenarios. Don’t assume what others are thinking. You can listen to your discernment: If something feels off or untrue, ask questions, verify answers, and realize sometimes people aren’t honest. But at the same time, remember many people are honest, true and real. The world is full of good-hearted people. People who want the best for you. People who cling to the Truth of God’s Word and encourage you with the wisdom-filled words from it. The Bible is also clear that we need the support of biblical community, like Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I’ve found that when trust has been broken in a relationship, trust issues can only be worked on in the context of relationship. That doesn’t mean we must return to a hurtful relationship to work on trust. (If returning is possible, then that’s great. However, sometimes that may not be possible or safe.) But what it does mean is we can’t isolate ourselves and work on repairing trust alone. There are still good people in the world. Not perfect people. But people worth trusting, who live the gospel message in the most real and beautiful ways. Find those people. Do life with those people. Embrace the gift of those people. And if you’re looking for those people, I’d personally love to invite you to join me and Circle 31 Book Club in reading my new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t, starting in just a few days on November 1. Together, we’ll gather as a community of women who are nowhere near perfect but desire to build relationships and safe connections (and have fun, of course!). For now, pray with me and find out more details about Circle 31 Book Club below.
Becks879
The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Amanda_George on March 22, 2026, 08:43:13 AM »Becks87 is celebrating today! 
10
The Lounge / Re: Members birthdays
« Last post by Pip on March 21, 2026, 08:14:39 PM »Belated Happy birthday, Weburndaylight and Michibelle!