Tag: PTSD

#Findingyourcourage, Believe in Yourself, Bible, Comfort, Courage, Encouragement Today, Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Strength

You Are Not Alone

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

I want to send out a note of encouragement to those who may be struggling during this time of celebration.

As the holiday season comes to a close and we approach a new year, often times the pain we are holding now, we take with us.

There are many who are:

  • Experiencing health issues and are in the hospital
  • Fighting against complicated health issues
  • Struggling financially
  • Grieving the loss of a loved one
  • Lonely
  • Lost
  • Suffering with PTSD and other emotional disorders

These problems do not discriminate because of a holiday season or a time of celebration nor do they automatically go away.

But, be encouraged my friend!

God sees you.

He sees your pain.
He is drying your tears.
He is calming your fears.
He is healing your body.
He is healing your heart.
He is meeting your every need!

Here is an encouraging verse to cling to today.

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Psalm 75:26

Hang in there and know you are not alone. God has not abandoned you or forsaken you, instead He is holding you and is strengthening you.

Big hugs! ❤️

#Findingyourcourage, Bible, Blessings, Breathe, Challenge, Comfort, Encouragement Today, Faith, Grace, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Motivation, Peace, Rest, Strength

Blessings Await During The Storms

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

Today’s Encouragement

As I got up exhausted this morning, I strolled to my kitchen, only to be reminded God’s blessings come in His timing and not in mine.

Are you struggling in an area where you just keep praying over something in your life and you have been waiting for an answer or a direction?

Be encouraged by His words:

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

My friend, I encourage you to not give up. God is hearing you. He hears your desperate pleas. He knows your fears and frustrations. He is wiping your tears away while He is holding you in His arms.

#Findingyourcourage, #Keepingitreal, Courage, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Motivation, Peace

Let The Light Shine Through Your Darkness

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

I am sharing some inspiration with you today.

I found these words encouraging while listening to our church online.

“Never doubt in the dark what God gave you in the light.”

Grant Etheridge

It is also crucial to not let your circumstances change your trust in God.

I had a thought today to go back and revisit the word of the year that everyone created. I would be curious whose word is appropriate for this crisis now?

My friend, if you find yourself struggling today, lean on God for the strength you need to get through.

Breathe, Breathe In The Moment, Comfort, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Home, Image, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Moment of Inspiration, Peace, Strength

Enjoying The Stillness

Heidi Benson

Moment of Inspiration

Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

Did you wake up to the sounds of the birds singing this morning?

How many times in the busyness of your mornings do you wake up in a state of panic?

  • A panic of being late.
  • A panic of being frazzled.
  • A panic of anxiety and stress.
  • A panic of a meeting.
  • A panic of meeting a deadline.
  • A panic of what bothers you the most.

Now life has slowed down, stop and take the time to enjoy the peacefulness of the stillness.

I challenge you stop to this morning to take in the sounds of the quietness and the enjoy the beauty of the birds singing.

If you do and you found a peace in the quite, feel free to leave a comment below and share your experience.

#Findingyourcourage, Bible, Blessings, Bravery, Challenge, Comfort, Courage, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Gratitude, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Peace, Strength

Focus on Power of Positivity

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

During this difficult time it is easy to forget there is power in positivity and forget to focus on things we should be thankful for, so today I want to briefly focus on these.

The Bible reminds us the importance of being thankful;

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

‭‭

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Now think about the powerful words, “in all circumstances.”

The Bible does not say in certain circumstances. It doesn’t say in good circumstances. It says in “all” circumstances.

All too many times we can find things to be thankful for when life is going easy, but when times become difficult, it is easy to forget this concept.

During difficult times we become consumed by fear and anxiety and allow those dark and heavy emotions to run our hearts into the ground. They take away the ability to see the positive and encouraging things in our life. They rob us of our ability to the thankful of even the simple things in life.

Today we are going reclaim those pleasures that may have been robbed from us. Today we are going to list five things that bring us joy and thankfulness.

What are just five things that bring you joy and peace and what are you thankful for?

Here is my list of five things I am thankful today…

  • 1. Hearing the sweet birds chirping outside my windows. So many times in the busyness of life, I don’t think we take the time to hear them. But in the quietness of my morning I heard them this morning. It was a sweet sound to my soul. 
  • 2. Whether church was closed down or not, I would not have been able to go due to trying to get over my bronchitis. So I’m thankful for the technology that offers our church service to be viewed online in the quiet of my living room. 
  • 3. I am thankful for the time, that I don’t normally have to “rest”. I have been sick for 3 weeks and have not had the opportunity to rest until now. Had we not had this shut down, I would still not be able to rest, but when life has forced you to stay home, I am choosing to be thankful for it. I am determined to rest to get over this ugly cold. 
  • 4. I am thankful for the school we work at. My daughter and I received news that the school has figured out a way to pay their part-time staff for 2 weeks with the hopes of getting us closer to the end of this quarantine period. This truly touched my heart because they did not have to try to figure this out, let alone find a way. This was a huge blessing to us. 
  • 5. Lastly, I am thankful for all the spring that is in the air. I love seeing the trees dressed in their beautiful pink and white blossoms. Their is something inspiring by seeing all this new growth coming back to life. It inspires me to clean up my home and my property and make it fresh and clean again. 

Let’s rejoice together in those blessings. Leave your list below in the comments.

#Findingyourcourage, Believe in Yourself, Bible, Blessings, Comfort, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Peace, Strength

Breathe In Peace and Tranquility

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

During these uncertain times, we can find a peace that passes all understanding in our God in Heaven.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 NIV

Today is a wonderful day to be reminded there is power in a peaceful heart.

Take some time today to reach out to those things that enable you to just exhale the pressures of your life and inhale the peacefulness of tranquility.

What does tranquility mean? What is the definition?

Noun, A state of peace and quiet.

Vocabulary.com

So what does this look like to you? How do you find your peace and quiet?

Let’s enjoy a discussion and see if what you do is something that I may enjoy doing as well.

Leave your comments below.

I’m praying you will find your place of peace and tranquility today.

#Findingyourcourage, #Keepingitreal, Challenge, Comfort, Encouragement Today, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Life, Motivation, Strength

Focus on Growth

Heidi Benson
Credit: Home. Life. Encouragement

Encouragement Today

Is your life one you are thankful for?

Is it everything you hoped for and are blessed to have or is it one you didn’t foresee having? 

Consider this thought today, 

“Your life is whatever you focus on.” 

Shadonna Richards

As I observe my surroundings and watch the people around me, I see a lot of pain. 

I see people struggling with relationships, work, finances, health, and children. 

I know even for myself, pain has had a huge impact in my life. 

I know the pain of strained relationships and that of finances not being enough. I am reminded daily of the pain of watching my daughter fight a battle within her own body and the destruction it is trying to have on her. 

However, today I want to encourage you that life does not have to be the focus on all you struggle with.

We have the power to change our focus. We have the power to retrain our thoughts to where we focus on more positive things instead of the negative ones. 

This strength is coming from our God, who knows every single detail of every struggle and battle we are facing. 

Ask Him today to help you retrain your thoughts and your focus.

Ask Him today to strengthen your heart and to refocus your thoughts to where, instead of focusing on all the things that are difficult, to instead, focus on the blessings.

My Friend, my challenge to you is to retrain your focus and look at areas in your life where you are happy and find contentment instead of focusing on things that bring you heartache. 

Once you fall deep in a pit of despair, it is hard to refocus on the positives thoughts, but it is my desire that you take one step at a time. Look for one thing you can be grateful for and one more and one more. 

This will enable you, over time, to begin to see and focus more on more positive things, thus giving less power to the negative ones. 

I challenge you to begin this practice today if you are struggling.

If you already focus on the positive things in your live, way to go! I am super proud of you

#Findingyourcourage, #Keepingitreal, Believe in Yourself, Comfort, Courage, encouragement, Journey, Life, Motivation, Strength

God Mends The Broken-Hearted

Heidi Benson

Dear Sweet Friend,

Your pain is real. Your hurt is real. Your frustrations are real. Your fear is real. Your tears are real.

I may not know what is weighing heavy on your hearts tonight, but I do not need to know.

The One who needs to know, already knows.

I know so many who are struggling with “real” life situations that the pain is just more than unbearable,it is paralyzing you.

My dear friend, if this is you tonight, please know you are not alone.

“The same God who created your heart, is the same God who can mend your broken one.” HD Benson

Be encouraged knowing that He knows every tear you have shed and every fear you experienced.

He knows you need to pass a class in school.

He knows the relationship strains you have that just have you worn out and exhausted.

He knows the financial strain you may be feeling as well as the physical health issues you may be struggling with.

My dear sweet friend, turn your fears and concerns over to God tonight. He does not want you to carry this weight any longer.

He wants you to rest in His arms and give Him all of your concerns while He strengthens you tonight.

My friend, find the peace you need in your Creator!

If He knows how many hairs on your head, He too knows your every concern. Give them to Him right now. Give them to Him tonight.

#Findingyourcourage, #Keepingitreal, Blessings, Challenge, Courage, encouragement, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Joy, Life, Peace, Thankfulness

Opening Our Hearts to Gratitude

Heidi Benson
Credit:Homelifeandencouragement.com

It is so easy to get knocked down by all that life throws our way. The busyness, the relationship struggles, the soccer practices, football games, dance recitals, or work struggles; but I want to be your place of encouragement this month. I want to be that gentle reminder to look past it all and find something to be thankful for today.

I am a firm believer that if we look for bad, we will find it at every turn, but if we look for good, we will find it too, in the midst of the mud and the muck.

I will be posting daily reminders in one fashion or another to remind you to look for at least one, if not more, things to be thankful in everyday of this month.

Feel free to leave your comments below. If you would to leave them private message annotate that and I will not make your comment public.

Happy November!

#Findingyourcourage, #Keepingitreal, Believe in Yourself, Bible, Bravery, Challenge, Comfort, Courage, encouragement, Encouragement Today, Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Journey, Keeping It Real, Life, Motivation, Peace, Strength

Faith Believes in The Impossible

Heidi Benson
Credit: Homelifeandencouragement.com

I am sharing some comfort, as well as hugs, to those who find themselves struggling with something today.

My encouragement to those who find themselves battling in difficulties is this…. you will get through this time and you will get through this season of hardships.

There is a key to remembering this and it is found in Deuteronomy:

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

You are never alone and God has not forsaken you. He sees your tears and He hears your cries.

Remember this truth, no matter how many lies you hear from the enemy, they will never be true.

The only real truth you need to believe is what God is saying to you today. Spend some time talking to Him and by doing so, you will hear the words of comfort and peace He is sharing.

He loves you with all His heart. He believes in you, my friend!

He sees your beauty and your worth. He made you uniquely special and with a special purpose. It is during this difficult time that He will turn it around and show you how to use it for good and for His Glory.

If you find yourself doubting this, just think about all Job or Joseph or Joshua, or most importantly, Jesus; and all they went through. If you feel like, because you are a woman, they do not qualify, then think about all Queen Esther or Ruth or Sarah went through. Their suffering was real. Their personal trials were big to them, but God brought them through all of their hardships and are we not still talking about them today?

God is still using their hurt and their pain to make something good out of it. He is using their stories to encourage us during our times of trials and hardships.

My Friend, just as He is using their story to encourage and comfort us, He will use our trials and hardships to encourage others as well.

Hang in their today, oh weary and heart-broken friend. This too will pass and one day you will be able to share your story to encourage others as well.

Stand tall and if you can not because you are too tired and weary, I will stand with you.

If you find yourself in a time of great difficulty and you are in a desperate place and a need to reach out to someone, I am here.

Leave a comment below or send me a private message so you no longer have to feel like you are battling your trial in isolation.