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Fan with Depression Finds Joy in APX Songs
Thu., Mar. 17. 2016 9:53am EDT
Do you or does someone you know struggle with depression? We received a very touching email about that this week. The person who wrote it gave us permission to share it, although we are withholding his identity for obvious reasons:I am a social worker by profession. I have worked in mental health as well as in nursing homes caring for the elderly. I did this until I fell prey to major depression myself. It was a rather odd and devastating occurrence. I have wrestled with the fact that brain chemistry can in fact go bad and at times trump everything a person should be feeling through faith.
I lost my profession several years ago to this disease but by the grace and goodness of God have kept my beautiful and loving family. I have an implant called a VNS that stimulates the vagus nerve and sends pulses to the brain every three minutes. It largely helps keep the depression at bay along with medication and a very supportive family but I still have some slumps. This week has been one of them.
I find great joy and restoring power in the music that you recently gave me. It is all that I have been listening to. It empowers my Christian faith. Like I said, I have not been feeling that well for the past few days when suddenly "God Knows You've Tried" played on my phone. I had been feeling like a whitewashed tomb, but that song reminded me that God still has great love for me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As I type this, I am starting to cry from the joy and blessing of it.
God uses the band in so many miraculous ways! Will you please pray for me, even as my wife and I pray for you every night, that this darkness would leave my life? Keep pushing on, regardless of what the devil throws in your path. You are changing lives.
We had more email correspondence with this person afterward and shared some more music with him. Here is an except from one of his follow-up emails:
The music you sent me is wonderful. Again, I can't thank you enough. I think by now you fully realize the joy, hope and faith I get when I listen to your songs. I really did like "Working for the Weakened." The lyrics of the entire song spoke to my heart and I am reminded that the Lord will never break me when I'm bruised. He desires to see me healed and filled with His Holy Spirit and peace. He will see me through this. He always has and always will. I needed that hopeful reminder.
I cannot get enough of your music! It helps me so much. Please join us in praying for this friend. Here's a link to the a video for the song "God Knows You've Tried" in case it may encourage you or someone you love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiQNpK-wZ6s
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