[WinterRose]

I’ve been pondering about the giving nature of Christ. I cannot recall a time when someone approached him when he was upon the earth and asked him for something and he denied them. If he was so generous then, wouldn’t he be just as generous now? If I approach him in the same spirit as those who came to him in life, he will not say no. He never has.

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Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:9

Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
2 Nephi 4:35

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[SeptemberMorn]

Exactly!! AMEN!

Welcome to PC, Winter Rose.

[(JD)]

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).

(James 1:5) But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1:6But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

1:7For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;

1:8a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways

[FaithisAlive]

Praise His Holy Name!

[Rapunzel]

Excellent question. I struggle with this. I believe that He is there and gives to people today the same as in other times. I don't argue that His gifts are offered to me as well as to others. But somehow I feel like I'm included by default, or like an afterthought somehow. I don't know why. But I do believe those scriptures that are quoted here.

[(JD)]

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

Faith IS the substance
the evidence

If you don't have those things you ask for, it could be from a lack of real faith.

Please don't read into this. I believe that God will change our "want to" and what we ask for according to His will, if we are close to Him. He will allow us to ask for things we selfishly want. I also believe that some times He tells another to do something for us, that would accomplish our request, but the other person fails to do what God asks, thus resulting in a void for a time being for the person waiting.

Does that include a "cure" for the horredous depression?

I don't believe that this is a "from lack of faith"..... that I am not "cured".

I wonder if I would be cured at the time "Jesus walked the earth"? my guess is "yes"

I just know during my lifetime, depression has always been there - waiting to swallow my whole.

It is not from lack of faith.

[SeptemberMorn]

IMO, God had given us a "treatment" rather than a "cure" for depression. All we need to do is believe that the doctor as well as what he prescribes will treat our depression. I had that faith and my depression is under control.

[(JD)]

I also don't feel it is from a lack of faith... but from the original sin. BTW not everyone was healed during Christ's time on earth, not even those who sought it, for the rich man came and went away sorrowful. He came with the wrong goal and attitude.

No, we must work with what we have been given in life. To do our best, with God's "help."

I must be doing something wrong. I love God very much, have devoted my life to doing his works.

Since having major depression since 13 - I don't believe that it is a matter of believing in the skill of the therapist, nor in the medications that are precribed... There are depressions that are untreatable... people just don't recognize it as such and say the "programmed response" - "God will help you", "treatment will make you better"...

I can see from your repsonse Sky and Sept... that we feel very differently on this subject.

As they say "walk a mile in my shoes first"...

[SeptemberMorn]

To each his own, I guess.

[WinterRose]

I'd like to add this thought. This has helped me better accept the Lord's will concerning my afflictions.

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"Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a "healing" cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are "healed" by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us. " Elder Dallin H. Oaks

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It may be hard to feel so at times, but I sometimes think that my afflictions have actually been a blessing for me. I'm still learning and developing because of them. They have brought precious people into my life. I have greater compassion and understanding for others. And sometimes, I even think that in some way I've been protected because of them, though I really can't explain that.

[(JD)]

((((freewill)))) I do understand and I think we are very close to how we think... I was where you are, and sometimes fall back into it...

But you are still here. God promises that nothing He gives us to endure is UNendurable... I'm still not where I can thank God for what I've been through, what I go through daily to live, but I am almost to a point of allowance?

I do not see depression any differently than I see, say a usual example, diabetes. We are humans and we suffer.

One of MY own quotes and standbys is "It isn't WHAT we go through, but HOW we go through it." This shows our level of faith.

Knowing that God is omnicient, omnipresent, omnipotent... gives me strength alone.

I hope your depression lifts some soon ((((freewill)))