Just recently I met Angel! She discovered that I was doing a series on depression and she sent me a link to her website and a video with her testimony. Her story touched my heart and I’m excited to share it with you. I’m also thrilled to share her website. My new friend Angel has a heart for hurting people who struggle.  She has created a website for writers to share their stories and a home for broken people to come visit and rest for awhile.  I love this ladies heart.  I look forward to spending time with Angel as we both continue to provide opportunities for writers to share their stories.  I’m drawn to Angels love for Christ and I am sure you will be too!  Be sure to check out her video at the end of this post!!!

Hello. My name is Angel, and I am so glad to meet you. I really am nobody special, just a servant of Christ with a testimony that He can transform lives.

My life is full now – not perfect, but abundant. I have a wonderful husband of 12 years and a daughter who will be turning 4 years old next month. She is a whole other testimony. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to share that story with you too.

Isn’t it amazing how little by little, though the days don’t really seem to change that much, as you look back after the process of time everything has changed.

I now have joy and peace. When I talk about my past self, it doesn’t really even feel like that was me. I am no longer that person. I no longer battle severe depression. The change? My surrender to God.

Is depression a sin? No. But what we do as an outlet for our pain may be. If we turn to other things instead of allowing God to help us, then this could be a problem.

I believe that sometimes we don’t really want to ask Him to take our issues – not because we don’t believe that He can take them and change us, but because we know that He will take those things and we will have to be different. We fear this without even realizing it.

If we will just trust Him, He will bring purpose from our pain. He will make a way of escape and what the enemy meant for defeat, God will use for victory.

And if we trust Him, open up to Him and ask Him sincerely for help, He will offer us a solution (and of course this will be different for each of us).

What I went through with my issues, and self-harm, now has purpose and it has allowed me to relate to others as they struggle with their issues. I have found that most outlets people use to try to “ease the pain” are self-destructive in nature (i.e. drugs, alcohol, sex, food/eating disorders). And as I have seen others hurting, I have been burdened for them. I used to be where they are.

My vision is to see others set free from spiritual strongholds. And this is where Vision61 was birthed.

Vision61 has two foundational scriptures:

Isaiah 61:1-3

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.”

…and also Galatians 6:1

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

It is not God’s will that we live oppressed and depressed. And we are not meant to fight our battles alone. Vision61 exists to build community and support.

We are here to restore, encourage and hold each other accountable. We are here to love one another without judgment. We are here to recover those who have been held captive by hurts, habits, addictions, and other self-destructive behaviors. We are here to share the good news and to testify that there is a Hope. Despite ourselves, Jesus loves us anyway. His love is without condemnation. He is our Hope. And through Him we are made overcomers.

Angel’s website – http://www.vision61.com/

Angel’s testimony