About the Author

Bonnie Gray is the author of Sweet Like Jasmine, Whispers of Rest, wife, and mom to two boys. An inspirational speaker featured by Relevant Magazine and Christianity Today, she’s guided thousands to detox stress and experience God’s love through soul care, encouragement, and prayer. She loves refreshing your soul at...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bonnie,
    Though God has been faithful to bring me through many episodes with OCD and depression, I still fear them because they are, quite frankly, unbearable. Tortuous would also be a good word. Just this past week, God spoke to me through a beautiful friend, Donna, who I “met” here on (in)courage. She “gets” anxiety and depression and she lifted me up and encouraged me with her words and her prayers when I was going through a rough spell. We have vowed to be there for each other – to lift each other up in testimony and prayer. No only do we have friends in each other, but what a friend we have in Jesus who is ALWAYS there when we call His name. He is the perfect LOVE that can drive out fear. Ironically, what I fear drives me to lean into, rely on, and depend upon the Lord. If I revere God, I have nothing to fear.
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • This morning I woke up with an old ‘happy’ hymn on my heart after going through days of anxiety and depending wholly upon God to get me safely and sanely through to the other side. How faithful He is!!!
      The words go like this:
      Jesus, hold my hand, I need thee every hour .
      Through this pilgrim land protect me by the power.
      Here my humble plea, oh Lord, look down on me.
      As I kneel in prayer, I know You’ll meet me there.
      Blessed Jesus hold my hand.
      My heart sings the above song this morning the same way we used to sing it at Campmeeting in my growing up years, with great joy, exhilaration, contentment, and peace while knowing full well that he which begun the good work in me is well able to complete it – and will.
      Blessings on this beautiful Sunday

    • Dear Bev
      I hear you n it’s hard not to fear
      I realize I need to Fear God more
      Hve you heard of
      Prevail Valentus slim roast coffee ,
      Immune drink , I read testimonies how it helped them with depression etc
      It’s s healthly coffee
      You can email me
      elveraneudorf@gmail.com
      Blessings

    • Dear Lord, continue to reassure this one with perfect peace as you, Holy Spirit rise up big and deliver and overtake this one’s affliction . Keep her assured of your faithfulness to her and her loved ones and me too. Thankyou for hearing our prayers , petitions, praises , for you are worthy of our praise, honor, and lifter of our heads. We love you Lord and Thankyou Father God for your goodness to us!nancy Horning

    • Bev, I too suffer from OCD which stemmed from PTSD over a traumatic brain injury my son endured. My doctor has helped me get through it and healing is slow but taking place. Your right, it is very hard to live daily with OCD. God has helped me have the courage to seek help. After months of trying on my own to beat it, I finally decided to try medication (Zoloft). It made a world of difference. Still the same person, but without the anxiety of OCD. The brain is an organ just like your liver, heart, etc. Sometimes it is out of balance. The medication balances you. Some people will tell you that you need to have more faith. I do believe, of course, that the Lord heals, but I also believe that sometimes he does it through modern medicine. The church needs to do a better job understanding mental illness. I will be praying for you.

      • John,
        I heard all those words, as well, from well meaning Christian friends – if I just had more faith….if I just prayed harder or read His Word more….Mental illness is not a spiritual flaw or a personality flaw. It is an illness. A diabetic needs insulin. You would not say to them, “You don’t need the medicine, just have more faith and you’ll be healed.” Amen that the church needs to do a much better job learning about and understanding mental illness and ministering to those who have it without judgment. Praying for you brother…so glad you are finding some relief!!
        Blessings,
        Bev

        • Bev,

          Praying for God to send healing to you. I understand your pain. Mental health is an illness. Sometimes medications can ease the pain and calm the person down. I’ve dealt with this some with my dad. I pray you get help soon.

          Blessings 🙂

    • so special to know God’s whispers that touch my heart spoke to yours this morning too, Sheila. have a wonderful day touched with rest.

  2. Hi Bonnie! Thanks for the encouragement this am. Your post left me thirsty for more of Jesus.
    The lyrics you included took me right into His presence and prepared my heart for worship 🙂

    • Hi Mo! so beautiful to hear Jesus whispering to your soul and the lyrics that brought me rest brought you into his arms too. sweet!

  3. Thank you so much for this. I have been dealing with my anxiety and stress for over a week & I need to give it ALL to GOD. Amen

    • dear debbie… thnx for sharing your prayer with us. dear Jesus, may your sweet, sweet voice whisper to Debbie the words her heart needs to feel your touch is near. give her heart the freedom to express all that’s inside her and hold her close to your very heartbeat, bringing calm right where she is. in your name, Amen.

  4. Bonnie! Thank you for your words of encouragement I really needed this today. I encountered a bat in my house and ever since ever time I am home I feel like I have to double check every coner in my home twice. I hate this fearful feeling. I kept telling myself self that the fear will go away soon. At least now I am sleeping through the night so it shows me that things are getting better but I hate feeling this fearful. I kept reading scriptures to reassure my strength in God but sometimes it does not feel like it. Thanks again for your words of encouragement.

    • hi faith douglas, sometimes strength unfolds on a journey, as we confide in how we feel – i sense a strength in you because you are vulnerable with how you really are. that is beautiful to me as i read your words. i’m sorry that bat flew in your house… that would unsettle me too! 🙂 now, in those moments you feel ruffled, imagine Jesus wrapping his arms around you and whispering, “I understand.”, shielding you with love, much affection and tenderness for you. thanks for sharing.

  5. Thank you, Bonnie. I started singing along in my head when I read the lyrics – a beautiful song to have going through my mind. 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a gentle description of the fear of the Lord…grateful for your perspective. Reminds me of the line from Amazing Grace: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved…” Precious truth to cling to.

  6. The truth is, we are not in control of what shapes and guides our hearts. But, God is.
    I love this! My biggest fear I think is that I have blown it! Thank you for the reminder that He guides His people and will bring them to a safe shore.

    • Bonnie,
      I follow your blog faithfully and am so happy to see this post from you! I too am going through a season of much change, hope, and fear as well….and I can relate to everything you share here. I just want to tell you how necessary your message is and how brave you are for living it out and sharing it with us! It is always a joy to hear from you. You are a treasure, and you are always in my heart and prayers! Many blessings to you!

  7. Bonnie, I am so grateful to the Lord for these generous words that you wrote 🙂 He is so good and merciful to each of us as we travels these roads, taking each baby step of surrender to His will. That is a fearful thing to our flesh and the Lord is so patient with us. Ps 118:16 says “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” I think about your words that mirror this and this beautiful Proverbs scripture and what do we, do I, have to be afraid of? Praying for every person who lives in tortuous fear, that we all know the grace of complete and utter surrender to Jesus, who loves us so much 🙂

  8. Bonnie,

    ‘Jesus alone knows what lies ahead. He will teach and guide us the way to go’. I used to fear the future. Not knowing what would happen with my aging parents and work drove me a little crazy. Now I’ve learned to trust God and pray fervently. No more worrying just praying. I know God is in control.

    Blessings 🙂

  9. ‘Greatly appreciate the way you named your fears, Bonnie. Got me to thinking: in naming my fears I can more readily see how puny they are compared to our God. He is indeed bigger than any problem! And scripture is full of affirmations I can use to fight against fear. Thank you for this faith-building post!