Know that God loves you and is for you! He is the Father who comforts you and encourages you. He wants to heal your broken heart. He isn’t counting your sins. He doesn’t even remember them since His Son, Jesus came and died in your place. Now you and the Father are reconciled and you can never be separated from His love again. He’s waiting for you to come home to Him.

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking (reverently) and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened.
   Matthew 7:7,8

Past Questions of the Month:

Hope and Assurance

This website was created for those acquainted with mental illness and in need of hope and assurance.

Question of the Month

How can I help my daughter overcome a critical and perfectionistic attitude which is often directed at me?

Sometimes what our daughters need help with, we do too. Because we can only give what we have, the best way we can help our children is usually to help ourselves first.

Think about your greatest emotional needs as a child. What did you desire the most from your parents but never receive? Unconditional love? A belief in your goodness?

Whatever it may be, you are probably still looking for that today, to some degree, as an adult.

Then, think about what you would have given anything to hear your parents say and do because it would have meant the world to you.

These are probably the same words and actions that you find difficult or impossible to give because no one gave them to you.

Begin helping your daughter by giving them to yourself. Tell yourself the things you have longed to hear for so long. They may sound something like these:

…I am not a bad person….I am good…. I am worthy of love and worthy of having good things… I am beautiful… I am intelligent and strong… I can do what needs to be done… I can make the changes in my life that will help me and my family… I don’t have to punish myself any longer… I can forgive myself for the mistakes I have made and let myself be free from guilt… I have done the best I know to do… I will stop expecting myself to be perfect and measure up to someone else’s expectations… No one should expect anyone to be anything but their unique and beautiful self... I love myself just the way I am and am glad to be me… I will stop trying to please others and begin doing kind and loving things for myself…I will treat myself with great respect and show myself mercy when I fail…I will speak to myself as a dearly loved friend…

Know that God loves and cherishes you and wants to work out everything for your good. He is the Perfect Parent whom we can trust to give us everything we need whether it be emotional, physical, or spiritual. Then we will be equipped to give our children what they need from us.

Contact

I welcome your comments and suggestions about this website. If you have a question that you would like addressed, please let me hear from you.

My email address is carolyn@hopeandassurance.com.