If you are like so many others who suffer from debilitating depression, wouldn’t you like to read a devotional book authored by someone who has experienced a depressive illness themselves, instead of authored by someone who has never experienced it? Would you like the book to document examples based upon one’s own personal experience with depression and their trials in the world, rather than theories about the subject matter?

I have personally been through a lot of tragedy in my lifetime, as well as my fair share of trials and infirmities, but through the years I have learned a valuable lesson about grace. Grace is a human trait few have accepted within themselves, because as humans we believe in offering grace to others, just not so much offering it to ourselves.

Today I want you to see yourself as you really are, with faults and imperfections, and accept yourself as the Creator would have you accept others unconditionally and without prejudice. When we accept ourselves as human and imperfect we can then love deeply and fully without prejudice toward the human race; our sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles, etc. throughout the earth.

We are all interconnected by a spirit that the Creator gave to us. It is the one thing that unites us together in peace, love, and harmony. When we are not in harmony with ourselves, we are not in harmony with the world; therefore we are not in harmony with the spirit beings of this world. We will feel foreign to our birthplace and our rite of passage to live authentically will be taken away.

It’s time to accept ourselves, faults, imperfections and all. I have noticed all too often that people, in a desperate attempt to feel superior, will attack a seemingly harmless individual who is meek and passive, all in a desperate attempt to create the façade that they are perfect and without fault.

It is most of the human race that creates this unfortunate behavioral pattern that in turn causes much turmoil in our world. We live not in peace because we are too busy surrounding ourselves and others with a phony canvas of ourselves, a canvas that is artfully colored with vibrancy and creativity, while tragically being painted over again and again with the brush of deception.

Be true to yourselves, creatures of the Creator, and fear not your uniqueness and vibrancy of authenticity. Care not the scared spirits who waltz about in desperate attempt to appear superior to you. It is those unfortunate beings that need to learn grace…not just for others, but grace for themselves.

Take heart, my fellow spirits of the great Creator above. You are not alone, nor are you less superior than your counterparts, but rather above in the sense that you see the world and all that is in it with clarity of mind and spirit. You are not blind to deception or the façade that humans tend to weave. If you were blind, you probably would not be reading this book! Most depressed individuals are perceptive about the world and the people in it. The problem is too much darkness has come in, and you need to learn to switch your focus a bit so the light can come back!

Therefore, my friends, go forth in the world and love with grace. Show kindness to all those who are meek, passive, and troubled down by burdens of spirit and mind. Do not show partiality to those who seem to have their lives in a neat little package, but show impartiality to those who have afflictions, both mentally and physically, because you are but human as they are and no different.

You have the same weaknesses as all human creation. Who knows what tomorrow might bring to us all? Therefore, live in grace, as you would have others see you through the eyes of grace. Love and grace—it is the way of peace.

This book was written to encourage you mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. It was written, not for fame or glory on my part, but rather to help those who have been through difficult trials in their lives. My hope for this writing is to help those most in need of knowing God’s grace and mercy.

Whether you are experiencing depression, loss of a loved-one or are just in need of encouragement, this book offers hope and compassion to the hurting in spirit. I may not know all the answers, but I do know that through our darkest hours, God is with us! Through our coldest spiritual walk, God is there!

Take encouragement as you read this book. I understand sadness, depression, and spiritual sorrows and physical infirmities. I ask that the Lord our God blesses you, uplifts you, and encourages you with the words in this book. I also ask that he guides my hand so my words will be a blessing to all who read it.