"I felt renewed and restored"

“During the first lockdown there was a week when my thoughts and emotions went to a really low place.

I started to struggle with thoughts like: you are not good at anything, you should stop being a pastor, you are not doing a good job as a mum, you have no real friends…I started to feel far away from God and overwhelmed.

But then while I was trying to pray I had a very strong sense that Jesus was with me and that he was saying: please tell someone how you feel. So I did. And the low mood/circular thoughts broke immediately. My emotional isolation was broken down by the love and light of a Jesus believing community.

I was leading an online small group (POD) at that time and as I shared with them, they started to pray for me and send me messages and Bible verses. I also told a few other friends and they prayed for me from a distance. I was so comforted and encouraged by the Lord through these things but then to my amazement, people who I hadn’t told started to write me cards, text messages and bring gifts to my house. Their messages directly spoke about each thought I had been having. I believe these were prophetic acts by those people even if they didn’t realise it at the time…I certainly told them about it!

Jesus was so kind to me and after I responded to what he said, I felt renewed and restored.”

Lesley