Announcer:
HOPE-INSPIRING INSIGHTS
FROM A DOCTOR'S PERSONAL
JOURNEY THROUGH DEPRESSION.
>> BUT WE BUY
INTO THE LIES.
WHEN I WAS GOING
THROUGH DEPRESSION
I FELT SUCH SHAME
BECAUSE I WAS THE DOCTOR.
I WAS SUPPOSED
TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS
AND YET I WENT THROUGH IT.
SO I THOUGHT,
I'M A FRAUD.
THEN I THOUGHT, WELL,
I MUST BE JOY IMMUNE
AND I'M ALWAYS GOING
TO BE THIS WAY BECAUSE
MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS THAT WAY.
Sheila: JOY IMMUNE? THAT'S
AN INTERESTING PHRASE. WOW!
>> BUT I BOUGHT IT.
I BELIEVED IT.
Announcer:
DR. MICHELLE BENGSTON NEXT!
♪
Sheila: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!
I'M HERE TODAY
WITH RANDY ROBISON
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE.
JAMES AND BETTY HAVE WORKED
INCREDIBLY HARD OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS,
VERY PASSIONATELY CARING ABOUT
OUR NATION SO WE SAID TO THEM,
"YOU KNOW WHAT GUYS?
YOU NEED A NIGHT OFF.
YOU NEED TO STAY HOME
AND PUT YOUR FEET UP."
I WAS PARTICULARLY THRILLED
WHEN I REALIZED THAT THIS
GUEST WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
HER NAME IS
DR. MICHELLE BENGSTON
AND HER BOOK IS CALLED
HOPE PREVAILS.
HERE'S WHY IT FASCINATED ME,
"INSIGHTS FROM
A DOCTOR'S PERSONAL JOURNEY
THROUGH DEPRESSION."
WOULD YOU PLEASE
WELCOME OUR GUEST?
[Cheers & applause]
EVERY NOW AND AGAIN
I GET THE OPPORTUNITY
TO READ A LOT, WE BOTH DO,
AND I LOVE THAT.
BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN
I GET A CHANCE,
A BOOK COMES ACROSS MY PATH
THAT I THINK
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
OF THIS BOOK
REALLY SHIFTING MY LIFE,
REALLY CHANGING MY LIFE.
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
SEVERE CLINICAL DEPRESSION
PROBABLY 30 YEARS AGO.
I WAS HOSPITALIZED
FOR A MONTH.
AND SO WHEN I SAW
THE BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION
OF YOU AS A DOCTOR
BUT AS A FELLOW STRUGGLER
I WAS FASCINATED.
WOULD YOU GIVE US
A LITTLE BACK STORY
TO HOW YOU CAME TO WRITE THIS?
Michelle: NOBODY WANTS
TO WRITE A BOOK ON DEPRESSION.
NOBODY WANTS THAT
TO BE THEIR MISSION FIELD
BUT I BELIEVE GOD GIVES BEAUTY
FOR ASHES.
AND PART OF THAT
IS IN SHARING MY STORY,
I AM A DOCTOR, AND I'VE
TREATED PATIENTS FOR 25 YEARS
WHO HAVE GONE
THROUGH DEPRESSION.
BUT THEN WHEN I CAME DOWN
WITH IT MYSELF AND I TRIED
THE SAME RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT I'D GIVEN TO MY PATIENTS,
AND THEY HELPED
BUT THEY WERE INSUFFICIENT,
THAT'S WHEN MY WORLD
REALLY SHIFTED.
Sheila: WHAT WOULD YOU
NORMALLY HAVE RECOMMENDED
FOR SOMEBODY WHO WAS
STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION?
Michelle: WELL, FIRST LINE
OF TREATMENT TYPICALLY
IS THERAPY AND/OR MEDICATION.
AND I DID BOTH.
BUT IT'S ALSO
TAKING CARE OF YOUR TEMPLE;
LOOKING AT YOUR SLEEP HABITS
AND YOUR DIET
AND YOUR EXERCISE.
I TRIED ALL THOSE THINGS
AND THEY DID HELP
BUT THEY WEREN'T ENOUGH
TO ERADICATE THE PROBLEM.
Randy: WHAT WAS MISSING?
Michelle: ADDRESSING
THE SPIRITUAL COMPONENT
OF DISEASE.
REALLY LOOKING AT THE FACT
THAT JOHN 10:10 SAYS
WE HAVE AN ENEMY WHO SEEKS
TO STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY.
BUT THE SECOND HALF
OF THAT VERSE IS:
BUT I HAVE COME
THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE
AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.
WHEN I WAS DEPRESSED I HAD
ANYTHING BUT THE FULL LIFE.
THE ENEMY HAD STOLEN
SO MUCH FROM MY FAMILY.
I GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD
WHERE MY MOTHER WAS DEPRESSED
THE WHOLE TIME
THAT I WAS GROWING UP,
AND HER MOTHER WAS DEPRESSED,
AND HER AUNT WAS DEPRESSED.
BUT WE DIDN'T CALL IT THAT
BACK THEN;
IT WAS JUST THE WAY SHE WAS.
Randy: HOW PROMINENT IS THIS?
I KNOW BOTH OF YOU
HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT I'VE DEALT WITH,
THANKFULLY.
IS THIS FAIRLY COMMON?
Michelle: IT IS SO COMMON
THAT BY 2020 IT'S GOING TO BE
OUR GREATEST EPIDEMIC
WORLDWIDE.
GREATER THAN HEART DISEASE,
GREATER THAN CANCER,
GREATER THAN DIABETES
ALL PUT TOGETHER.
Sheila: FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE
AS A DOCTOR,
BUT NOT JUST AS A DOCTOR,
AS A BELIEVER, WHY DO YOU
THINK THE STATISTICS --
WHY DO YOU THINK
IT IS GETTING MORE
AND MORE AND MORE?
Michelle: PART OF IT IS
BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE BUYING
INTO SOCIETY, CULTURE.
PART OF IT IS
WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER
AND COMPARING OURSELVES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST
TRAPS THE ENEMY HAS
IS IF HE WILL GET US TO TAKE
OUR EYES OFF OF THE FATHER
AND ON TO EVERYBODY ELSE
AND COMPARE OURSELVES.
COMPARISON IS
THE THIEF OF JOY.
SO WHEN WE DO THAT
WE LOSE OUR JOY.
BUT WE BUY INTO THE LIES.
THERE ARE SO MANY LIES THAT
ARE PERPETUATED IN OUR HEAD
FROM THE ENEMY.
WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH
DEPRESSION I FELT SUCH SHAME
BECAUSE I WAS THE DOCTOR.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS
AND YET I WENT THROUGH IT.
SO I THOUGHT I'M A FRAUD.
THEN I THOUGHT, I MUST BE
JOY IMMUNE AND I'M ALWAYS
GOING TO BE THIS WAY BECAUSE
MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS THAT WAY.
Sheila: JOY IMMUNE?
THAT'S AN INTERESTING PHRASE.
WOW!
Michelle: BUT I BOUGHT IT.
I BELIEVED IT.
INSTEAD OF BELIEVING
WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT
I'M MORE THAN AN OVERCOMER,
I'M VICTORIOUS
IN CHRIST JESUS,
I'M AN HEIR TO THE THRONE.
IT WAS ONLY WHEN I STARTED
TRANSPLANTING THOSE LIES
WITH GOD'S TRUTH THAT
THE DIFFERENCE CAME ABOUT.
Sheila: WALK US THROUGH THAT
A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE I'M IMAGINING
SOMEONE SITTING AT HOME
AND MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN
ON MEDICATION FOR AWHILE
AND THEY WOULD LONG TO BE FREE
BUT THEY THINK, WELL,
OKAY, I'LL JUST READ
A COUPLE OF VERSES AND I'LL
STOP TAKING MY MEDICATION.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?
Michelle: OH, BUT IT IS NOT
JUST READING THE VERSES,
IT IS BELIEVING THEM.
FAITH COMES BY HEARING
AND SO FOR ME
IT WAS THE MATTER OF
I WOULD WRITE DOWN
THE SCRIPTURE VERSES.
THIS CAME ABOUT
WHEN I WENT THROUGH
A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS
AND I WAS SICK
AND I WAS UNABLE TO WORK
SO I THOUGHT WHAT GOOD AM I?
INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING
THAT MY WORTH DOESN'T COME
FROM WHAT I DO BUT WHOSE I AM.
SO I WOULD
WRITE DOWN SCRIPTURE
ON A POST-IT NOTE
AND PUT IT NEXT TO MY BED SO
WHEN I WOULD SEE IT I WOULD
SAY IT OUT LOUD BECAUSE
FAITH COMES BY HEARING.
THEN I WOULD WRITE DOWN
THE NEXT SCRIPTURE
AND THE NEXT.
BY THE END
I HAD OVER 100 SCRIPTURES
PLASTERED ON MY WALLS
SO THAT EVERY TIME I SAW THEM
I WAS RECITING
WHAT THE FATHER SAYS ABOUT ME
INSTEAD OF BELIEVING
WHAT THE ENEMY SAYS ABOUT ME.
Sheila: YOU KNOW
WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT THAT
IS I'VE BEEN STUDYING
EPHESIANS SIX,
ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL ARMOR.
AND WHEN IT CAME TO TAKING OUT
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD,
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK
AT THE GREEK THERE
THE WORD FOR SWORD
IS ACTUALLY A DAGGER.
IT IS TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL
HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT.
AND FOR THE WORD OF GOD,
IT DOESN'T MEAN
THE WHOLE BIBLE.
IT IS ACTUALLY TALKING
ABOUT PROMISES IN THE BIBLE.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE
OUR GREAT DEFENSE IS KNOWING
THESE SPECIFIC PROMISES
TO ATTACK WHEN THE ENEMY
COMES AGAINST US.
Michelle: ABSOLUTELY!
RIGHT DOWN TO THE PROMISE THAT
NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME
SHALL PROSPER.
I USE THAT ONE EVERY DAY!
Randy: LET ME ASK
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE.
FIRST OF ALL,
WHAT KIND OF A DOCTOR ARE YOU?
I DON'T WANT TO GUESS.
Michelle: I'M A CLINICAL
NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST.
SO I EVALUATE PATIENTS TO SEE
WHAT MIGHT BE GOING WRONG
IN THEIR BRAIN FUNCTIONING
AND ARRIVE AT A DIAGNOSIS AND
THEN GIVE A TREATMENT PLAN.
Randy: SO IF I UNDERSTAND
DEPRESSION CORRECTLY, WHICH
IS A BIT OF A PRESUMPTION,
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
JUST HEY, I'VE BEEN
COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS
AND SO I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD
ABOUT MYSELF VERSUS SOMETHING
THAT IS PHYSIOLOGICALLY
GOING ON IN THE BRAIN,
A SHORTAGE OF CERTAIN THINGS
IN THE BODY CHEMICALS
OR WHATEVER THAT CAUSED
A DEPRESSION THAT ONE CAN'T
GET OUT OF ON THEIR OWN?
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOT?
Michelle: WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
YOU DON'T DECIDE.
YOU GO SEE A DOCTOR.
DON'T LEAVE SELF-DIAGNOSIS.
Sheila: DON'T GET THE WOMAN
OUT OF A JOB.
[Laughter]
Michelle: NO, THERE ARE --
YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT,
RANDY, AND THAT IS THERE
ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES
OF CONTRIBUTORS TO DEPRESSION.
SOMETIMES IT IS BIOCHEMICAL;
THERE IS CHEMISTRY
IN THE BRAIN
THAT CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION.
BUT SOME OF THE TIMES
IT IS REACTIVE
FROM A MEDICAL CONDITION.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD HAVE
A THYROID DISORDER
OR A VITAMIN DEFICIENCY
AND THAT CONTRIBUTES.
SOME OF THE TIME IT COMES
BECAUSE OF THE LIFE STRESSES
THAT WE GO THROUGH.
WE GO THROUGH
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
AND THAT LEADS
AND CONTRIBUTES TO DEPRESSION.
BUT ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME
THERE IS A SPIRITUAL
COMPONENT AS WELL
AND THAT'S THE PART
THAT I DON'T THINK DOCTORS
ARE REALLY ADDRESSING.
I DIDN'T WITH MY OWN PATIENTS
UNTIL I WENT
THROUGH IT MYSELF.
ONCE I WENT THROUGH IT MYSELF
AND I REALIZED THE POWER
THAT'S WHEN THINGS
STARTED TO CHANGE.
Sheila: LET ME JUST ASK YOU
TO UNPACK THAT FURTHER.
WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
LIKE WHEN YOU BEGAN TO THINK,
OKAY, I'VE TRIED
THE MEDICATION,
I'VE TRIED TO EAT BETTER,
I'VE TRIED TO SLEEP,
I'VE TRIED TO EXERCISE
AND IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH,
HOW DID YOU BEGIN
AND WHEN DID YOU BEGIN TO SEE
A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE?
Michelle: IT WAS
WHEN A DEAR FRIEND
SENT ME A VERSE OUT OF ISAIAH.
I WAS GOING IN FOR SURGERY
THE NEXT DAY
AND I WAS REALLY HOPELESS.
I THOUGHT THIS IS MY LIFE?
LIKE IF THIS IS MY LIFE
I DON'T WANT THIS.
SHE SENT ME A SCRIPTURE VERSE.
BUT SHEILA, A LOT OF PEOPLE
WILL GIVE YOU SCRIPTURE VERSES
WHEN YOU'RE GOING IN
FOR SURGERY
OR WHEN YOU'RE DEPRESSED
AND JUST SAY, "YOUR STRENGTH
IS IN THE LORD."
THAT, TO ME,
FELT LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE.
THAT TOLD ME
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
BUT THIS ONE FRIEND
GAVE ME A SCRIPTURE VERSE
OUT OF ISAIAH ABOUT "HE MAKES
THE CROOKED PATHS STRAIGHT
AND HE MAKES THE ROUGH PLAIN."
AND THAT WAS A VERSE
THAT I THOUGHT,
I NEED TO CLING TO THAT.
I NEED TO HOLD ON TO THAT.
BUT I ALSO KNEW HER HEART AND
I KNEW HER HEART WAS FOR ME
AND SHE WASN'T JUST
SLAPPING A BAND-AID ON IT.
BUT THAT WAS THE BEGINNING.
I THOUGHT, THAT'S A VERSE
I NEED TO CLING TO.
THEN HE WOULD GIVE ME
OTHER VERSES.
SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE IN SONG.
IN MY BOOK I HAVE
A PLAY LIST OF MUSIC
AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON
BECAUSE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN
I COULDN'T VERBALLY PRAISE,
I JUST WASN'T THERE.
I WAS TOO DEPRESSED --
BUT I COULD IN SONG.
AND THE ENEMY WILL FLEE.
Sheila: I LOVE THAT BECAUSE
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
HIS ORIGINAL NAME WAS LUCIFER.
HE WAS HEAD OF THE CHERUBIM;
HE WAS THE NUMBER ONE
WORSHIP ANGEL.
ONE THEOLOGIAN SAID
HE WAS LITERALLY
A WALKING ORCHESTRA.
BUT WHEN WE BEGIN TO PRAISE...
AND I DO THE SAME THING,
I HAVE A WORSHIP PLAY LIST.
I PLAYED IT IN MY CAR
ON THE WAY HERE.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU
TO COME TO A PLACE OF SAYING,
OKAY, I KNOW HOW TO DO
THIS BATTLE AND MAYBE
I DON'T NEED THIS MEDICATION?
Michelle: IT TOOK
PROBABLY NINE MONTHS
BECAUSE IT IS A LONG PROCESS.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT IS A MATTER
OF RENEWING YOUR MIND.
IT IS A MATTER OF TAKING
EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
AND BRINGING INTO OBEDIENCE.
Sheila: HOW DO YOU DO THAT
BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN THAT VERSE
SINCE I WAS LIKE
FIVE YEARS OLD,
"TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE"
AND IT IS LIKE,
HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
Michelle: IT'S A MATTER OF
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MOMENT
AND YOU'RE FEELING THAT WAY,
ASKING YOURSELF,
WHAT AM I LISTENING TO?
WHAT AM I BELIEVING?
THEN ASKING THE LORD,
IS THIS FROM YOU?
IF IT IS NOT, THEN WHAT
IS THE COUNTER TO THAT?
INSTEAD OF HEARING
"I AM WORTHLESS,"
HE SAYS "I AM WORTHY."
BUT IT IS A MATTER OF
REALLY LISTENING
TO YOUR THOUGHTS
AND FIGURING OUT WHERE ARE
THESE THOUGHTS COMING FROM?
BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T
LINE UP WITH SCRIPTURE
THEN THEY'RE COMING
FROM ANOTHER PLACE
BUT THERE IS SCRIPTURE
TO DO BATTLE.
Sheila: BECAUSE CHRIST SAYS
THERE IS NO -- ROMANS 8:1,
THERE IS NOW THEREFORE
NO CONDEMNATION
TO THOSE IN CHRIST.
SO ANY CONDEMNATION
HAS NOT COME FROM THE FATHER.
HE BRINGS CONVICTION
WHICH BRINGS YOU CLOSER
TO THE LORD
BUT NOT CONDEMNATION.
Michelle: BUT IT IS HARD WORK.
YOU ASKED HOW LONG IT TAKES.
IT IS HARD WORK.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASSAGES
IN THE BIBLE IS WHERE JESUS
IS TALKING TO THE LAME MAN
AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA.
AND HE SAYS,
"DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?"
PART OF THE REASON
HE ASKED THAT
IS BECAUSE IT IS WORK.
HE HAD TO DO WORK.
ONCE HE WAS NO LONGER LAME,
HE HAD TO GET A JOB.
HE HAD TO GET A NEW IDENTITY.
Randy: THAT CAN BE DEPRESSING.
[Laughter]
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE OTHER SIDE
OF DEPRESSION IS?
WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME IF I SAY,
I'M GOING TO DO THE WORK?
...OTHER THAN GETTING OFF
SOME MEDS?
DOES IT REALLY IMPROVE?
Michelle: IT BRINGS JOY.
IT BRINGS JOY.
Randy: SO YOU'RE NOT
JOY IMMUNE?
Michelle: NO, I'M NOT
BUT IT WAS A LIE I BELIEVED
BUT I'M NOT.
Sheila: DO YOU FEEL
THAT'S SOMETHING
YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY,
"OKAY, THIS STOPS WITH ME"?
YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR MOM
AND YOU TALKED
ABOUT YOUR GRANDMOTHER
AND SUDDENLY SAID,
"I'M NOT PASSING THIS ON."
Michelle: AND THAT WAS PART
OF THE REASON I DECIDED
IT WAS WORTH DOING THE WORK
BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO STOP
IN MY GENERATION.
I HAVE TWO SONS.
SATAN IS NOT GOING TO TAKE
ANYTHING FROM MY CHILDREN.
IT STOPS HERE.
Sheila: I LOVE THAT!
I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC!
[Applause]
Randy: IT'S BIGGER
THAN I REALIZED.
I'M JUST CURIOUS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE SPOKEN
TO A LOT OF WOMEN
OVER THE YEARS
AND YOU STILL CONTINUE
TO GO OUT AND SPEAK
EVEN AS YOU'RE MINISTERING
WITH US HERE.
DO YOU FIND THIS COMES UP?
Sheila: YOU KNOW
WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING,
JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
I WAS SPEAKING
AT A VERY LARGE
WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.
IT WAS WONDERFUL,
AND TWO OR THREE OTHER FRIENDS
WERE THERE.
I DID SOMETHING
AT THE END OF MY MESSAGE
WHICH I'VE NEVER DONE
IN MY LIFE.
IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN
I GOT IN THE CAR THAT MORNING
I FELT, I'VE NEVER HEARD
THE AUDIBLE VOICE OF GOD
BUT I FELT AS IF GOD SAID,
"I HAVE A NEW ASSIGNMENT
FOR YOU."
I SAID, "YES, LORD."
AND I DIDN'T KNOW
UNTIL I WAS 35 MINUTES
INTO MY MESSAGE WHAT IT WAS.
SO I LOOKED OUT AT THIS CROWD
OF LIKE 8,000 WOMEN
AND SAID, "IF ANY OF YOU
HAVE EVER CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE
OR IF YOU'RE A CUTTER
OR IF YOU'RE PLAGUED
WITH THOUGHTS OF DEATH,
I WANT YOU TO COME JOIN ME
AT THE FRONT BECAUSE
I'VE BEEN PLAGUED WITH IT
ALL MY LIFE.
AT 18 YEARS OLD
I STOOD ON THE TOP
OF A RAILWAY BRIDGE
AND ALL I COULD HEAR
WAS THE THOUGHT
OF JUST JUMP! JUMP!"
MY HUSBAND TOLD ME LATER,
HE SAID, "WHEN YOU STARTED
DOING THAT," HE THOUGHT,
"SHE'S LOST HER MARBLES.
WE KNEW IT WAS COMING
BUT NOBODY IS GOING
TO COME FORWARD."
DO YOU KNOW
THAT OVER 500 WOMEN
CAME TO THE FRONT?
-- FROM 15 TO 75.
I THOUGHT, LORD,
THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT NEEDS TO SHIFT HERE.
Michelle: WELL,
BY 2020 IT IS GOING TO BE
OUR GREATEST EPIDEMIC
WORLDWIDE.
SO IF SOMEONE HAS NOT
GONE THROUGH IT THEMSELVES
THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER
OR A FRIEND WHO IS
GOING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW.
Randy: HOW DO YOU SPOT IT?
IS IT SOMETHING YOU CAN SPOT
EARLY IN A LOVED ONE
AND INTERVENE?
Michelle: SOMETIMES
IT IS THE FAMILY MEMBER
WHO SPOTS IT FIRST
BEFORE WE DO.
BUT I THINK
WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT
TO KEEP IN MIND
IS THAT IT DOESN'T MANIFEST
THE SAME WITH EVERYBODY.
FOR SOME IT COMES ACROSS
AS IRRITABILITY
AND AGITATION AND FRUSTRATION.
OTHERS ARE WEEPING
AND THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF BED.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT
FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT SOMETIMES IT IS THE FRIEND
OR FAMILY MEMBER
THAT SPOTS IT FIRST
AND THEY CAN BE CRUCIAL
IN HELPING THEM GET HELP.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE
SO DEPRESSED THAT
YOU'RE DOWN IN THAT PIT,
SOMETIMES YOU NEED SOMEONE
TO REACH DOWN A HAND
AND PULL YOU UP.
Sheila: I THINK
OF THAT SCRIPTURE
WHERE IT SAYS: DO NOT
BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD
BUT BE TRANSFORMED
BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND.
SOMETIMES IT IS EASY
TO LEARN SCRIPTURE VERSES
AND NOT THINK,
WELL WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE
IN MY DAILY LIFE?
I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU
STARTED COPYING OUT VERSES
AND JUST PASTING THEM
EVERYWHERE.
IT IS KIND OF LIKE
YOUR OWN LITTLE WAR ROOM;
YOU KNOW
PRISCILLA SHIRER'S MOVIE.
Michelle: IT WAS ALL UP
AGAINST MY WALLS.
IT WAS DOWN MY DOORS.
IT WAS ON MY MIRRORS.
IT WAS ON MY DASHBOARD.
IT WAS EVERYWHERE.
BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
Sheila: IF ONE PERSON
STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION
WITHIN THE FAMILY,
DOES IT AFFECT
THE WHOLE FAMILY UNIT?
Michelle: IT DOES.
NOT THAT EVERYONE
IN THE FAMILY UNIT
WILL EXPERIENCE IT THEMSELVES
BUT THEY'RE IN THAT MILIEU
AND SO IT IS GOING TO AFFECT.
AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT
BECAUSE SOMETIMES
THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS JUST
WANT TO SHAKE YOU AND SAY,
"PULL UP YOUR BOOT STRAPS!"
IT'S NOT THAT EASY.
NOBODY WANTS TO BE DEPRESSED.
NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE THIS WAY.
WHAT THEY NEED IS LOVE
AND UNDERSTANDING.
Sheila: YOU TALK ABOUT,
IT'S REALLY LIKE A ROAD MAP
THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED
IN THIS BOOK, WHICH IS
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE.
IT'S VERY PRACTICAL.
AND AT THE END
OF EACH CHAPTER
YOU REALLY DO GIVE
VERY PRACTICAL STEPS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY
IN A FEW MOMENTS
TO GET A HOLD OF
DR. BENGSTON'S BOOK
AND GET IT TO YOU.
BUT I THINK FOR SOMEBODY
WATCHING RIGHT NOW WHO THINKS,
I WANT TO BELIEVE THIS.
YOUR TITLE IS HOPE PREVAILS.
I WANT TO BELIEVE THIS
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO START.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?
Michelle: PICK UP THE BIBLE.
OPEN IT UP TO JEREMIAH 29:11.
IT SAYS: "FOR I KNOW THE PLANS
I HAVE FOR YOU,"
DECLARES THE LORD.
"PLANS TO PROSPER YOU
AND NOT TO HARM YOU.
PLANS FOR A FUTURE
AND A HOPE."
AND WRITE THAT DOWN
AND RECITE IT
THREE TIMES A DAY OUT LOUD
UNTIL YOU BELIEVE IT.
Sheila: THERE IS
SOMETHING ABOUT --
I DO THAT AS A DAILY PRACTICE.
DAILY -- WHEN I GET UP
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
BEFORE I DO ANYTHING ELSE,
PSALM 143, VERSE 8:
LET THE MORNING BRING ME WORD
OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE BECAUSE
I PLACE MY TRUST IN YOU.
SHOW ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO,
FOR TO YOU I ENTRUST MY LIFE.
THE THING I LOVE ABOUT THAT
IS "LET THE MORNING
BRING ME WORD
OF YOUR UNFAILING LOVE."
I'LL FAIL
BUT GOD WILL NEVER FAIL.
YOU'RE FACING A BIT
OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION
IN YOUR OWN FAMILY.
YOUR DARLING HUSBAND
IS ON MY HUSBAND
AND I'S PRAYER LIST.
WOULD YOU JUST SHARE A LITTLE
OF HOW WE AS A FAMILY
CAN PRAY FOR YOU GUYS?
Michelle: ABSOLUTELY.
INTERESTING
HOW THE ENEMY WORKS
BECAUSE THE DAY THAT
HOPE PREVAILS RELEASED
WAS THE DAY MY HUSBAND
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
SO WE'RE WALKING
THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
IT IS A DAILY CHOICE.
HE AND I TOGETHER SAY,
"NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU
SHALL PROSPER."
IT IS NOT GOD'S WILL THAT
YOU WILL BE IN ILL HEALTH
BUT THAT YOU WOULD BE HEALTHY
AND PROSPER EVEN AS
YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.
SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE PRAYERS
THAT WE WOULD SEE THAT.
Randy: SHALL WE PRAY NOW?
Sheila: LET'S JUST DO THIS.
I'M GOING TO ASK
OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE
AND THOSE OF YOU AT HOME,
WHAT'S YOUR HUSBAND'S NAME?
Michelle: SCOTT.
Sheila: FATHER,
WHAT AN HONOR IT IS
TO KNOW THAT AT ANY MOMENT,
BECAUSE OF THE FINISHED WORK
OF CHRIST WE CAN COME INTO
THE VERY THRONE ROOM
OF HEAVEN.
LORD, WE DO THAT RIGHT NOW
AS A FAMILY.
WE LIFT SCOTT UP TO YOU.
LORD, I ASK THAT
YOU WOULD TOUCH HIM
FROM THE TOP OF HIS HEAD
TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS FEET.
YOU CREATED HIM.
YOU CAN RECREATE HIM.
LORD, WE ASK
THAT FOR EVERY CELL
YOU WOULD BREATHE LIFE
AND HOPE AND HEALING.
I THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR MICHELLE.
I THANK YOU FOR THE WAY
THAT YOU HAVE DELIVERED HER
AND THE WAY THAT
SHE IS SHARING THAT WITH US.
BUT I ASK THAT YOU WOULD
PUT A HEDGE OF PROTECTION
AROUND THIS FAMILY
AS THEY BOLDLY STAND
AND YET KNEEL AT THE SAME TIME
AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
Randy: AND LORD,
I WANT TO ASK THAT
ALL THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING,
THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS
THINKING, IS THERE HOPE
FOR ME?
TOUCH THEIR HEARTS RIGHT NOW
AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YES,
THERE IS HOPE
AND THAT YOU ARE THEIR HOPE,
AND YOU ARE JUST WAITING
TO INTERVENE.
LORD, JUST YOUR WILL BE DONE
IN THE LIVES
OF EVERYONE WATCHING,
EVERYONE HERE.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR
MICHELLE'S WITNESS, HER WORK,
AND THE HOPE
THAT SHE IS SPREADING
AS SHE CONTINUES
EVEN IN SOME DARK SEASONS
IN HER LIFE. AMEN.
Michelle: THANK YOU.
Sheila: WE'RE GOING TO LOOK
FORWARD TO GIVING YOU THAT.
BUT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
THE DIFFERENCE
THAT YOU'VE MADE ALREADY;
HOW YOU'RE BRINGING HOPE
TO PLACES THAT LOOK
A LITTLE HOPELESS.
Randy: SHEILA, IT IS BY DOING
SOMETHING COUNTER-INTUITIVE.
IT IS BY CHANGING
THE THOUGHT PROCESS
BEHIND SOMETHING,
A SITUATION IN THE WORLD
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO I WANT TO POINT OUT
THE CONTRAST
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE
AND SORT OF THE ATTITUDES
THAT WE'RE HEARD
A LITTLE BIT HERE,
CERTAINLY WE'VE SEEN
IN THE WORLD
VERSUS THE ATTITUDE
THAT WE THINK IS GOD'S IDEA
OF THINGS BECAUSE
AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING HERE,
IT'S ABOUT SOMETIMES
GETTING THE MIND OF CHRIST
IN OUR OWN MINDS TO BE ABLE
TO FIND THAT SOLUTION.
SO I WANTED TO JUST
SET THAT UP JUST A BIT
AS WE WATCH THIS.
Jeanne: LET ME JUST TALK
ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION IN THIS CHILD.
THAT'S THE GOOD
THING ABOUT THIS;
THAT GOOD, REGULAR
FEEDINGS WITH THIS
WILL CHANGE THAT
FOR HER.
OTHERWISE, IF SHE KEEPS
GOING THE WAY SHE'S GOING,
SHE WILL BE HEADING TOWARD
THE MALNUTRITION CLINIC
AND WE ARE HERE
TO STOP THAT.
Announcer: THIS IS THE FACE
OF A LIFE WHO HAS BEEN SAVED;
THE FACE OF SOMEONE
WHO NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO REACH HER
GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.
AND SHE HAS SOME OF YOU
TO THANK FOR THAT.
THIS IS DIFFICULT
TO ACCEPT
BUT THERE ARE SOME
WHO ADVOCATE AN APPROACH
OF NON-INTERVENTION
WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD HUNGER
AND MALNUTRITION --
TO LET NATURE
TAKE ITS COURSE.
SIMPLY LET THEM DIE.
AT LIFE OUTREACH,
WE BELIEVE COMPASSION
FOR THESE CHILDREN
IS THE RIGHT CHOICE.
TOGETHER WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO PREVENT THE DEATHS
OF MILLIONS OF CHILDREN
BY HELPING PROVIDE
BASIC NEEDS ESSENTIAL
TO HUMAN LIFE.
BUT OUR WORK
IS FAR FROM OVER.
WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION
TO SUPPORT MISSION FEEDING
YOU LITERALLY HELP
SAVE LIVES
FROM THE RAVAGES
OF MALNUTRITION,
AND YOU ALSO SEND
THESE CHILDREN A MESSAGE
THAT THEY MATTER,
THEY'RE NOT
FORGOTTEN,
AND THEY HAVE
A FUTURE.
Sheila: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
BUT SOMETHING JUST ROSE UP
IN ME WHEN I HEARD THAT
PEOPLE WOULD SAY,
"LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE."
I SAY NO.
LET THE LOVE OF CHRIST
TAKE ITS COURSE
THROUGH THE BODY OF CHRIST.
WE ARE THERE
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THIS WORLD.
Randy: I'M GLAD
GOD DOESN'T TAKE AN ATTITUDE
OF NON-INTERVENTION IN MY LIFE
BECAUSE I WOULD BE
IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T TAKE AN
ATTITUDE OF NON-INTERVENTION.
WE THINK THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS COOL
OR FUN TO DO OR MAYBE NOBLE.
WE THINK THIS IS THE CALLING
OF CHRIST ON OUR LIVES
AS CHRISTIANS TO REACH OUT
AND TO SHARE HIS LIFE,
LITERALLY, HIS LOVE
WITH OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHAT'S MORE OBVIOUS
THAN PEOPLE WHO NEED FOOD?
LORD, GIVE US THIS DAY
OUR DAILY BREAD.
WE TAKE THAT AS A NICE
SPIRITUAL THING, AND IT IS,
DON'T GET ME WRONG,
BUT FOR THEM,
IT IS LITERAL.
THEY LITERALLY
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT.
SO THE QUESTION IS
WHAT WILL WE DO?
WE'VE MADE OUR DECISION
SO NOW THE QUESTION
IS PUT TO YOU,
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO JOIN US.
IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH.
A LITTLE BIT OF A SACRIFICE,
$30, $50, $100
ON THE LOWER END
WILL FEED THREE, FIVE,
OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THREE WHOLE MONTHS.
WE DO HAVE SOME
OF OUR FAITHFUL DONORS
WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER
AND SAID, "WE WILL DOUBLE
THAT GIFT IN IMPACT."
THEY'LL MATCH YOUR GIFT
SO GIVING TODAY
MAKES TWICE AS MUCH SENSE
AS ANY OTHER DAY.
BUT IT'S REALLY
ABOUT DOING SOMETHING.
IT IS ABOUT PARTICIPATING.
IT IS ABOUT ALL OF US
DOING WHAT WE CAN
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OF YOU
THAT THE WIDOW'S MITE
IS EVERYTHING
AND GOD KNOWS THAT,
WE KNOW THAT, AND
WE REJOICE IN THAT ABILITY.
FOR SOME OF YOU,
THE SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP
OF $1400 WHERE WE FEED
CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS,
WHICH IS A GREAT WAY
TO NOT JUST GIVE THEM FOOD
BUT TO TEACH THEM THE SKILLS
SO THAT THEY CAN BE
SELF-SUFFICIENT BECAUSE
WE'RE THINKING LONG TERM HERE.
SOME OF YOU, $1400 IS NOTHING.
SOME OF YOU CAN DOUBLE THAT,
TRIPLE THAT.
DO WHAT GOD
HAS ENABLED YOU TO DO.
I CAN PROMISE YOU,
HE'LL BLESS YOU
FOR SHARING HIS LIFE
AND HIS LOVE WITH OTHERS.
YOU CAN'T GO WRONG.
SO AS WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS,
AND WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT OUR OWN NEEDS.
I KNOW IT IS A BUSY TIME
IN OUR LIVES.
I JUST ASK YOU
TO TAKE THIS MOMENT,
THINK ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE.
JOIN WITH US,
GO TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW,
GO ONLINE
IF THAT'S HOW YOU GIVE,
THAT'S HOW I LIKE TO GIVE.
YOU CAN MAIL IT
IF YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE
DOING THAT.
I JUST WANT YOU
TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW
TO JOIN WITH US
AS WE REACH OUT
AND SAVE THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN ACROSS AFRICA.
AND WE ALSO SHARE
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
IN OUR ACTIONS
AS WE SHARE MISSION FEEDING.
Announcer: IN REMOTE
AND IMPOVERISHED VILLAGES
OF AFRICA
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING,
DESPERATELY IN NEED
OF LIFE-SAVING FOOD,
FACING DEATH
BY STARVATION.
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING
PROGRAM IS THERE,
READY NOW TO FEED
AND CARE FOR CHILDREN
IN CRISIS AREAS OF ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE, AND SUDAN.
WITH ALL OF OUR
PREVIOUS RESERVES GONE,
AND ANGOLA FACING
A RECORD FOOD SHORTAGE
DUE TO CROP FAILURE,
WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY
REPLENISH OUR FUNDING
AND SUPPLIES
FOR OUR FEEDING
PROGRAMS.
AS AN ANSWERED PRAYER,
A GROUP OF LIFE'S FRIENDS
HAVE SET A $400,000
MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE
FOR MISSION
FEEDING!
THIS MEANS YOUR GIFT TODAY
COULD HAVE A DOUBLE IMPACT!
$30 FOR
THREE CHILDREN
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO HELP FEED
SIX CHILDREN!
$50 TO HELP FEED
FIVE CHILDREN
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO SAVE TEN CHILDREN!
AND $100 FOR
TEN CHILDREN
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO HELP FEED
20 CHILDREN!
AND DON'T FORGET,
YOUR $1400 GIFT
TO SPONSOR A SCHOOL
WILL NOW BE DOUBLED
TO FEED CHILDREN
IN TWO SCHOOLS!
WITH YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'LL SEND YOU WITHOUT RIVAL
BY AUTHOR
LISA BEVERE.
WITH YOUR DOUBLE
IMPACT GIFT OF
$100 OR MORE
PLEASE REQUEST
THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED
CHILDREN'S BIBLE.
FINALLY,
PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1000,
WHICH WILL NOW
BE DOUBLED
TO HELP FEED
200 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR BEAUTIFUL MAJESTY
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY!
James: BETTY, YOU LOOK
AT THIS LONG LINE
AND BOY, IT GOES ALL
THE WAY BACK TO THE BIG
FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRUCK.
YOU STARTED PRAYING
YEARS AGO
THAT GOD WOULD MAKE THE LINE
TO FEED THE CHILDREN LONGER
THAN THE LINE
TO BE FED.
I THINK GOD'S
ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER.
Betty:
HE HAS, JAMES.
AT THE SAME TIME,
THE LINE GETS LONGER
SO WE NEED TO HELP
OUR LINE TO REACH THEM,
CONTINUE TO GROW
AND YOU TO REACH OUT MORE
BECAUSE I KNOW
YOU'RE BLESSED
AS YOU SEE THESE CHILDREN
BEING FED HERE.
LET'S DON'T
LET IT STOP.
LET'S KEEP SOUP
IN THE BARREL
SO THEY CAN COME
AND LINE UP AND GET FED.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WE DO NOT NEED ONE MORE
UGLY SWEATER FOR CHRISTMAS.
YOU CAN CHANGE THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD.
AND FOR ANY GIFT
YOU SEND IN AT ALL,
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEND YOU
HOPE PREVAILS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE THANK
MY GUEST?
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE,
FOR BEING WITH US.
IT WAS AWESOME!
[Cheers & applause]
Randy: THANK YOU
FOR BEING WITH US.
JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW
FOR MORE LIFE TODAY.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer:
SHEILA WALSH TOMORROW!
Sheila:
THE DOCTOR HAD SAID,
"IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION
THAT YOU TERMINATE
THIS PREGNANCY TOMORROW."
I SAID TO HER,
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.