a rose in my backpack pocket

PMS is really an awful thing. The physical pain and fatigue sucks, but it's what comes out of the mouth of a hormonal-ly unstable woman that is the worst. We know better, but we can't help but really be hurt by the things our friends say or do during their time of month. Or when they're sleep-deprived, stressed, irritated, depressed, just unwell.

This week has been my friend's week. I didn't know this until after we worked together for several hours on a group project. Not fun. I found myself near tears at some point. I tried not to dwell on it, And I didn't hold it against her, but it triggered a whole host of bitter memories from years ago as I was walking back to my room.

She explained / apologized - everything's fine now. But it got me thinking about how to respond when we're flooded with emotions like these. How do we use our sword, God's Word, to combat low self-esteem and heart injuries (or the guilt of inflicting low self-esteem and heart injuries) as we're tempted to let these deceitful thoughts sink in, or as the memories come rushing back? What are some good verses to bury in our hearts, so that we are not caught off guard.

Here's one verse that really comforts me (and that might sound vaguely familiar to you worship music listeners)

"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

Amen. Praise Him for being our Perfect Healer, Comforter, Restorer, and Truth. No sin of ours or of others is too great for Him.