Elahe Hessamfar

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These are my reflections on those Scriptures that God has used to comfort me as I have travelled through the "valleys of Shadow of death." I am hoping that they will comfort those fellow-travelers who are going through the wilderness of life. At times, I will also write blogs relevant to mental illness, particularly as it relates to issues of faith, theology and community. All Scriptures used here will be from New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise specified.

Reflections

Goth Teens, Depression, and Self-harm

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

A recently published scientific research in The Lancet Psychiatry claims that, The dark look associated with Goths may not be all show: Teens in this subculture appear more prone to depression and self-harm than their peers, researchers report. Fifteen-year-olds who strongly identified as Goth -- ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Research Tagged: Depression, Goth subculture, Gothic, Mental Illness, self-harm, Spiritual warfare, Teens

Why Does a Loving God Send His People to Exile?

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

You too have done evil, even more than your forefathers; for behold, you are each one walking according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me. So I will hurl you out of this land into the land which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers; and there you will ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: Exile, Jeremiah, Luke, rebellious, Sovereignty of God, Suffering

The Love of God: A Consuming Fire

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the Lord. (Song of Songs 8:6) Love is a mysterious thing. It gives life and it kills. It is the strongest of feelings and ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: brokenness, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, John, loss, Love, Pain, Romans, Song of Songs

The Sanctifying Discipline of the Lord

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

Stripes that wound scour away evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts. (Proverbs 20:30) We all wonder what the purpose of evil might be, especially when it afflicts us. Why would a loving and powerful God allow evil to continue on earth? Why is there so much suffering for those who love God and ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: Acts, Discipline, Evil, flesh, Hebrews, humility, idols, Isaiah, James, Jonah, Joy, Obedience, Pain, Philippians, Promises, Proverbs, purpose, Sanctification, Sovereignty of God, stripes, Suffering, surrender, trials

What Spirit Dwells in You?

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. Proverbs 20:27 It is the spirit of man that is the source of life and the point of connection with the Divine. It is the spirit of man that is the innermost part of his being; as his spirit is, so is he. How ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: 2 Corinthians, Enemy, Fruit, Galatians, Grace, Healing, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Proverbs, Renewed, restoration, Sanctification, Spirit

Why Do We Remember God only When We Are Down?

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

…. For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’  “But where are your gods which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble… Jeremiah 2:27-28 Most of us Christians take our ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: Christ, Grace, Help, Helplessness, Jeremiah, Joy, Love, Sovereignty of God, Suffering, Treasure

It Could Have Been My Daughter

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

On Monday March 9th, 2015, Robert Olsen, a white police officer in metro Atlanta, shot and killed Anthony Hill, a twenty-seven-year-old unarmed and completely naked black man. It could have been my daughter. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution[1] reports that Officer Olsen responded to reports of ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Personal Reflection Tagged: Anthony Hill, Atlanta, Compassion, Helia, Justice, Love, Media, Mental Illness, Murder, My Daughter, Patience, Police, Schizophrenia

God Long Ago Had Plans for You

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5) Oh what a comfort this verse from Jeremiah gives me! And I am hoping that it does the same for you! Anytime we wonder why things happen the way they ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: Darkness, Despair, Hope, Jeremiah, old testament, predestination, Psalms, purpose, Sovereignty of God, Suffering, vindication, Why

No Regrets

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. Eccl.7:10 We all have the habit of looking back to our pasts. At times, we glorify the past beyond what it deserves. Our childhood reminds us of the age of innocence and ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: 1 Thessalonians, Darkness, Ecclesiastes, Light, Looking Back, No Regret, Philippians, Regret, Sovereignty of God, Trouble, wisdom

Can Hope be Found in an Imprecatory Psalm?

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Elahe Hessamfar

Fill their faces with dishonor, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, and let them be humiliated and perish, that they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:16-18 Psalm 83 is what’s called an ... [Continue Reading]

Category: Devotional Tagged: 1 John, 2 Corinthians, abandonment, Despair, Enemies, Enemy, Evil, forsaken, God, Grace, Healing, Hope, Hurt, Imprecatory, Isaiah, Luke, Matthew, Pain, Philippians, Psalms, restoration, Shame, Sovereignty of God, Suffering

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Elahe Hessamfar

Elahe Hessamfar

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  • What if Some of Our Psychiatric Symptoms are Iatrogenic?
  • Gaining Freedom in the Midst of Darkness: A Theological Perspective
  • A Theological Interpretation of the Language of Madness
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A Theological Interpretation of Mental Illness. - A Focus on "Schizophrenia"

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