So I have this silly little habit of reading the Bible.

I know, I know, it’s clearly not something that my generation participates in regularly, but I try to read my Bible as much as possible. Somehow it calms me down, and allows me to re-evaluate my perspective and thoughts on the day that just occurred.

On Wednesday, I was flipping through the Old Testament and stumbled up on two key passages that I believe define me as an individual. Psalm 25 has been close to my heart ever since I was twelve, and I fell in love with the words of David, intricately describing the turmoil that I feel in my own heart.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish.

Look upon my affliction and my distress

and take away all my sins.

Psalm 25:17&18

I have struggled with depression my entire life, and sometimes it rears up and tries to suffocate me. On Monday night, I felt like I was drowning in myself. Like my entire world was frozen, and I was melting from the inside out, screaming as I felt this anger and anguish wash over me in some kind of wave. My depression comes and takes all of my energy, and I don’t know how to react to the world around me. I try to express how it makes me feel, but I can’t come close to how David paints a beautiful picture of despair in Psalms, and how I cry out to God in my greatest need.

I’m not one of those that believes that prayer can completely rid me of depression, and it took many years of secular therapy, medication, and belief in myself to control my episodes so that they last only for a couple of days at most, but, God’s love and strength helps me come out of that darkness and into His light.

Also, lately I’ve been pulled more and more towards Journalism, and I stumbled across a verse that I believe defines my pursuit as a journalist.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

I will wear that verse on my heart and try to live up to its commands, officially adopting it as my mission statement as a journalist. My life, if revolved around those two verses, could help change the course of history. I want to help break the silence.