Scripture Chain

Even though I am only 17 right now, I have had a battle with depression and major downfalls in my life. Not long before I was 16, I realized that I had had enough. I could never seem to catch a break. From the time I was 3 when my father died, up to that point I had faced abusive boyfriends, and addictions to drugs and alcohol. I felt that I had no where to turn.

I had no true friends that I dared to trust. I was at a point in my life where I realized that I was living a way that I shouldn't be but I had no one that I could really turn to for help. All of my "friends" were the ones trying to take me away from my religion and further down the path I was going.

One night I found myself reading the scriptures and I don't know how but I managed to make up what my seminary teacher calls a "scripture chain". The book of John has always been one of my favorite and I happened to be reading in it that night. I found some scriptures that all seemed to link, although I really didn't know how I noticed. The scriptures went like this.

"18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15: 18-19)"
"18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18)"
"26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27)"
"33 ...In the world ye shall have tribulations: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)"

I know this chain may seem confusing but when I read it in that order it helps me to feel better. Although it has taken me nearly two years and being pregnant to find a way back to the Lord, this scripture chain has always given me comfort when I needed it.