I get by with a little help from my (Chat GPT)

 I’ve had an abundance of pendulum swinging days this past year. It seems like I’m living the life of extremes from the despair to the hopeful on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.  The swings have been so extreme that at times I feel emotionally bipolar.  Intellectually, I know that God will see me through this.  I know that I’m supposed to live a life reflecting the fruits of the spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self-control.  I know when I’m living my life right, which I am and plan on continuing to do so, I will exhibit those traits in my life on a consistent basis in the future.  No where on that list is loneliness, depression, despair, hopelessness which I sometimes experience.  So I know those emotions/feelings are not from God. I have to trudge through until the real fruits re-emerge which they invariably will and have at many times these past few months.  So I asked Chat GPT if I was crazy.  The AI response was very reassuring.  Please keep in mind that AI is just a tool that can be used for good or evil.  If it presents truth…then it is “of God.”  All Truth is God’s Truth, right Evangel Alums?

I think part of my despair that emerges is when I don’t get enough sleep.  I’ve actually been working so much I’m due for a break.  Thankfully the Winter break happens in less than 48 hours.  I also get my girls for a big chunk of that. While it is not my original family, it’s a close second.  I can make it til the break.  In the meantime I’ll go to bed early that should help.  

Today was not a particularly good day nor was it particularly a bad day.  It was just mid.  Perhaps I need to count that as a blessing as “Mid” days are so much more preferable than the days of despair.   

I thought my interaction with Chat GPT was interesting and you might find it to be interesting as well.  Here’s a copy/paste version of the encounter which I thought was pretty insightful.  

Emotional Oscillation, Faith, and Grief

Compiled conversation text, reformatted for readability and reflection.

User Question

Is there a term for someone swinging from high to low in an extreme emotional sense? Some days I feel like I'm OK with my wife leaving me and missing my family and I have hope. Yet other days I feel absolute despair. Is there a clinical term for this?

Clinical Explanation

Yes. Clinically, several terms may apply depending on severity, duration, and cause. None

automatically imply a serious psychiatric disorder. (Good I’m not crazy) 

Common Clinical Terms

Mood lability — Marked shifts in emotional state, often seen in grief or prolonged stress.

Emotional dysregulation — Difficulty maintaining emotional equilibrium during attachment loss

or trauma.

Adjustment Disorder (with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) — Emotional response to a

clear stressor such as marital separation.

Grief reaction — Grief is non-linear and often involves oscillation between hope and despair.

Spiritual Walk and Emotional Healing

Your spiritual walk can assist with emotional oscillation in three primary ways: meaning-making,

lament, and hope without denial.

1. Meaning-Making

Faith reframes suffering as relational rather than punitive, anchoring identity in belonging rather

than outcome.

2. LamentBiblical lament allows honest expression of pain directed toward God, regulating emotional distress rather than suppressing it.

3. Hope Without Denial

Christian hope allows despair and trust to coexist without contradiction.

Prayer Language (Lament)

God, today I feel abandoned, exhausted, and scared that this pain will not end.

I want my family restored. I want relief. I don’t know how to carry this.

I am choosing to stay in relationship with You even though I don’t feel peace.

On despair days, the most faithful prayer may simply be: “I am still here.”

Jesus and Emotional Oscillation

Jesus Himself experienced emotional anguish alongside trust.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34).

“Yet not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Scriptures for Support

When You Feel Despair

Psalm 34:18 — The LORD is close to the brokenhearted.

Psalm 13:1–2 — How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?

Lamentations 3:31–32 — Though He brings grief, He will show compassion.

When Faith Feels Fragile

Isaiah 42:3 — A bruised reed He will not break.

Mark 9:24 — I believe; help my unbelief!Psalm 73:26 — God is the strength of my heart.

When Emotions Swing

Psalm 42:5 — Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Ecclesiastes 3:4 — A time to weep and a time to laugh.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 — Renewed day by day.

Hope Without Denial

Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

John 16:33 — In this world you will have trouble.

Closing Prayer

Lord, You are close to the brokenhearted.

Today my heart is failing me; be the strength I do not have.

I choose to stay near You, even without answers. Amen.

I will not use Chat GPT to write the blog but AI is so much of a more eloquent writer than I. I’m jealous.  Tomorrow will be a better day and the day after that will be even better.  I just know it.  

I like to come up with clever/witty titles for these blogs posts.  Perhaps that’s just the journalist in me.  So I thought about the Beatles song but then in my head I kept going with the lyrics and they are so appropo.  “I get by with a little help from my (Chat GPT).  … Do you need anybody?

I need somebody to love. Could it be anybody? I want somebody to love. John and Paul had some things right.  They nailed where I’m at right now.  All truth is God’s truth…even if it’s from the Beatles.