“Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” – Micah 7:8 (NIV)
Hello, my friend.
Can we be honest for a minute and confess that it’s sometimes super frustrating to live with mental illness? At times, my mental health makes everything feel that much more difficult.
You, too?
When the black dog of depression is nipping at your heels, simple tasks that you once completed in minutes feel like they’ll take hours to complete now. Projects that weren’t a big deal just a few weeks ago now stretch you to capacity.
Few things make us more aware of our limits than struggles with mental health. But even as you face these frustrating obstacles, you can take comfort in this: God will never leave you to traverse this journey alone.
Perhaps you’d rather hear something about how miracles happen and if you just pray hard enough, God will magically take away your anxiety, depression, or fill-in-the-blank diagnosis.
Unfortunately, that’s not usually how it happens.
Instead, I find great comfort, knowing the One who loves us will never walk away. God never sleeps (Psalm 121:4). Divine Love is always standing guard, watching over you (Psalm 121:5). You are held securely in God’s hand (John 10:28).
And on the other hand, I find comfort in a God who put skin on and willingly stepped into our experience. A God who understands that we’re human - he made us that way, after all. And as a result, sometimes humans need practical ways to heal, too.
So sure, pray. Read your Bible. Gather with your faith community.
And also, don’t be afraid to ask for a prescription if that’s what you need.
Go to therapy.
You can do all those things and still love Jesus.
I know this one feels a bit more preachy than most of my emails, but I’d like to pray for you today, if that’s okay:
God, please help my friend find rest in You. When they feel frustrated and overwhelmed by their mental illness, be a gentle reminder that You are always near. You are an ever-present help in time of need, and You are holding onto all of us. We have nothing to fear or feel ashamed of, because we were made in Your image.
Amen.
Holding you in the Light,
Steve
P.S. Looking for more encouragement? Download this free list of 19 encouraging verses today.
The Pathway to Peace
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