Encouragement: World Mental Health Day 2020
Did you know that today is World Mental Health Day?
Everyone who struggles with their mental health has their own unique story. In fact, just today I had the privilege of getting a snapshot from a few different people…
One person was diagnosed with clinical depression just this week. He mentioned that he didn’t even realize the way he’d slipped into survival mode until his doctor called it out. Another shared his struggle with bipolar disorder and revealed he recently came out of an episode. Another told of his ongoing battle with PTSD as the result of his years in combat. Yet another shared she’s starting therapy due to current stressors.
While it would be wildly inappropriate to reveal who any of these individuals are, you should know that they are people whom God has used and continues to use greatly. With joy, each of them was able to share their confidence in God’s grace and love towards them.
My story?
Well, my battle with generalized anxiety is the byproduct of some unique wiring God saw fit to fashion straight into me. He’s good with it, so I am too.
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While the church at large has made progress in its rhetoric regarding mental health, many people within and without of the church walls still suffer in silence.
- They suffer because they don’t even know they’re suffering. Since survival mode is their norm, it’s unrecognizable to them.
- They suffer because they don’t understand where to go for help. Should they call their pastor? Local counselor? General doctor? Psychologist? Psychiatrist?
- They suffer because they don’t understand what they’re up against.
Shame’s Specialty
For many of us, we buy into shame’s lie that whatever we’re struggling with must be our fault. Instead of getting to the source with a trusted professional, the assumption becomes “I’m a failure,” “I’m bad,” or even “I’m sinful.”
If you’re religious, you might even pray countless prayers of “repentance” hoping that God will forgive whatever it is that brought it all about. Sadly, this twisting of truth is one of shame’s specialties.
Why am I sharing this?
Because this is the struggle God chose to etch His truths into my heart. He knows all, He loves always, He sustains, and He is good even when we can’t see it.
If you’re continuing a mental health battle today (whatever the label), rest in this: You are known fully, you are loved deeply, and there’s just nothing that will ever change that.
“Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
Romans 8:35b & 37, NLT
