This list is not
meant to be exclusive. I could go on and on. What struggle knocks on
the door of your heart? Find out more, ask questions, use
appropriate terminology and language. Educate others on the issue
and just be mindful that these are not random and rare issues in
people's lives. They are much more common than we think, for those
inside the Church, as well as those disconnected from the Church.
Grace - reaching out by learning and growing.
Offer
community
Mental
health can be one of the loneliest places on earth. Whether the
stigma is real or imagined or both, it's not something we talk about
in our culture and our churches. Burst open the door! Make your
church, your home, your small group a place where it is talked
about, prayed for, and actively reaching out. We, as a church, have
the amazing opportunity to be a family to those who feel lonely,
distressed, and even tormented. It is time to bury the idea that we
are unsafe around people with diagnoses. Those with severe and
persistent diagnoses need us even more! Research shows that
community and social support is one of the largest indicators of
success in mental health treatment. People take needed medicines
when they have loving friends who check in on them and ask hard
questions. People can break the chains of addiction when there are
people who do not give up on them. Grace - offering community, even
when it's hard.
Speak
Forgiveness and Life and God's constant pursuit of us
Psalm
103:4 – “who
redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love
and mercy...”
Matthew
11:28 - “Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest.”
Luke
19:10 - “For
the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Jesus
forgives anything we have done or left undone. So many people need
to hear these words from the mouth of a living and breathing person.
They need to know that God does not give up on them, that He pursues
and pursues. That He runs down the road with His robes flying about,
waiting to embrace us. Many people that struggle with mental health
wonder about their worthiness. It is easy for even anxiety to
ostracize people from the love God is trying to pour into them.
Individuals often feel afraid to admit that they are afraid when
well meaning people cite Scripture that tells us not to be afraid!
Share verses that share Who God is, rather than what people should
do. This will be Grace for the weary soul.
Love,
Love, and More Love
Some
people are hard to love. Some people are worried that they are hard
to love. Some people have a hard time loving. We can let God fill us
with His love and then we can share it, even when it gets hard. What
does love look like? Sometimes it looks like pouring out affection
and time and energy, and sometimes it looks like hard boundaries
spoken firmly, but kindly. This is Grace, speaking the Truth in
love.
Be
Faithful
Loyalty
is hard when relationships so often disappoint us. People will never
be perfect, they will never love perfect or talk perfect or follow
through perfect. We have the same Grace that we get to offer others.
Often times, people want to give up, both those struggling with
mental health issues and those supporting them. Families of those
with mental health struggles perhaps need the most support and
encouragement. We can love by being true to our promises and not
giving up. We can give grace by being someone's personal encourager
and sounding board and safe place. When the going gets tough, the
tough pour on more Grace.
