Helping you navigate the tension between faith & mental health by looking at a tension point, a talking point and a truth to ponder.
Tension Point
“I struggle to reach out for help. I feel like I SHOULD be able to cope on my own if I have Jesus. He’s all I need. Right?! But the truth is I’m floundering.”
Talking Point
I (Bryn, hello!) was once on holiday with twin nine month old babies. We went down to the buffet restaurant for dinner. We had three other children as well, so my wife queued up with them while I took the twins to find a table.
High chairs were scarce, but I eventually spotted two in the corner. I rushed over and attempted to carry them, as well as the twins, back to our table. So with both twins under one arm, and both highchairs in the other, I huffed and puffed my way towards the table.
Someone immediately jumped up and offered to help. But I smiled and said ‘no, I’m fine’ and struggled on. People gasped. It didn’t look safe and probably wasn’t! At one point I almost dropped them. Eventually one of the staff came over and insisted: ‘no no, let me help’. When he took the highchairs out of my hand, I was immediately relieved.
So what stopped me saying yes the first time?! Pride? A determination to show the world (or maybe myself) I could handle this on my own? I pondered this for the rest of my holiday, with a twinge of embarrassment as to why I attempted to persevere when it was so obvious I needed help.
Have you been struggling in the shadows?
There are times in our lives where we do the very same thing. We lift, and heave and try because we think we are navigating these challenges alone. We believe that the weight we are lifting is our burden to carry (or maybe ours and God's) and we don't want to bother anyone else with them. So, for multiple reasons, we feel too ashamed, embarrassed, prideful or mistrusting to reach out or accept help when it's offered.
What about you, have you been struggling in the shadows? What's stopping you from accepting (or asking for) help?
Truth to Ponder
In Ephesians 6 in The Message version of the bible it says this:
“Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
God didn’t design us to carry our burdens alone.
God has given us tools and weapons to help whatever battles we are fighting, and sometimes those tools and weapons are the people around us: the people God has put in our path to journey with us.
Proverbs 17:17 says "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." If God has put friends in your path, He's put them there for times such as this.