Hope For Mental Health Pt. II

View Part I

Mental illness brings shame, and we think Jesus is ashamed of us too, but He isn’t.

Our minds love to remind us of the past, so when you catch yourself looking back and focusing on your mistakes, instead I challenge you to turn your thinking to what Jesus has already DONE for YOU, rather than what you have done. When we see our scars, they don’t have to remind us of the person who hurt us or the situation we were in that caused that pain. It doesn’t take away the pain of the heart scars; it does is take away the power from the enemy who tries to use our scars against us. Let them remind you of Jesus and how He was there every step of the way, how He rescued you, redeemed those painful moments and transformed your life with His overcoming power. Choose to see His scars that bring life. It’s not about our scars, but HIS.

Now, what do I do when shame creeps in? I speak of Jesus and how He nailed every single thing to the cross. I understand that the grace of God completely covers me. The overwhelming love of God surrounds me. The righteousness of God clothes me. The blood of Jesus justifies me. That my God is so great, so gracious, so amazing, that He is satisfied to look upon His Son, and forgive His daughter.

His grace is more than the scars, demons, mistakes and the process. The Lord has been remarkably patient with me in my healing process. He’s been there in the worst places with me and loved me at my darkest and most unlovable state. He saved me and has become my freedom when I thought I couldn’t escape the chains. He has become my joy when I thought I had none left. I started completely over, but I know I’m being fought for every single day by my King who robbed the grave and as a child of a living King, I am assured that not a single piece of my pain will go unused for the advancement of His kingdom. It is a sweet promise to cling to. 

God could take away my depression, but I know He’s choosing not to knowing it deepens my dependency on Him. It keeps me on my knees, and in the darkness I’ve seen Him and His love deeper than I ever would have. And even when Jesus chooses not to take your pain away, He will give you the grace to endure it. (Romans 8:37) 

If you’re feeling like you can’t go on, you don’t want to start over again, please if you can’t do anything else, just give that to Him, give Him those thoughts, surrender your pain, lay it at the foot of the cross. There is no addiction, no depression, no darkness too dark that His light can’t pierce through. (1 John 1:5, Luke 1:79)

❤ ❤ ❤

For women who struggle with mental health:

• You are not the mistakes you’ve made 
• You are not a problem
• You are not drama
• You are not a burden 
• You are not hard to love

Because of Jesus, you are:

• Known 
• Seen
• Heard
• Valued 
• Forgiven
• Redeemed 
• Made new 
• LOVED
• FREE

Mental Health Bible Verse Resources:

• "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people." Genesis 50:20
• "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2
• "And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13-14
• "I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4
• "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8
• "Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
• "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13
• ​“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near!” Philippians 4:5.

Christian mental health encouragement songs:

• Waymaker (Josh's favorite - see below)
• No Longer Slaves (Josh's favorite - see below)
• Just Be Held 
• The God Who Stays
• Because He lives
• In Christ alone 
• See a Victory 
• Forever Reign
• Overcome
• House of Miracles 

How to help others struggling with mental health:

People with mental illness already think poorly of themselves. They think they are horrible, worthless and hard to love. So, be that constant reminder to them that they are loved, valued and worth it. Jesus loves us at our darkest, so we need to CHOOSE to love others at theirs. Our love for God is revealed in how well we love others (1 John 4:12, John 13:35). Jesus’s heart moved toward people. We need to bring Him to the hurting, the broken and the vulnerable. In a world where the enemy is constantly speaking lies choose to speak LIFE, continue to remind people Whose they are, to stay and not give up on them, to fight for them when they can’t fight for themselves, and pray hard for them. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

I pray to be a person with a heart that sees brokenness and a heart that goes after it. I pray to encourage, make them feel and KNOW how wanted and loved they are. I pray to love hard and make people feel cared for. This world needs it. Loving people to Jesus brings them back to life. Let's reflect His heart and bring Heaven down to earth for people. 

Mental health quotes:

• “When a Christian sins, we don’t jump to the conclusion that they lack faith in God.  So let’s stop doing that when someone admits they struggle with mental health.”
• “It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.” - Billy Graham 
• “Because of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, you can know freedom, you can experience healing, you can find deliverance, and you can walk beyond your past into the FULLNESS of life that Jesus Christ has for you." - Christine Caine 
• "God does not regret saving you. There is no sin which you commit which is beyond the cross of Christ." - Matt Chandler

If you're struggling with mental health, feeling like there is no hope, know:

• You are so much more than what you feel right now. You are more seen, more heard, and more loved than you know. You are NOT a burden, and you are not hard to love. You matter, and are so valued. No matter how many times your mind tells you... this world would not be better without you. 
• Your mental illness doesn’t disqualify you from God's plan and purpose for your life. 
• Your mistakes, yourself, other people, no one can wreck the plans God has for you.  (Job 42:2)
• It’s important to surround yourself with people who will LOVE you, fight for you, get on their knees and pray for you... more than they talk about you. Surround yourself with people who remind you you’re no longer a slave to fear, persons, or things. People who will believe in you and the plans that God has for you, celebrate the little victories with you, uphold you when you fall, and not condemn you, because Jesus is the only one who has the right to condemn, but He chooses not to. (Romans 8:1)
• Get bold about your story and keep talking about it. Boast in your weakness  (2 Corinthians 12:9) because it shows Christs strength and how mighty He is. Let God use you! Show of how He uses your brokenness for your good and His glory. 
• You are held by grace, by His love, by HIM – our Father who loves us more than we can fathom, who knows every day of our lives, knows all our mistakes yet still chose us and calls us HIS.

❤ ❤ ❤

My life is a picture of God's grace, both for me and towards me. This is not my story, this is God's story. I am sharing these things to show you His mighty power and how HE alone changes things. My life isn’t about me, and this life isn’t about us. Our lives are His, and it’s all about Him getting the glory, the honor, and the praise. Keep your eyes and mind on Heaven. I pray that we would long for the eternal and for Jesus both in this life and in eternity. I pray we would long to build His kingdom and live for Him and His glory.

Jesus gave me purpose and life again when I no longer desired to live. My biggest hope and prayer in writing this is that you’ll fall in love with living again; you’ll find Jesus and fall in love with Him. You will seek after Him with your whole heart and trust that with Him you can’t be shaken, because life is hard but HE makes it all worth it. (Psalm 16:8) He is enough, oh so worthy, and our only hope.

Please believe you matter. He has a beautiful purpose for you that only you can do. Cling to the truth of His heart that you are seen and loved by so many, but most importantly, by our Savior. I pray you will use your struggles, trials, circumstances to show/help others see the saving, sustaining grace of our Lord, His faithfulness and steadfast love for you. 

Life is messy, hard, scary, beautiful, and miraculous, and Jesus is alive and because of that, even if you don’t believe it or can’t see it. Life can and WILL be beautiful again. Keep fighting for healing, for joy and for life. Every day we have on earth is given by our King, so live each day with purpose, and live it for HIM. Depression, addiction, (fill in the blank), it is finished! Jesus died for it, and the chains of bondage were broken. You are free! (John 8:36) Walk in the victory that is only found at the cross. 

In seasons of pain, suffering, and enduring, it builds up such an anticipation for the gift of Heaven. For brokenness to be banished, tears to be wiped away, (Revelation 21:4) the shadows of deep sorrow to fade away, and for the triumph over past darkness and trauma to finally come. “It is finished” will ring in our ears on that day when the hoped for healing envelopes us, when redemption grabs hold forevermore, and when restored in the likeness of Christ. We will join in endless worship together and forever. That day will be our victory, so walk and live in the freedom He gave, stand in the promise He made, and rest in the strength of His name. 

This is dedicated to Joshua Cook, pictured above. Joshua is my sweet friend Alicia’s brother; he struggled with mental health and addiction. I resonated with Josh because I struggle with mental health, just different addictions. I also have a cousin who struggled with addiction and lost his 15 year battle with it, passing away in March 2020. This is so close to my heart. Alicia and I prayed hard for her brother. He fought so hard, and he truly loved God, and I’m encouraged by him. After hearing of Josh’s passing, it made me want to speak up and be bold about mental health. We need to be talking about it so others feel safe to talk about it. After attending his funeral, I knew this is why God kept me here: to spread awareness and hope in churches and anywhere so we can stop this epidemic. This article is in honor of Josh, my cousin Gio, and anyone who has mental health issues or lost their battle with it. Happy First Birthday in Heaven Josh, you are missed and so loved. We will continue to share your story. 

My dear friend Alicia shared how we can never tell people enough how loved they are. It’s so important, because our minds are telling us every second of the day how unlovable we are, thinking people around us would be better if we weren’t here. We can and should tell people over and over how much we love them and how much they matter to you and to Jesus. I know sometimes we don’t know what to say or how to help, and that’s ok. But keep praying for them and over them.