4:332 – Can You Hear Me?

#faithbites #faithjourney hear

Setting

Sometimes God messes with you and wants you to hear what he has to say. As you know, I’m a huge science fiction fan. In this week’s Star Trek Discovery episode Anomaly and the Doctor Who episode, “Can You Hear Me? that I watched this morning, both had mental health at the center. It was about people dealing with grief, pain, fear, and mental health disorders. The main point was we need to talk about it. It’s ok that we have these and we need to talk about it. The #EndTheStigma movement is along the same lines. If you broke an arm, you’d see the doctor and get it fixed. If you have diabetes, you’d get medicine and get it fixed. Mental health should be no different. As you know I have anxiety, depression, and was recently diagnosed with very significant ADHD. I’m not afraid to talk about it. Will you hear me when I talk?

Today’s Questions: How does our faith prepare us for mental health problems? How do we help our neighbors and friends to confide in us, and for us to hear them?

Scripture

• Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”
• Psalm 40 1:-3 – I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
• Titus 3:2 – To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Reflection

We know that God created us in his image. He loves us and wants us to be healthy, happy, and living in peace. God created friends and families to divide the burden and multiply successes. He tells us to cry out to him and he will help us. Our father wants to hear from us. He hears us when we cry and lifts us out of our darkness. He loves us. In Titus, we see that we shouldn’t judge, be gentle, and show courtesy towards others. Our job, our privilege is to help each other in need. It may be hard to understand mental health as we can’t see it like we can see a broken arm. We can’t see depression, anxiety, or even ADHD as many have developed coping mechanisms but they are still there. Approach with love, gentleness, and listen to others.

As we close, remember that mental health is no different than physical or spiritual health. We need to be open, listen, hear, and help others in need.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for providing friends and family who can hear, understand, and help. We pray that you help us understand those who are suffering from mental illness. Let us help them and let them get the professional help they need. Lord, no matter our illness, be it spiritual, physical, or mental, we seek your guidance, help, and healing power. Only through following your commandments to love our neighbors as ourselves will we finally #endthestigma. In your name, we pray, Amen.