Chasing Peace and Freedom: From Neglect to Finding Healing - PT2

Getting help is weak. Only really messed up people go to counselling. Mentorship is a scam.

That’s the messaging I received growing up. But there are times when you just have to turn to someone else. There was one person. Only one person that I was confident that was an actual Christian. I called her. I didn’t know who else to turn to.

She told me who I should get in contact with. And I did. I made a choice that day. At my very lowest point when it would have been easier to give up, I turned to someone for help. I chose life.

I did something I hadn’t done before. I asked for help. And help I got. There was a man that mentored me for 6 months. He helped to fight lies that I believed and introduced me to Jesus. Meeting Jesus changed my life. See, I always felt condemned – but Jesus told me I was redeemed. I felt ashamed – but Jesus told me I was loved. I felt alone but Jesus told me he would never leave me.

That changed the war. I would be lying if I said I didn’t struggle with depression or thinking about suicide again. I did. And sometimes I struggle with depression still. But the power and strength are gone. Sometimes I face a battle – but the war has been won.

See, when you are fed lies about who you are and who God is, and you believe them – it is impossible to win the war. You can’t win with lies. People wonder where mental health struggles come from – they come from lies. Lies we believe that become the reality we live out.

Depression says – just give up. It isn’t worth it. You’ll never succeed. Just die already. Anxiety says they’re out to get you. This is going to hurt. You won’t make it out of this. This is scary.

Jesus says – I’ve got you if you’ll trust me. I’ve won this war already. Just rest in me. See – we fight imaginary battles. And if we fight them long enough, they can have physical manifestations. And sometimes those continue to linger. I found that my depression came with extreme fatigue. I still struggle with that quite often. But it gets better. It is good to have those in your life to fight for and that remind you of truth.

If you find yourself struggling with mental health – my question is – who do you have that speaks truth into your life? Not just, “Oh, you’re so great!” Because honestly – sometimes you aren’t. How about truth like, “No matter what, you are loved” or, “I’m not going anywhere.” Truth that isn’t dependant on you.

Mental health can be influenced by many things that creep into your mind. There are different things that can weaken your mental health and things that can strengthen your mental health. I’m going to spend the next 8 blogs exploring these different things and my experience with them.

My question for you today – who do you have that speaks truth to you in your life? Leave a comment and a shout out to your people that help you when you are finding the battle tough!

Go Boldly - Live Wisely
Charles