You are not Alone

You are not alone.  That’s right!  According to the National Association of Mental Illness there are 58 million Americans who battle these disorders.  Though it feels like you walk your path alone - you are not.  Though it feels like no one understands – they do.     

What is mental illness?  The Mayo Clinic says it “Refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.”  Even though it is normal to experience difficult days or seasons of life a clinically diagnosed mental illness is different.  It is something that is ongoing where people cannot cope with daily life and no amount of self-discipline or will power can “fix it”.   

Chatter about mental illness rises every time there is a mass shooting like the recent Navy Yard incident, the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre or the Aurora, Colorado, theatre killings.  But not everyone who has a mental condition is going to be the next mass shooter.  Most are responsible, hard-working people, who are good neighbors, good employees and look perfectly fine on the surface.  However, on the inside are conditions that nearly cripple their daily life.  Most folks would be surprised to know who battles with mental illness.  Often people silently cope with only their closest family or friends knowing.  And the care-givers end up bearing a heavy load while trying to understand and care for them.        

 

It can be a lonely and frustrating time while dealing with a disorder.  You may feel as if you are alone and no one understands.  On this journey I believe God wants to send a message, “You are not alone”.   

God understands and is waiting for you to turn to Him.  Yes, we may need to pursue medication, professional counseling or a treatment plan.  Yet, we must not forget the world’s great Liberator.  God, through His Son, Jesus, came from heaven to earth, died and rose again to set us free from the chains of sin and sorrows of this world. He stands ready to grant you an eternal hope in the face of your mental illness.  The Scriptures say, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).  May Jesus be your hope for today.      

Stop the Rescue!

During a television interview with former heavy weight boxing champion, Mike Tyson, he said he had lost over $300 million dollars in his career.  Now, after reflecting on a life of costly mistakes he is trying to make some positive changes. 

How did Iron Mike’s life self-destruct?  Outside of his obvious poor choices, some of the people around him are guilty too.

Have you ever just wanted to be “nice” to a family member, friend or co-worker by helping out with an issue they were facing – albeit major or minor?  Maybe you truly felt sorry for them.  Maybe you saw the coming consequences and wanted to step in before it got worse.  Maybe the issue affected you somehow and getting involved was in your best interest.    

I believe there are too many “nice” (or guilt-ridden and manipulated) people who are sustaining and thereby delaying necessary consequences to bad behavior.  Perhaps Iron Mike would have been sitting differently today if some folks would have stepped back and not been so “nice”.          

Today there are too many . . .  

·         Younger parents trying in vain to wake up their 17-year olds for school.
·         Older parents or grandparents doling out gas money to their 30 year olds.    
·         Wives being the middle-person to their kids explaining their dad’s actions. 
·         Employees cleaning up messes from their bosses or other co-workers. 

Ultimately the goal for everyone is to become a mature, independent, responsible adult.  Lovingly stepping back and choosing to allow someone to fail and experience pain is an unfortunate but necessary teacher.  And often our good intentions prevent that from happening. 

When we step back we are allowing someone else to step in.  God.  It is an act of love and trust.    King Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  We love the person enough to stop trying to rescue with hopes they might change.  We trust God enough to step back and release the person into His care.  Who can do a better job?  He or you?  He hung the stars.  He raises the sun every morning.  He provides the sparrow its food.  What have you done? 

Let us step back and allow God to work.  May He become the hope for today in the lives of the people we so desperately want to rescue.

The Pursuit of Fame

Judson Laipply.  Have you ever heard of the name?  He is a comedian who performed a hilarious (and clean) 10-minute skit called The Evolution of Dance.  It was posted on YouTube and became an instant hit.  It is currently the most viewed Internet video of all time, having over 215 million hits.

 

YouTube’s official slogan is “Broadcast Yourself”.  Laipply did just that and he became famous.  According to a Family Circle magazine survey, nearly one-third of our teenagers think they will be famous someday and YouTube, American Idol and many other forms of instant-fame media have provided the vehicle for millions of fame-hungry folks to get there.

However, what happens when you get there?  Then what?  When I look at the news about famous musicians, actors or athletes who have achieved fame I see how their family, health, finances and overall lifestyle is a mess.  It makes me question the blessing of being famous.

What is really behind the desire to be famous anyway?  It is acceptance.  Some people think, “If they see who I really am and what I can do, they will like me.”  The first part of that quote is the problem, “If people”.  Some people and their feelings for us change.  Today they love us, tomorrow they hate us. 

We might consider something else.  Instead of seeking to be known and loved by people, how about seeking to be known and loved by God?  Actually, the undisputed, most-famous person in the universe is God’s own Son, Jesus Christ.  He knows your name and is interested in beginning a life-long relationship with you.  Things operate a little different in God’s world though.  Jesus once said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). 

Your acceptance by people will be short-lived, but acceptance by God will be eternally-lived.  How do you get it?  Turn from seeking the fame of your name and seek the fame of HIS name.  Humbly and deliberately, place your complete trust in Jesus Christ alone.  Then, you will find your hope for today.