Trying to: Change the Conversation, Change a Life!

I am not here to justify my reasons for the following post or get into a theological discussion. If you do not agree then just ignore...or go rant on your page. This lesson is born from our pain and is the opinion of both Asa and myself. Go pray about this post and ask God if it pertains to your life or your situation.

Trying to: Change the conversation, change a life!

SHOUT IT. REACH OUT. The enemy works best in silence; in the shadows of your mind he whispers,"You don't believe enough, have enough faith. Do not seek help from a medical professional. It is an outward sign of spiritual weakness. Of shame." So hide and let Satan speak into your mind and into your life. Slowly, quietly, a toe hold becomes a foot hold becomes a stronghold. You notice a pattern of bad things happening in your relationships and in your life. You develop masks to hide behind and your mental sickness continues to worsen. You are reminded by the deceiver, that your lack of belief is fueling this cycle. You stay silent. Vow to have more faith in God for your mental healing. And the pressure mounts and mounts. You begin to hate yourself. You believe for healing from God alone with everything in you, but healing does not come. So you must be unworthy of His healing touch.

Until one day the pressure mounts so great, you would give anything to make it stop. But someone who believes that they are unworthy, unloved, broken on the inside, does not speak up or reach out. Their confused, diseased mind, creates a plan to relieve the pressure and the pain permanently... and in relieving their own internal pain, it is multiplied and handed out to all who knew him and loved him for a lifetime of wondering why? and what if?

Because from the pulpit too many sermons readily back up those lies. That all it takes is more faith when it comes to healing mental illness. You just don't believe enough, so believe more. Healing is in your hands, you just have to want it bad enough....But....

Where is the grace? in the last paragraph, for someone who is struggling to find the courage to SPEAK UP. SHOUT IT. REACH OUT? Where is the Grace? For the one whom literally can not remember what joy feels like any more. They want to, but that emotion is just gone. Where is the grace? For those that know they are broken mentally. Hide, Don't say something that will reveal your spiritual shame. Where is the grace? For the family watching their loved one struggle and hurt? But wait once more...

If they were to snap their femur leg bone in two pieces. Yes, you would immediately pray and believe for healing, But at the same time calling in a team of medical professionals or rushing the injured to them.

The injured gets medication for pain. medication to numb the leg. Maybe a muscle relaxer. perhaps a tetanus shot. Antibiotic for possible infection. an x-ray to develop a plan of care. Set the broken bone and let it heal? Maybe some metal screws or plates. I bet you let the doctor determine what is best! A cast to immobilize the area. Giving it weeks or months to heal. Then rehab professionals. No weight to start. Than a little weight. Painful exercises to regain both muscle and bone strength. Vitamins given to address any deficiencies that may have made your bones a tad bit weaker than normal to begin with.

All these steps are standard procedures and many more steps I am sure I missed. Because I am not a medical professional, I am not qualified to decide the best options to bring about healing. I do know that whichever path for healing is chosen. The consequences of taking proper steps remains almost the same. ...

Putting your life on hold? Check. Rearrange your entire schedule around this? Check. Unable to participate in the monumental game or event still taking place in a week? Check. But it is super important! Doesn't matter. Check. Exact time frame for total healing? Guesstimate only. Every body is different. It takes how long it takes. Check. Multiple visits to several different licensed professionals in their area of expertise? Check...But...

If you prayed for healing and then did none of or only a couple of these aforementioned steps, You would be be deemed grossly negligent and probably forcibly remanded to the hospital...But we are talking about your mind right now...

One of if not the most complex organs in the body? Why not seek out professional help to get a diagnosis? Then decide upon a plan of care? Don't even discuss medications because of the side effects and how you are chemically changing the brain and body? Ask yourself, none of those medications in the previous example altered the mind chemically or had side effects? Does sugar or caffeine have side effects on the mind? Oh wait! They do?!

I could continue on but I think my point has been made. But to recap... GRACE, GRACE, and more GRACE. SHOUT IT. REACH OUT. Change the conversation, change a life!