What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?”

Job 6:11

May is mental health awareness month. The last couple of Sundays we have been privileged to have held Mental Health 101 and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) seminars at Grace. Mental health awareness is an important ministry that Grace has taken seriously. During the past year, our lives have changed in a way we could have never imagined. We read it about it every day. Countless times. Loneliness. Isolation. Fear. Hopelessness. Feelings that as we were sequestered in our homes, many of us felt. But these are feelings that many with mental illness feel every day. Day in and day out. Every second of their lives. You can’t get a vaccine or wear a mask to feel relief or comfort.

Loneliness. No one cares. I’m alone.

Isolation. Nobody understands me. I’ll just sit here in my room.

Fear. What is there for me? I’m afraid of what could happen tomorrow.

Hopelessness. I’m worthless. I’m done.

Many might put on a “good face” so that their feelings cannot be seen. But many, can’t. They just can’t. Just like a person suffering from cardiovascular disease can’t do many things. Just like a person with cancer can’t do many things. Mental illness is not visible. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Yet, we often act like it’s not there. Or fail to see that it is there.

In our seminars we learned that suicide is one of the top causes of deaths in our country. Depression and anxiety are but two of the illnesses that can wear down a person’s ability to cope. And that can happen to anyone. At any age. From any race, social, economic or cultural background. Anyone. Do we dare bring mental illness up in our daily conversations with our neighbors, friends and family, just as we would when we learn someone we know has cancer or liver disease or has a stroke? Or do we just hear “Whispers in the Pews”? (a good read if you haven’t read it).

There are many risk factors that can create suicidal crises. And the truth is that we have a lot to learn about mental illness and how to treat it. But what we do know is that by offering hope, we can help save a life. By offering hope, we can offer love. By offering hope, we can offer tomorrow. I urge you not just in the month of May, but EVERY DAY, reach out and offer hope. And if you’re feeling lonely, isolated or fearful – we are here.

We are here to help offer hope.
Thanks be to God.