Welcome to Hank’s Place —
Jesus is on our side. FOR US, never against us. Not IF we perform, not IF we get it right, not IF we obey His commands. He is FOR us. Do you understand? John 3:16 begins, “For God so loved the world, He gave.… Before the world got itself together. Before the world got it right. Well, the world still hasn’t gotten it right. Before the world even existed, Jesus went to bat for us: totally, completely. Encouraging, isn’t it?
Psalms 3:3 expresses this truth: ‘Jesus is forever the Lifter of our head.’ Never run from Jesus, dear friend, even if you’ve just committed the worst mess-up ever. Run TO Him. He will lift you up, lift your head. He dispenses fresh hope. Catch His promise in Psalm 94:19, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul.”
But what if we have been diagnosed as having a mental illness? Such individuals have seldom found help within the Church – society shuns them – and the church most times. Isn’t Bible reading, prayer church attendance and fellowship supposed to be cure-alls? Not for those of us battling mental illness. And what about Jesus? Does He say, “Just suck it up, stop with your excuses and live life like you are supposed to?”NO, that’s not OUR Jesus!
Consider the leper of Matthew 8:2-4. In Jesus’ day, only “whole” people were allowed to participate in temple life. Those with diseases such as leprosy had to stay away. They weren’t welcome. They were considered infectious and untouchable. But Jesus was not afraid to touch the untouchables.
As Paul Ellis of New Zealand has said, “When we cultivate the attitude that church is a place for perfect people with perfect hair and perfect smiles, we inevitably marginalize those who are going through hard times. “You’ve got to be walking in victory every day.” But what if you’re not? What if you can’t get out of bed because you’re bound with anxiety and fear? What then? People suffering with mental illness and emotional instability can be made to feel like the lepers of old.”
If we are mentally unwell does NOT mean we are sinners. ALL of us were probably in a mentally unwell place throughout 2020. Think about it! In that place it’s hard to grab ahold of truths such as Christ IS in us, Jesus has died FOR US and His love is unconditional toward us. Overcomer in Christ? What’s that?!
Well, Jesus had a thing for lepers. He healed so many! It shows His heart is always FOR the broken and hurting — for those outside the camp — for those who can’t get out of bed — for those whose medicine cabinets are full of Zoloft and Prozac. He is FOR you and FOR me dear friend. You and I may not have had a diagnosis of mental illness, but all of us have struggles with anxiety, depression, stress and a whole bunch of life issues.
So – Let’s let Him lift our head today — we’ll COME ALIVE!
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