Where to Find Help
September 13, 2022
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 NIV
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16 NLT
We wake up every morning and go to bed every night in a fallen world where we have an Enemy who works day and night to defeat us. Fortunately, we have resources to fight and win, but it is our responsibility to fully engage these weapons. This one verse from Paul, a man who lived with the same battles and basic resources we have, shares our go-to kit for help.
The message of Christ. The KJV tells us to “let the word of God dwell in us richly.” The best translation is “the message of Christ.” Read the gospels over and over. You will find that Jesus through His example and teaching addresses most every mental health issue in its basic form: fear, anxiety, stress, relational division, self-esteem, jealousy, and rejection. Get 3x5 index cards (one of the greatest ideas in human history 😊), and write down every verse that speaks to you on that topic. Carry them with you, put them on your mirror, and read them daily.
Community with “helpers.” You can find this in a variety of ways. Small groups offer some of the best spiritual and relational development opportunities you will ever find. You have opportunity, if you choose transparency and humility, to share your struggles and hear from others who are further down the same road. You will give each other hope and wisdom for the journey. Christian counseling is an invaluable asset. Never be afraid or ashamed to get professional help. God has gifted people to “teach and counsel… with all the wisdom He gives.” Listen and follow godly directives. I have been mentored and counseled many times through great podcasts and books by wise, godly people. All it requires is initiative and humility to get started, and then consistent perseverance.
An attitude of gratitude. It has long been accurately stated that “gratitude is the healthiest human emotion.” Very rarely will you find a person with grave mental or emotional health issues who lives with deep gratitude. Making gratitude lists, filling gratitude jars, every evening listing at least three things worthy of your grateful thanksgiving, and in the morning thanking God for the things you have that not everyone experiences—all of these build resilience and heart in you. My friend Tricia Williford Lott says that the thing that got her through her darkest days (and still does) is to think, “If I had to like/be grateful about one thing in this situation, it would be______________.” I have found that gets me headed in the right direction as well.
- How will I let the message of Christ impact me today? What’s my gratitude list?