Mental Health Meets Faith
I’m a girl who knows what it’s like to be led around by my feelings. Prior to getting married, I came to grips with the fact that I struggled (hard) with anxiety and had for all of my life. I pursued therapy, talked with friends, and started processing the sorts of things that lead to fear dominating my life. It was the beginning of my healing journey, and it has been a transformative experience. However, for a long while, […]
One thing I have learned from my clinical therapy experience is that the phones tend to ring as the cold weather settles in and the rush of the holiday season commences. There is something about this season, though wonderful, that can usher in feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety and amplify already tense relational and familial circumstances.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps. 34:18) I was sick to my stomach over Tuesday’s news. 22 lives lost. 19 precious babies. 2 teachers. 1 troubled 18 year old boy. I have no children of my own, but I cherish my 3 beautiful nieces. My husband and I are looking forward to having a baby of our own. As such, I have been doing a […]
You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows. So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you! (Psalm 23:5-6) In many ways, Thanksgiving […]
This morning as I was driving to church the beauty of the day struck me. The sky was amazingly bright and blue. I found myself thanking God and filled with joy. Along the ride, I began to notice that up ahead were massive gray clouds that appeared as a wall before me. Even though I was surrounded by blue sky, clouds loomed up ahead. As I arrived at my destination, at first glance, I could no longer see the sun. Dark […]
Recently, in our corner of the world, we had a hurricane threat. I’m not one to pay much attention to all the weather hype, but the messages we were experiencing were intense. Protect your property and your life. Make sure to have food, fuel, etc. for at least three days. Expect to be without power. News channels reported a potential direct hit by said hurricane. The day before the storm I was working my retail […]
With the wind at my back, I make my ascent up the Mountain of Life with my Lion King at my side. We enjoy one another’s companionship through the heat of the day and the cool of the night. Our hearts have become intertwined and with each passing day I feel more free and fully me. Along the way, we encounter the entrance to a cave marked Fear. I hear the whispered hush of voices […]