As I reflect on the forever memorable year of 2020, one thing that stands out to me was an
overwhelming need for each other. Many people found themselves completely isolated and alone and
struggling with feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and depression.
It may surprise some of you to hear that there may be people who sit next to you in church every week that struggle with mental health needs, maybe leaders in your church and perhaps even you.
As a social worker I talk with people on a daily basis that struggle with these feelings and reach out looking for help and answers. The first thing to remember is you are not alone, and God did not intend for any of us to travel this journey alone.
First, we must seek the Lord, be in His word, and spend time in prayer. We hear through-out the scripture do not be afraid, don’t worry, and you are not alone which tells me that God knew we would need those words of encouragement.
Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “There is no reason to fear; you are not alone”.
Psalms 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted”.
God knows our needs and wants us to know He is right by our side. God also wants us to seek each other when we are in need. Remember that story in Exodus 17 when Moses held the staff while Joshua and the men fought Amalek. As long as Moses held up his hands Joshua and the men would prevail, but when his arms grew weak, they would begin to fall and the enemy would gain ground. God provided Moses with Aaron and Hur in his time of need. When Moses was too weak to do it on his own, his friends literally supported his hands through the battle.
We must have Christian friends and mentors in our lives to do just that; hold us up and support us in our times of weakness. Statistics from a recent study with Lifeway Research found that 1 in 4 pastors acknowledge they have struggled with mental illness. Too often we believe as Christians and especially ministry leaders that it is our job to be the strength and support for everyone else. When in fact, reaching out for help is necessary to have the strength and mindset needed to be able to minster to others. We need each other to pray, listen, support, understand, and care.
There are also times when it takes more than a friend to listen and support, and it is necessary to seek
professionally trained help. If you know someone struggling encourage them to talk with their doctor or
seek out a sound Christian counselor to talk with. If you need support, don’t wait to reach out. There
are some sites listed below that have some great resources for mental wellness.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/mental-health-resources/
https://mentalhealthgracealliance.org/
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNe
You can also reach out to the General Baptist team for additional resources.
About the Author: Julie Mathias has been a pastor’s wife for 21 years. She is currently serving with her husband Andy at Salmons General Baptist Church. They have 2 boys; Caleb and Drew. Julie is a social worker and has worked in the behavioral health field for 23 years.