Compassionate Love Blog: Displaying Compassion for Those Who Struggle With Mental Illness  (c)2016  Nancy Virden, Always the Fight Ministry

Framed degrees and rows of scholarly books cluttered his office,  betraying a long history of study, school loans, difficult exams, sweat, and tears. Who can tell how many frets went into deciding on a college major and committing his life to a helping profession? The investment paid off, and a doctoral certificate with honors loomed over the rest: Doctor of Psychology. Psy.D.

My visit to his office followed a hospital admission due to a suicide attempt. It was challenging to understand why I was seeing him when every nerve in my body furiously commanded me to run. Hope was not within reach.   

Yet a minute perception, a scintilla of cognition, sparked in the back of my clouded mind. Maybe with all his training and experience, this doctor knows something I do not. He has been around this block with many people – perhaps I should listen.  

A different client, intimidated by the busy wall of honors and graduate degrees, left the program. Each of us needed hope and searched in the same place for it.  Only one found it there.

Search for hope

It seems America often goes over the edge trying to find a leader, any leader, to solve all its problems. Young adults and teens are turning their backs on the church in record numbers, preferring hope in humanity’s possibilities instead. Many church attendees hunger for mega-size programs more than for God’s Word.

Financial security is on the minds of poor and rich alike as a means to happiness. Education and science serve as a safe harbor to differing people. Celebrities and other gods of our design come and go. Beauty, fame, and power are landing sites for flights of fancy. Millions anticipate the day romance will make them whole.

Shifting Sand

The problem is, hope placed in what is temporary and unstable will evaporate. Not one of these false hopes prevents us from death. Nothing on earth is eternal.

In 2011, although the Christian faith was a major part of daily life, my hope for happiness was bound up in what would never be. Pretending hadn’t helped. When the realization of this truth caused my false hope to shrivel up, I lost my reason to live.

Since that time of darkness, my eyes have adjusted to the light of reality. This world and everything in it is like shifting sand. Change is inevitable. It hurts, but humans fail, humans move on, and humans die.  

Unchanging hope

My hope is now placed in what does not change. Steadfast, faithful, and unfailing – these are the foundations on which to build, or else why bother? Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, and yes, his promised return, are more substantive in my thinking than before. The Bible says he is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  

We like to limit the authority of our objects of hope. We like to decide how and when our gods serve us. Almighty God himself is often perceived as a villain or genie. He is neither.

He asks us to trust him and does not throw us away when we are stubborn. He never stops inviting us back. This is Mercy. 

God is there during hurts, fears, and laughter. Peace and inner strength waver when we neglect to spend time with him through Bible study and prayer. God never walks away. This is Faithfulness.

Lost in the consequences of our sin, he walks us through yet another life lesson using His living Word, the Holy Bible. He raises us up and sets our feet back on solid ground. This is Love. 

Recently, a woman struggling with suicidal thoughts asked the reason I stay alive when major depression challenges my thinking.  The answer is simple: because the God of mercy, faithfulness, and love has me breathing. I surrender to the One who has been around this block with millions of believers. He knows what I do not.

There is no need for framed proof of his wisdom  – nature advertises his authority. His plan for those who believe on his Son Jesus Christ to be with him for eternity is exactly right.

In him lives eternal hope. 

Today’s Helpful Word

1 Peter 1 : 3-5 The Message

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven – and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all – life healed and whole.

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Comments are always welcome (see tab below) NOTE: I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I speak only from personal experiences with and observations of mental illness. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental health care.