Ask For Help

People are kind of funny, don’t you think?

Maybe odd would be a better word.

We can appear so strong, so independent, so very confident.

“Excuse me, sir. Would you like some assistance?”

“No thanks, I’ve got everything under control.”

Inside we’re falling apart. Yet we’d rather lie and wear our plastered smile, than have anyone think we’re weak and not sure what to do.

Since when is it a sin to ask for help?

Maybe odd isn’t the correct word, either. How about a phrase no one likes to use?

Mentally disturbed.

Mentally ill.

I’m not a trained psychiatrist or psychologist, and I’ve never played one in a school play. But I can tell when something isn’t right.

And it isn’t right to need help, but refuse it because you don’t want to look weak or out of control.

Especially if you’re out of control.

If your arm is bleeding, wouldn’t you let someone give you a bandage?

Mental illness isn’t something people like to discuss, except in a whispered tone. But what’s the difference between a sprained ankle or a strained mind? Not much.

I really believe the body of Christ has dropped the ball on this subject. “Don’t think about it or talk about it; it will go away.” But it doesn’t go away. It gets worse.

Like everything else, it’s a lot easier to fix something if you first know what’s wrong.

I’ve had issues in the past. Moments when I was scared of what I was thinking, but too scared and embarrassed to ask for help. What would people think? Would people want nothing to do with me if they knew of my struggles; my mental anguish?

The Lord has helped me in a couple different ways, AFTER I acknowledged my need for help. First, when I let someone know what I was going through it became easier to talk about. Second, as I began to share with a trusted, and competent counselor, the Lord started revealing to me His peace and stability. I began to get answers.

I began to heal.

People are odd. And they will probably always be that way. But they, we, don’t have to be overrun by mental illness, stress, or anything like it.

There is help. Ask for it.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” (Luke 4:18 NKJV)

Whether you go to a doctor, a counselor, or a prayer partner; healing comes from God.

Just quit trying to fix everything on your own.

You aren’t that strong. No one is.