THE LIES WE BELIEVE
Do you know what happened on December 15, 1967? It was a major moment in American history. The Silver Bridge collapsed killing 46 people that connected Point Pleasant, WV to Gallipolis, OH over the Ohio River. The collapse was attributed to micro stresses – small and almost unseen to the naked eye that caused the catastrophe. A small fracture formed in a part of the bridge that was one of the many components that held the bridge deck in place. The fracture too small by itself to cause damage, was the result of a design flaw. The flaw allowed salt and water to seep into the component – which led to corrosion and cracking. The one component was not working, the load shifted to similar parts of the bridge. The cumulative shifting led to an overload on the working parts of the bridge that led to the disaster. This would change how things were done in the future to promote safer bridges. Inspections of bridges became standard and quality standards of new bridges hit a higher and safer level. One little stress ultimately led to a total collapse.
This isn’t just a story about bridges – it’s also a story about our mental health. Mental health is something that deteriorates one little stress at a time. Things happen to us and they cumulate over time and eventually lead us to collapse.
Here are some lies that we often believe about mental health and our health. They may not seem like much, but like little micro stresses, over time, they can cause us to have mental health breakdowns.
1. LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Being healthy doesn’t mean having a bad memory. We may not recall where we put our glasses or keys, and that is a bad memory; but hurtful things that have been done to us that leave scars for a lifetime we don’t just forget. For the past to not have power over us (or at least less power), we have to go back and deal with it before we can move forward. We can’t just forget it or pretend it didn’t happen – it will eventually come to the surface. Like the micro stresses in the bridge, the past will catch up to us and cause us great damage if we don’t deal with it. Usually, we need a trained and licensed counselor to help us work through our past to allow God to redeem us and make us healthier.
2. JESUS FIXES EVERYTHING
One of the lies that many have been told in the church is that when you come to Jesus, everything in your life will be happy and healthy. I’ve yet to experience that. I don’t see that in the bible. I don’t know any authentic Christian or friend who is following Christ that has experienced this as well. The early apostles had many struggles. Paul had many bad things happen to him, including a thorn in the side that never went away.
The people who follow Jesus that I respect most have gone through some very difficult times – even mental challenges like anxiety, PTSD and depression. Jesus did say we can have his peace and the abundant life – but these don’t mean I will never have a problem, suffer, feel pain, or experience loss. And as mental health professionals who are also Christians remind us, we don’t apply this same thinking to physical challenges. If someone has a broken leg or cancer, we don’t say, “come to Jesus or have more faith and these things will go away.” No, we say go to the doctor and get the proper treatment so you can get better.
Sure some use a bible verse as a Band-Aid and some will rebuke you for your lack of faith while others still believe mental health or depression isn’t a real health issue. But from what we have learned over the years, we need more than these things to cope with our mental health challenges.
As counselor Debra Fileta states, “Mental illness doesn’t reflect a character issue; it reflects a chemistry issue. And mental health challenges only cause us to be stronger, not weaker”1
We know with mental health issues, certainly we are going to pray and trust God for direction, but there are steps we are going to need to take if we hope to overcome them, manage them and be healthier. Jesus is the ultimate answer to everything – but He still calls us to make use of what He has given to us here on earth – other people, medicine, doctors, counselors, support groups and friends to find healing and better health.
3. YOU’RE IN PAIN BECAUSE GOD IS PUNISHING YOU
This is a lie that has been wrestled with going back to Job. But just as he found out that God wasn’t punishing him, so to we need to understand that God is for us, not against us. What we learn from Jesus is that God is a God of grace, not revenge and punishment. Grace that says no matter how you are…how you behave…how much you sin – God still loves you…God still desires to forgive you…and that you can’t earn salvation or a relationship with Him based on your goodness. More Christians, and people of other faiths and even people who don’t think of themselves as religious, suffer needlessly when they are already dealing with difficult situations or add to their pain by thinking when they are hurting that God is getting them back or punishing them for something they had done. Remember, Jesus came to bring you into the light to find healing, freedom and grace, not punishment.
These are just three of the lies that cause people mental, emotional and spiritual anguish. May you take some time this month, during Mental Health Awareness month, to assess not only where you are with these three lies, but your overall mental health. There are resources to be found on our website to help you assess your mental health.
Until next month, stay healthy and God bless you!
Jack
