Needing to Be Knownਨਮੂਨਾ

Last week in our church’s staff meeting, we had a friend of mine who is a mental health professional come in and share her thoughts on the current state of people’s mental health. She explained that there are important pillars to mental health. Good sleep, nutrition, relationships, exercise, purposeful work, and spiritual engagement. One of the highest pillars was relationships. She explained that the majority of clients are people who simply need a friend. A good friend can listen, give wise advice, and love in tough times.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

Counselors can be an incredible resource I would encourage you to use, but they were never meant to replace friendship. She explained that studies show those with a good support system are far less likely to have poor mental health, and I am living proof of this. My mental health was at its lowest when I had no nearby friends. FaceTime, writing letters, and phone calls to long-distance friends got me through, but I learned I needed people close to me, proximity-wise. I needed in-person interaction.

I found an incredible small group of women my age in a nearby church, and those weekly meetings saved me through a really tough time. We shared disappointments and celebrations together while studying the word. I would come into those meetings feeling irritated, stressed, and leave filled with hope.

Today's challenge: Find a small group, a book club, an exercise group, something that will get you out of the house and into the presence of another. Take notice of what happens to your mindset before and after. This is an indicator of whether these could be your people.