encouragement

Finding Mental Health Lighthouses: Navigating Stormy Seas with Wisdom

The Kedge Anchor

Imagine you are out at sea on a stormy night. It’s dark, there are no stars in the night sky to guide you. You’re being tossed by waves and no sight of land. All feels hopeless. Until you see a light in the distance. A lighthouse, a light to guide your way to shore, to safety. You let out a sigh of relief, you feel encouraged, it’s gonna be ok. When you reach the shore all your fears are calmed and you know you can make it until the storm passes.

Have you been there? I know I have. Some of those storms like the storms of discouragement, have been just squalls passing through, others have been more severe, hanging around for a while. Being tossed and battered by my own thoughts or the outward events happening around me, I need something to help me, someone to help me. Whether it’s just a passing or the storm is sticking around for while, we all need encouragement through the rough seasons. Who or what to you turn to? What helps you navigate the stormy waters of discouragement when there is no light, no stars. Who or what are your lighthouses?

I am not a counselor and this blog is not about mental health, however, we need to be healthy mentally. This blog and blog post is just for encouragement. I have found some ways to cope and manage on the days when the waves of discouragement are overwhelming. I am just sharing what has helped me. So if you feel you need or just want to talk a professional counselor please click here to find one in your area.

Through the month of June we’ll be looking ways to find some mental health lighthouses for encouragement. With scripture we will reveal wisdom to help us find hope and direction.

Lighthouse – Trusted friends and family. Having a support system of friends and family is what God created for, community. Some days we need to reach out to others. Being discouraged and mental health challenges are not a sign of weakness. There has been a stigma over the decades of having a mental illness or diagnosis. That stigma, I believe to be diminished. With all the apps and commercials about mental health, it’s clear that this stigma is losing it’s punch. It’s not uncommon for someone to seek counseling just to get them through a tough situation.

It’s ok to feel sad, depressed, mad, anger, anxious. And at times we do feel do feel discouraged. God created you, He created us to feel these emotions, sometimes we need help processing them. He is not surprised at any time if you experience these emotions, He’s not angry with you if feel depressed or hopeless. He wants you to pour out your heart to Him. Jesus experienced these emotions the night before His crucifixion, – Matthew 26:36-46. He understands these emotions. He understands you because He created you. More importantly, He wants you, He wants to help you, He loves you – John 3:16.

Some will try to console by saying “You just need a little more faith.” It’s not about not having a lot of faith. Jesus just asks for mustard seed faith, Matthew 17:20. Even when we doubt He is there to help us. “… Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” – Matthew 9:23-24. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1.

We all at some point will face discouragement, depression, anxiety. You are not weak because you doubt, but be mindful of where it’s coming from. We have an enemy who likes to cause us to doubt. After all that is how he got Eve to sin, – Genesis 3. You’re not weak for feeling depressed and needing to reach out. Sometimes we just need a little help, a little encouragement. Who do you reach out to? Who is your support system? Many people are lonely and if you are one of those people who doesn’t have support system, if you’re not already, search for a local Bible believing church. Join, get involved, reach out and become part of a great community.

If you know of someone who maybe facing loneliness, reach out. Not sure how follow over the month of June for some ways to encourage others.

In the posts to follow we will find how we can find more lighthouses to help us navigate the stormy seas of life.

*** This blog post inspired by “Wisdom for Mental Health” – YouVersion

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Published by The Kedge Anchor

The Kedge Anchor - Anchored in Hope “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul…” Hebrews 6:19 The Kedge Anchor - About Welcome to the Kedge Anchor. This blog started from a time in my life where I no longer liked changes. Changes, like the waves in the ocean can turn us upside down sometimes and the currents of this life can take us to places we really didn’t intend to go. But changes are a part of life and the older I get the less I like them. Maybe you can relate. Sometimes storms form over the ocean and totally churn up our lives like the ocean floor. And when all is finally over, we feel depleted, drained, exhausted. Turning to God’s word first is always a good place to start and gain footing again. And sometimes God leads us to other sources for encouragement, family, friends, church family, and oddly enough, for me, back to the still calm waters (of the ocean). Kedging is a nautical term “to draw (a vessel) along by hauling in on the cable of a light anchor that has been dropped at some distance from it, or (of a vessel) to be drawn in this fashion “ https://www.thefreedictionary.com/kedging Kedging is done in calm waters when one needs the boat to move forward or in the case when one is going against the wind. The sailor casts the kedge anchor out in the waters and pulls the boat towards the anchor. In a season of wait, when we feel like we are at a stand still and perhaps we aren’t hearing God’s voice or when we are in the middle of the storm, we can draw to Him. (James 4:8) We can cast our anchor (of hope) out and take a step in faith toward God, read the Bible, recall a favorite verse, and cling to HIs words. He is our anchor for our soul (Heb. 6:19). When the storms and currents of life are changing our course and we find ourselves going against the wind, we can remain steadfast in His Word and love. Be encouraged. You are not alone. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you…” James 4:8

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