by Scott Box I have noticed how people talk about their faith as they go about their lives—It seems to me that many folks believe that while God loves them, He is simply tolerating or waiting around for them to screw things up. They think the sun has set, and God wants them to trip around in the darkness because He is disappointed in them. I have had these thoughts, too. But even though I manage Bipolar disorder every day of my life, I do not act like God is simply putting up with me. I do not believe I have to fumble around in painful pitch blackness. Instead, I recognize that God longs for ..read more

by Peggy Rice In my personal 10-year journey through depression, I often found myself stuck. I would ruminate on negative thoughts – things like “I’m all alone,” “I will never get better,” “This is as good as it’s going to get,” “God can’t see me.” The list goes on and on. I was overwhelmed with the many things that I knew could help me get better, but I couldn’t do any of them. I felt paralyzed by them – exercise, eat right, get on a regular sleep schedule, do something I love to do, hang out with friends, pray, read my Bible. Again, the list goes on and on! I couldn’t see a way forward. I f ..read more

By Mark Soppitt For some years now I have been following a fairly unpredictable and often challenging path out of long-term mental illness to discover who the ‘me’ of the 2020’s really is. With diagnoses of Bipolar II, PTSD, and a mild cognitive disorder, I have had to navigate some stormy waters. Sometimes it has been discouraging, such as when I had to quit a job I had been doing well for five years due to some cognitive impairment issues that began to affect my performance. These times can appear bleak and I have had to work hard on my mindset, refusing to lose hope, and believing that the ..read more

By Scott Box When it comes to Bipolar awareness, it seems to me that many people don’t want to know anything more than that I’m not going to freak out, embarrass them or do something dangerous that could hurt myself or others. The truth is, I want to know the same thing about people, and even the pets, in my life—“You’re not going to hurt me, right?” is the question I want to be answered most. I don’t intend to be reductive, but most people have their problems and don’t have the resources to process my mood disorder. I get it. I don’t have the time or even the capability to be mindful of ever ..read more

By Mike Jacquart Waiting on the Lord is always a good idea. This can be particularly true during challenging periods in our lives. This was particularly true for me roughly twenty years ago. In large part due to my undiagnosed mental health conditions, the working world had long been challenging for me. This was an obstacle that reached its ugly apex after I lost two jobs in less than two years. (I explained how depression can wreak havoc in the workplace in my Voices of Hope presentation earlier this month.) Unsure what to do next, I leaned on the Lord like never before. Jeremiah 29:11 ..read more

By Scott Box Crisis. I didn’t see the movie Fight Club when 20th Century Fox released it in 1999. It was simply an issue of having been released into theaters the same year my wife, Kariann, and I were married—We were too poor to go to the theater. I admit that I begged Kariann to make an exception for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace—and grrrrrr, I was disappointed in the movie. Anyway, I tried to watch Fight Club years later, but I didn’t have the stomach to get very far. But I do remember a scene in the movie where one of the main characters, Tyler Durden ..read more

By Carla Villarán I found a family where I least expected it, Among people confused and in need of hope, Amid people who can’t see the light they radiate, With laughter hidden behind many nights of tears. They are a lighthouse in the sea, and they don’t realize it, Their stories inspire me, They are calm amid the storm. I am guided through them with their testimonies laden with wise experience, And they believe it is I who encourage them with my eloquence. But I am only a mirror of the Eternal’s Grace A product of His mercy, A reflection of the Architect, A mere fragile vessel, A tool, and cl ..read more

By Mark Soppitt Do you remember the day you stood before witnesses and read aloud your wedding vows? They probably included words of commitment such as “…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” These are weighty words, and yet they offer so much hope in life’s challenges, such as when mental illness enters a marriage. It’s at such times that the words we spoke, perhaps decades before, really matter. This was so for Janet and I, who married at 22. Whilst Janet poetically recited the famous covenant words of Ruth to me, “Where you go I ..read more

by Peggy Rice, Hope Coach Trainer “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.“  Proverbs 18: 24b Now combine that verse with what Jesus says in Matthew 28:20: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” That’s the ultimate friendship. A forever friendship with Jesus. As a Hope Coach, I’ve spoken to many people who feel alone, without friends who understand. They feel like they’re the only one going through what they’re going through. All by themselves. Maybe it’s a mental health challenge. Maybe it’s loving someone with a mental health challenge. Maybe it’s just a ..read more

Pastor Brad As winter sets in, it can be challenging to keep your spirits up, with shorter days, colder temperatures, and fewer outdoor activities opportunities. The dark and gloomy days can also cause feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can take a toll on our mental health. I’ve suffered from depression during the winter months more times than I’d like to admit. I’m also one of “those people” who often doesn’t do the simple things of taking care of myself physically and emotionally. Yet, I know better! Why, oh why, do I struggle to do the things that are good for me? Because I strugg ..read more