Hope is in the air. Mental health advocate Mike King has joined with Kiwi Bank with the campaign ‘I Am Hope’. It is inspiring and is set to give NZ youth suffering from depression with timely counseling help. Using a Facebook portrait frame that says, ‘I Am Hope’ and the bank gives a dollar to this cause. In the past days David Letele led an exercise boot camp event at Mount Eden Stadium with over 1700 people attending. The event organiser was motivated by our country’s high obesity rates. When interviewed Latele spoke of our national suicide statistics and linked the issue of teen depression with the need to exercise.
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
1 Peter 1:3-4
Despair has been part of my journey so I don’t take hope or joy for granted. Maybe this is part of your story too. One way I describe my experience was that depression crept to my bones. I was very unwell, and despairing for some time. The depression affected all my relationships, my ability to care for my children and to do normal activities of daily life.
My recovery has been long but ‘full-bodied’. With help I addressed all aspects of my well-being through participating in different activities. I will always need to be attentive to my mental well-being. Latele makes that important link between lifestyle and happiness. As Christians we can sometimes load our hopes of recovery on more ‘spiritual’ activities such as reading the Bible while ignoring other things like getting physically fit. Western models of health may emphasise some aspects of a person and not another. But a Māori model of health by Dr Mason Durie, called Te Whare Tapa Whā (the four-sided house), is embracing of the complete person. In this model the person is pictured as: a wharenui a house, being made up of a structure of the four equal sides: spiritual; taha wairua, social; taha whānau, mental/emotional; taha hinengaro, physical; taha tinana and is in relationship with the whenua, the land. This is how God has created us. We are holistic beings who naturally need renewing in an holistic way.
The name of this blog you are reading is Embody Hope (the name has since been updated). You could think of it as being about living a full-bodied hope. Jesus has been my eternal hope but when I was depressed I needed new hope for living, and to know Jesus resurrection power in me – restoring my life. God’s hope grew in me as I participated in things such as hospital stays, taking medications, family care, exercise, pastoral care, psychological help, church, a good diet, friendships and interests. In this blog I will explore topics that bring together faith, and many different aspects of mental well-being. I would also like to draw on the rich life experience of others. I am passionate about Jesus and the hope He brings those who believe.
For those in the midst of it… persevere. Giving up can be attractive but perseverance goes hand in hand with hope. Keep putting one step in front of the other. It’s an act of faith, it pleases God. We need to be committed to partnering with God in the land of the living. You can know hope again – Jesus Christ’s resurrection power in you. That is reason to have hope. Kia toa – be brave, kia mau– hang in there .
Prayer
Jesus you are my living hope. Help me feel your hope and comfort me. Provide the people and what I need for recovering. Guide me in how I can help myself get well. Fill me right now Holy Spirit, let hope rise up in me. Thank you LORD.
Do seek help from your GP if you need support.
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Blessings,
Bronnie
Reviving Hope 