Reviving Hope

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.

Follow this blog to receive more encouragements like this.

Blessings,

Bronnie

Song – Living Hope

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Parenting with a mental illness can be humbling. It can also be testing of the joy we once knew in our family. At one stage of recovery I watched people being responsive to my baby and toddler while I felt I wasn’t. I tried not to judge myself or feel worse (if that were possible!). It was what it was. I felt some maternal feelings, but I was blunted in my feelings and thoughts due to the medications I needed to be on (the benefits way out weighted the side effects). It was a huge achievement me just being out of hospital and managing to stay with my family.

I needed to notice each thing I could do. Many tasks took a mountain of courage or energy I didn’t feel I had. I was racked with anxiety and was at times despairing. Becoming stronger and more well in myself was a long journey. I seemed blind to how far I’d come because of the discomfort I still felt. But others had eyes to notice and tell me of the progress I was making. My friend and mentor Bron Tait (another Bronnie) encouraged me often with what progress she was noticing in me. I also learnt to take note of the smallest of positive changes in my thoughts, feelings or just what I was able to do.

A Mindfulness Journal

A practice I’ve found incredibly helpful is to keep a journal of small things I have made progress in. I might write only one or two lines. Writing something I’m grateful to God for – builds my faith in his faithfulness. As I became increasingly well I often wrote something small I’d managed. It could have been driving somewhere new, or going to church and talking to someone after the service. I haven’t always been the best at noting progress down but I have found it rewarding. By pausing and noticing we build gratitude and hope in God’s resurrection power at work in us. We look for more change because we know Christ is alive in us. It may sound very basic or too simple – that’s what makes it achievable. We can note God’s grace in our weakness, and then respond to him. It’s a form of worship.

• 

Back in that time period I had suddenly lost the confidence to do the smallest of things. Tiny victories can be tangible signs of growth and hope. They build on each other bringing strength.  You know the victories that are significant to you. Re-reading over them builds faith in God’s faithfulness to you and your family. His mercies are new every morning. So if we look carefully we will see God revealing himself to us every day (Lamentations 3:22). It is victory building on victory. Let’s believe for more of these.

Prayer- Father God thank you that you love me and my family. I can depend on you to give us everything we need to get through this. Please provide for us in these ways… I lean into you with my whole self. I can trust you with my family. You are good. Your grace is sufficient for us.

In peace,

Bronnie

 

As a child did you sit on the grass in summer picking flowers apart while chanting “he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me? There was something fun about predicting love. Over the years when life has gone well and I feel God’s presence, I believe that He loves me. It feels good. I know it with my head and feel it in my soul. Of course He loves me.

Then in times of mental and emotional struggle I can feel anxious and low. It’s as if God has up and left the room. I have found it difficult to believe in the love that is mine. I want to feel it desperately. I need peace, a rest from my thoughts. These can be times when I get ‘stuck’ on the fact that I still sin. I’ve forgotten my identity as a beloved child of God. I’ve lost sight of the universe of grace. I have wondered how God could love someone like me? He loves me not.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13 New International Version

 

We don’t need ten good reasons as to why God loves us. God delights in His Creation. You were known, knitted together and loved before you were born. If we remember one thing it is that we are the pinnacle of his love – his vulnerable love shown by sending Jesus to die for us. There is no greater love than this.

We may chop and change in our beliefs, but God’s love is permanent. He has always loved you and always will. God tells us He is love Himself. We can’t convince God not to love us, but we do need to agree with God to find peace. Saying powerful but simple truths can help bring us freedom and wellbeing. Short prayers can help minister God’s love and faith to us. You may like to use Scripture or something like this:

 You love me Father, You love me, You’ve always loved me. I know you love me because you sent Jesus. Holy Spirit remind me of your love in my heart. Amen.

In His love,

Bronnie

 

 

 

Goodness and Love Following You

So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life

Psalm 23:6 The Passion Translation

As a new year begins I am reminded that how we feel about another year isn’t always happy or hopeful. This time of the year can be difficult for many reasons. Many of them involve emotional strains. Jesus told us that in this life we shouldn’t be surprised by troubles. Some seasons of suffering feel like they have followed us into another year – uninvited.  At our worst we may lose hope to recover our lives. That has been me. Seven years ago I became severely mentally unwell followed by a long period of depression and anxiety. I had experienced mental illness in earlier years yet this new episode brought the biggest challenge of my life. I have experienced a very good recovery. That said I also continue to experience ongoing healing from God. 

One result of my journey is that I’m passionate about encouraging others who need small sized encouragements from Scripture and inspiration to persevere. I know that reading the Bible can be difficult for some people experiencing mental illness. I hope that a small encouragement may give food for thought and soul. I enjoy taking photos so will weave reflections on Scripture, and media along with something of my own experience. I chose this photo above because our native forest is lush. Life flourishes under the canopy of mighty trees and fresh water. Creation truly speaks to us of God’s goodness.

This song by Lauren Daigle is great to soak in God’s love and provision for everything we need – for today and every tomorrow.

Call to Mind

Calling to mind what God has done in our lives is like God’s medical care for our souls. Write down a few ways you can see God’s goodness in your life last year…e.g., family, friends, a home 

Prayer

Father give me the eyes to see your goodness and love already in my life today, and every day I’ve ever lived. Your goodness and love are the same for me yesterday, today and forever. You never change. You are love, you are good. Help me to lean with all I have into you. Amen

God bless you,

Bronnie Tressler