Most of us already know that the month of May is dedicated to Mental Health Awareness. It’s a time to shine a light on our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It’s about how we think, feel, and act. How we handle stress, relate to others, make decisions, and navigate life in all its complexity.
Some people are more aware of, and more in tune with their inner (spirit) man than others. But as believers, we are called to be intentional about caring for our soul. The Bible encourages us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), renew our minds (Romans 12:2), and to cast our burdens on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). After all, the heart is the wellspring of life, so how can a broken soul truly rejoice?
This month, I’ve tried to use my socials to bring more attention to the silent struggles many of us carry. I’ve been checking in on others but more importantly, I’ve been doing a lot of inner work. So much that I’ve become painfully aware of all my flaws.
Of course, none of us is perfect, nor will we ever be. But I firmly believe that we each owe it to ourselves and to God to become the best version of who we were created to be.
Life is no fairytale and there’s no prince on a white horse waiting to save me (except Jesus Christ). So the best thing I can do is try to heal from my wounds and grow into the woman God has called me to be.
Even before the month of May began, I was already on a journey of self-discovery. Questioning my choices in life, trying to understand why I think the way I do, why I react the way I react, why i think a certain way. Figuring out what my passion is, what good traits I’ve lost and the bad traits I’ve taken on. I began identifying unhealthy coping mechanisms and working to unlearn habits that no longer serve God or serve me. The truth is, until you sit down with yourself, you often don’t realize how deep the issues go.
Ask yourself:
- What experiences have shaped me?
- Was it for better or worse?
- Who was I before that experience? Who am I now?
- Has it changed my worldview? My relationships? My attitude?
- What chains am I still holding on to?
- How does my behavior impact others?
- Would God be proud of who I am becoming?
Sometimes, we notice recurring patterns in our lives, our families, our choices. We find ourselves drawn to the same situations or people, without knowing why. But the thing is there is always a reason, and there are always consequences.
Some of us run when life gets too hard. But have we stopped to ask: Why am I running? What am I afraid of?
Each of us has a God-ordained purpose. And His plans are far greater than what we can imagine (Jeremiah 29:11). But purpose doesn’t always come easy. Sometimes, we confuse pain with punishment, and we try to escape the very process that is meant to mold us.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself:
- What if the thing I’m running from is what God is calling me to?
- What if all I’ve been through was just the training ground, and the real mission hasn’t even begun?
- Am I postponing my destiny because of fear and disobedience?
Some situations are truly uncomfortable, but sometimes they’re necessary.
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:5
My questions for you: What have you experienced that shaped who you are? What might God be trying to teach you in this season? Not every trial is from God, but every season holds a lesson. When you’re in pain, whose voice are you listening to; God’s, the enemy’s, or your own fears?
Mental health and spiritual health are deeply intertwined. Anyone who believes they’re “100% fine” is likely avoiding something. Self-honesty is not weakness, it’s the start of healing. You can’t learn from mistakes you refuse to admit.
But in this journey of confronting your inner struggles, be kind to yourself.
It’s something I often forget. I give grace to others, but not to myself. I sometimes worry that self-kindness might turn into self-enabling. But being kind to yourself doesn’t mean excusing bad behavior, it means practicing tough love, not self-loathing.
Ask yourself:
- What emotional or spiritual gaps have I noticed in myself?
- Do I have someone I can talk to?
- Who was I before life got in the way?
- Who do I believe God is calling me to become?
Before this month ends, I challenge you to do some introspection. Not to label or diagnose yourself with a disorder, but to understand the why behind your actions and patterns.
- Why do you flinch at physical touch?
- Why do you shut down when corrected?
- Why do you isolate yourself?
- Why are you running from the very assignment God gave you?
There’s a saying my high school history teacher used to repeat:
“Om het heden te begrijpen, moet je het verleden kennen.”
(To understand the present, you must know the past.)
It’s not just true of world history, it applies to your story, too.
I pray that you not only find the answers you seek, but also receive the healing your heart longs for. May your soul be comforted, and may every crack be filled with the love of God. Whatever lesson life is teaching you right now, I pray you come out victorious, and that your life becomes a living testimony to the glory of God.
Stay Blessed x
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