Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Category: Day by Day (page 6 of 28)

Excluded – Part 23

IN THE NAME OF JESUS When a study group was being formed promising to promote deeper relationships, she wasted no time putting her name down. She needed friends and had been waiting for such an opportunity for years. But two days before the first meeting, she received a call saying she would not be included. […]

Read More...

An insecure friend – Part 22

IN THE NAME OF JESUS Words from a very insecure person: I’ve felt great pain at times when I sent emails to a good friend and didn’t hear back soon enough. Eventually a reply always came. Such a relief that was! I almost panicked, beginning to doubt whether she still cared about me. Such a […]

Read More...

Godly friends – Part 21

IN THE NAME OF JESUS “I’m listening.” Those are my favorite words—words repeated frequently by a friend of mine. What else can a person say when they can’t fully understand what you’re going through? When they care but they can’t help in practical ways. When they know that advising wouldn’t be helpful. When a friend […]

Read More...

The leprosy of mental illness – Part 20

IN THE NAME OF JESUS Where do you go when you have an illness that medical professionals and counselors don’t want to deal with—treated like an untouchable in a more modern world? Have you ever thought what that would feel like? It’s happening all the time to people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In their […]

Read More...

Psychosis – Part 19

IN THE NAME OF JESUS A long time ago—before modern medications existed: One person’s experiences: I suspected there had been something strange going on with my mind for months—thoughts and experiences I wasn’t able to understand. I was confused, couldn’t make sense of what was happening around me or within me. Found myself doing bizarre […]

Read More...

Overcoming injustice with love – Part 18

IN THE NAME OF JESUS The radical changes Jesus brought into the world could only have been possible through his great love. In fact, generally speaking, probably the greater the love, the greater will be the justice that can be brought about. Is creating a just society even possible without love? A key part of […]

Read More...

Feeling rejected – Part 17

IN THE NAME OF JESUS In the words of someone who has been there: I’ve told many about how stigma has affected me. My story. My pain. But I realize everyone has a story. Everyone has experienced some form of rejection. It must be one of the worst sources of emotional pain. For many of […]

Read More...

The problem with advice – Part 16

IN THE NAME OF JESUS We had an important rule at the support group I led for many years. It came from the Quaker writer Parker J. Parker: “No fixing, no saving, no advising, no setting each other straight.” That must have been the single most important rule we had, and we kept ourselves to […]

Read More...

Can we forgive stigma? Part 15

IN THE NAME OF JESUS Few people realize the extent of the pain caused by stigma. Please hear what this lady experiences. What can you and I do to bring healing to her? My struggles are no longer so much about my illness as I have learned to handle that now, especially with the medicines […]

Read More...

Tell them of his love – Part 14

IN THE NAME OF JESUS There are those who have never felt real love before. They don’t know what real joy is. Could we help them feel what God’s love is like—the love they truly need? The Bible tells us that everything is possible with God. Friends might wonder what this love we speak of […]

Read More...
Older posts Newer posts

© 2025 Marja Bergen

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑