EMOTIONAL DISTRESS CAN DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD – from Dr. Harold G. Koenig, M.D.

“C.S. Lewis said. “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is his megaphone to a deaf world.” (The Problem of Pain) Indeed, it is emotional stress that gets our attention and stretches our coping abilities to their maximum. As those coping abilities are stretched, a person is more likely to call out to God for assistance or have greater interest in spiritual matters that give hope for relief. Adversity often shows that a person’s own skills and resource are not sufficient to get him or her out of a situation, and that only when he or she taps into that which is beyond and outside of the self, healing is found.” – Excerpt from Faith & Mental Health,

 

Comments from Marja:

Notice how C.S. Lewis said that God “shouts to us in our pain.” God calls out to us. Dr. Koenig says that through our emotional pain God gets our attention and we are drawn to him.

I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve been in hospital a few times because of mental health difficulties. I was amazed how often—in talking to fellow patients—the topic of God came up in discussion. I so very much witnessed a hunger for God there. Maybe that was why my faith-based Living Room group was so popular, especially at its beginning in 2006-8. Many were being shamed out of their churches during those days and longed for a place where they could freely talk about their faith and their mental health together.

Faith is one of the most important needs for those who struggle with mental health challenges. Spiritual food from those who want to support them is much needed.

(If you have a hunger for such spiritual food, consider signing up to receive my Reflections on Scripture devotionals. They would come to your inbox twice a week. Email me at marja@marjabergen.com to request it.)

marja