YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Long ago, on May 29, 2011, I wrote the following in my journal:

My devotional planner posed the questions: What is your goal? What do you want to win? Will you gain the prize?

You know what my goal is, Lord. Removing stigma. Christian support for mental illness. But it is a goal which I’m sure won’t be reached till future generations. My goal should be to set a firm foundation of better acceptance of people with mental illness. That, thanks to you God, has been started.

The goal will never be completely reached. There will always be more work to do, and that’s a neat thing. I’ll never need to completely retire, although I do pray there will be a younger, passionate person to take my place one day. Please God. Give me that person.

And what do I want to win? I just plain want the pleasure of seeing Christians with mental illness feel less alone, grow in their faith, trust God more, be supported in love, grow so that they in turn can support other Christians.

It will be a better world. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We’re not just working for the future. What we’re doing is making a better world right now, little by little making it better.

Thank you God, for letting me play a part in this plan of yours. Yes, Lord, I believe you have a plan to help Christians get behind people with mental illness—to learn to understand them, and to support them in the way you would—the way followers of Christ would.

Please God, help me work effectively to this end. Please help me to listen for your voice, for your direction so that many will find healing.

marja