I was talking to a close friend a few days ago and I asked him this question,

“Do you ever feel like everybody else ‘gets it’ and you just don’t?”

“All the time.”

I was heartbroken to hear that answer. I care about this guy and love him dearly, so obviously I wanted him to heal. But, I was also fully aware of the feeling he described.

When I was in the midst of my OCD hell, I always felt like everyone else “got it.” You know what I mean by that? It felt like everyone else was cruising through life and I was struggling to even get out of bed. Everyone else seemed like they understood how life worked and had figured out the formula to having peace. I was not so fortunate.

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There is no magic formula to cause your life to go exactly as planned. If there is, then tell me. But, I think I have found something better.

I think this is a dangerous way to look at mental health recovery. Why? Because it puts the pressure on you to figure out what isn’t “figure-outable” (probably a word).

Here is a secret, NOBODY HAS IT ALL TOGETHER. You are not the only one with struggles. Sure, some people may struggle to a greater degree, but, looking at it from an all or nothing perspective is harmful to your mental health.

However, this begs the question, how is it that someone can live a genuinely mentally healthy life, if they do not have it all together?

I can tell you how it does not happen. It is not because said healthy person is a total badass that needs no assistance whatsoever.

There are no mentally healthy Rambos

No the person who is truly mentally healthy is not strong in themself. Rather their strength comes from the One who is strong.

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Who is the most mentally healthy person of all time?

Probably Jesus.

How so? Was it because He was God incarnate and therefore never had any problems? No, multiple times throughout the Gospels we see Jesus hungry, tired, tempted, and crying. Jesus was not immune to struggle. In fact, He never intended to be.

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…

Jesus endured so that He could relate to us. But, how did He live so mentally healthy? “By Myself, I can do nothing” (John 5:30).

Now that’s a weird statement. Jesus is God, He could do anything. What Jesus is saying here is that He is entirely dependent upon His Father who loved Him. He had cast Himself to the leadership of the One who is Love. This is humility. Recognizing my need and God’s provision in light of that. This is the pathway to mental health.

Therefore, let us draw near the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you ever stop to think about that? Jesus isn’t mad at you for having mental health issues. He is not ashamed to call you His. In fact, quite the opposite. He came to this earth for you. Specifically, for you. He came to give you a full life here and a fuller life eternally. He is not stiff arming the weak to welcome the strong. He is opening up his arms to welcome you to Himself.

When He says “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest,” He meant it. That is not a divine hallmark card with no money inside. It is a promise from the One who left the comforts of heaven to enter into your mess.

He also says “Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” The goal is not to come to Him for a one time fix. Again, there is not formula to “getting it.” No Jesus offers a continual healing and rest. But, He wants your heart. Continually.

Offer yourself in prayer to the One who died to have it. Not in a “pressure” sort of way. Rather come as One who is accepting an invitation to rest. You will not be disappointed.