Author Archives
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Strength for the Weary: How the Word and Prayer Help Us Carry the Load (Part 13 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. For some, that pain feels like a weight they cannot lift. They may feel like they must perform faith perfectly, or they worry that their struggle means they don’t have enough faith. But the means of grace—preaching, prayer, fellowship, the sacraments, and pastoral presence—are not tools we use to prove our faith. They are gifts God gives to sustain us when we are weak, weary, and unable to carry everything alone.
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Supporting Family Caregivers: Caring for the Ones Who Hold Everything Together (Part 10 of 13)
Family caregivers often carry the heaviest emotional load in a mental health struggle, yet they are easy to overlook. A church that cares well for the person in crisis should also care for the spouse, parent, sibling, or child who is trying to hold everything together.
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A Church Policy That Makes Compassion Easier to Practice (Part 9 of 13)
When someone is in crisis, church leaders often feel unsure what to do. They may worry about doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, or even hurting someone by accident. A good church policy for mental health care should make compassion easier to practice, not harder. When leaders have clear guidance, they can respond consistently and with confidence, rather than guessing or avoiding the situation.
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Responding to Trauma and Abuse with Presence and Care (Part 8 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. For some, that pain comes from abuse—physical, sexual, emotional, or spiritual—that happened in their family, in their community, or even in a church setting. The church should be the place where they are protected, supported, and helped to find safety.
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Caring Well: The Difference Between Pastoral Care and Clinical Care (Part 4 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. When that happens, people often look first to the church, and that is a good thing. The church should be a place of prayer, presence, encouragement, and wise help.
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Responding to Psychosis with Clarity and Compassion: Staying Present When Someone Is in Crisis (Part 7 of 13)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. For some, that pain becomes so overwhelming that they lose contact with reality in ways that are frightening for them and for those around them. This is what we call psychosis. When someone is experiencing psychosis, the church’s first job is not to fix everything. It is to stay calm and stay present.
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When Someone Talks About Suicide, We Must Respond with Care, Not Judgment (Part 6 of 13)
Suicide and self-harm are not signs of weak faith. They are signs of deep pain. People who are struggling with suicide often feel like they have no way out, no hope, and no one who understands. Our job is to help them feel that they are not alone, that their pain matters, and that there is help.
We Are His Workmanship 