Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

by 28 Comments

Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka are the latest prominent figures to speak publicly about their mental health.  I appreciate anyone who uses their platform – big or small to draw attention to the rising mental health epidemic in our country.  These conversations were hidden in dark corners for too long.  The more we bring these issues to light, the more awareness we have.  The more awareness we have, the better we can recognize early signs and seek help.  Not only for ourselves, but also for others.

 

I have suffered from low level depression and anxiety.  As a result, counseling has been a great help to me.  In addition to my own struggles, family members with different mental health challenges spur me to try to stay informed.  But there is so much I don’t know.

 

Even though I’m no subject matter expert, I couldn’t let World Suicide Prevention Day pass without at least sharing a few resources I found this month.

 

Websites and Articles

 

  1.  Why Olympian Athletes Break Down and Why You Could Be Next – an article from Relevant Magazine by Debra Fileta
  2.  Watch Those Calories!  A Digital Diet for Mental Health from The Gospel Coalition.  David Murray expounds on how our online activities contribute to mental and emotional issues.
  3. Am I Actually Depressed or Just Sad?  by Andrea Jongbloed for Relevant Magazine.  A good primer on recognizing the difference.
  4. How Do I Know if This Counselor is Right for Me?  from Beth Claes and The Gospel Coalition.
  5. KatieRDale.com – formerly BiPolar Brave.  Katie writes with frankness and truth about her struggle against Bipolar disorder.  Spend some time clicking around and reading about her experiences and insight.
  6. hopefortheheart.org  June Hunt’s organization has been around for 35 years and the resource offerings keep getting better and better.  Check out the books, articles, videos, radio program and therapy options with licensed professional counselors.

 

Helpful Numbers

 

Text HELLO to 741741 to connect immediately with a crisis counselor 24/7 for free.  Or chat online at crisistextline.org.  And most importantly, if you are having thoughts about self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or simply dial 911.  Don’t hesitate.

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

My fellow link up host Maree Dee is writing about suicide prevention this month, and doing it much better than me.  She has some great tips for how you can get informed and involved, and some great resources in Suicide Prevention:  Will You Be the One to Save a Life?  Thanks so much, Maree.

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace Truth_Button

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

 

An Update on Trust – One Word 2021

by 19 Comments

Back in January, I shared my One Word focus for the year.  Trust.  I knew I lacked trust in our all-powerful God, so His leading in this direction did not surprise me.  I trust Him with my eternal salvation but not with the care and keeping of myself and my loved ones.  Not truly.  It makes no sense, but I have a feeling I’m not the only one.

 

I have some significant lessons I feel led to share with you, but I confess I’m not sure how to do so.  The biggest issue that I pray and plead with God about is not my story alone to tell.  So out of respect, I must be vague.  I value authenticity and wish I could be completely forthcoming, but I hope you will understand.  And I pray the message still comes across.  Here goes:

 

I shared several scriptures on trust in my original One Word post.  In the months since, I have been a faithful scribe, copying them in longhand almost every day for meditation and memorization purposes.  I have prayed fervently for God to take away this burden of distrust and help me place all the things in His capable hands.  And yet I still hold on.

 

What do I mean by distrust?  Uncontrollable shaking every time I got a phone call about the situation.  Mini panic attacks (never had those before).  Medication to sleep after learning new information.  Heavy anxiety.  No peace whatsoever.  Until God took my knowledge of the issue away.

 

God must have decided that if I couldn’t release the reigns to Him, He would take away any semblance of control I thought I had.  No more new information coming in.  No way to assert my opinions or even the truth of God’s Word into the situation.  I argued with Him.  (Of course, I did.)  How will I know when there’s a new development?  Who else will speak truth into this mess?

 

And in His kind way, God whispered, “I will speak truth into the mess.”  and “I love them even more than you do.”  and “I can handle it.”  I confess that this initially caused me additional anxiety.  But if I’m honest, I also felt relief.  I can’t know.  I can’t do.  I can only pray and be.

 

I prayed for God to help me trust Him and He has delivered.  Not the way I intended, but he did answer that prayer.  He told me in no uncertain terms that he could do this without my help.  And in the absence of information, my anxiety has plummeted.  God forced my obedience, and I thank Him.

 

I still pray daily for this situation.  And I am under no delusions that said situation will turn out the way I want.  But I can have some semblance of rest and peace that God is in control of it.  I need not interfere.  And in the end, He will make all things right.  It’s a promise.

 

My word for the year is TRUST.  And God is forcing me to do so.  Praise the Lord!

Click To Tweet

 

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very presentb]”>[b]”>bb]”>] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling.   Psalm 46:1-3

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up.

 

Sarah J Cullen for candidlychristian.com made me think about a very familiar scripture in a whole new way in Reconcile Like Jesus.  Give it a read and tell me I’m not the only one!  Thanks, Sarah.

 

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate)

 

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 

If you liked this post, I would love you to introduce me to your people by using the buttons below to share to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you, subscribe!

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

Categories

Archives