I officiated at the funeral of a man who had grown up at Roseland Christian Ministries. He was raised in the church and had attended Christian schools. But in his early twenties, something seemed to break in his mind. Always kind and smiling, he began to tell delusional stories. He was convinced of an alternate reality that featured celebrities, lawsuits, and fortunes coming his way. He had an undiagnosed mental illness, and he self-medicated to try to cope.

His father, a veteran, also self-medicated and experienced mental breaks. Both men had endured severe trauma. They learned to “tough it out” until they broke from reality.

I don’t know of any family that doesn’t face mental health issues in some form. I know that many don’t talk about it. But silence makes us sicker.

Mental illness is not a sign of weakness or failure but a call to lean on God's healing presence. We are invited to walk together in openness, seeking help, and trusting that God meets us in our brokenness, offering hope and restoration for our minds and hearts. I am concerned that many followers of Jesus believe that our struggles can be met only by prayer and through spiritualizing our problems. But in my experience, a strong faith community and a trusted therapist are necessary on the journey. My prayer is that you have both available to you.