Mental Pain Matters To God
“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed.
Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.”
Galatians 6:2 The Message
“Struggling with mental health does not make you less of a Christian or less than a person. In fact, nobody is less than a person if they have any type of mental illness. Each individual is made in God’s Image — each person is fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Vivian Bricker
“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.” – C.S. Lewis
“I cannot stand the words ‘Get over it’. All of us are under such pressure to put our problems in the past tense. Slow down. Don’t allow others to hurry your healing. It is a process, one that may take years, occasionally, even a lifetime – and that’s OK.” — Beau Taplin
“If we start being honest about our pain, our anger, and our shortcomings instead of pretending they don’t exist, then maybe we’ll leave the world a better place than we found it.” — Russell Wilson
“When people suffer, they often suffer twice, first because they have lived through something painful, and second, because family members or close friends either don’t want to hear about it or don’t communicate a wish to hear about all of it.” – Harriet Lerner
“It is crucial that as believers, we do not judge, belittle, or condemn those struggling with mental illnesses. Rather than condemning those with mental illness, Christians are to help, show kindness, and love them (John 13:34-35).” — Vivian Bricker
Nature Retreat
“His hand cradles the life of every creature
on the face of the earth;
His breath fills the nostrils
of humans everywhere.”
Job 12:10 VOICE
“Perhaps the butterfly is proof that
you can go through
a great deal of darkness
yet still become something beautiful.”
– Beau Taplin
🙂 The remainder of these photos are
courtesy of my brother John. 🙂
Do you see the egg?
Freed to Fly 
Your brother’s wildlife photos always cheer up my day and remind me of the vast variety is in God’s creation, Trudy.
And your quotes regarding mental health are spot on. So many people struggle with that, and as Christians, we are to listen to them and offer unabashed love to them. No life is perfect and we all need caring friends and family to get us through the tough times.
Blessings, my friend!
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Yes, the vast variety in God’s creation is amazing, isn’t it? I’m glad the wildlife photos cheer up your day, Martha. It is sad that the number of people struggling with their mental health is increasing. May we spread love and kindness and offer a listening ear! Blessings to you, too!
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I love the quotes. Mental illness is real and so many people struggle with it. Thank you for highlighting it with these quotes. No one is less than as a result.
As always I love the nature photography. Thank you!
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Thank you for your thoughts, Mary. Yes, mental illness is so real and so many suffer in silence. May we see every person through the eyes of Jesus!
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Thank you, Trudy, the photos are absolutely fabulous, I just can’t get enough of gazing at them! Thank you for sharing about a topic most shy away from.
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Thank you, Donna. God’s creation is amazing and so diverse, isn’t it? It’s so true that many shy away from the topic of mental illness. Sometimes it deeply troubles me that many churches don’t give support to people struggling with mental health issues, abuse, or PTSD. Those struggles don’t make anyone less of a Christian than another. I’m so grateful Jesus knows us in our deepest heart and loves us with an unfailing love! May we love like Jesus who has created every one of us in His image and speak up for those who have no voice!
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Dear Trudy, after having spent most of yesterday not seeing well because of a retinal laser procedure, your gorgeous photos made me especially glad today for the gift of vision! Your flowers with the swallowtail are especially lovely! Thank you for sharing, it was just what I needed. And your quotes about caring for each other in our difficult mental & emotional times are so very valid too. Your compassionate heart is such a blessing to me and to do many others. May God return those blessings to you too. ♥️🦋♥️
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I’m so grateful for our gift of vision, Bettie. As a visual learner, I find this sense an extra-special blessing. 🙂 I’m so glad the photos and quotes lifted your heart. Thank you for your kind words, my friend. You are a blessing to me, too! In all our struggles, may we be filled with God’s grace and strength to seek out the wonders of His love in His creation and all around us!
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Trudy, hello! Thank you for these important quotes about our brain health … and the inspiring up close photos of God’s creation. I’m always amazed at how His creation can be a calming grace in our anxiety-filled lives.
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Hi Linda! 🙂 “A calming grace in our anxiety-filled lives.” I love how you word that about God’s amazing creation. It is that to me, too. As for the quotes, I knew you would find them important. I love that you are such an advocate for brain health! May we keep being awed and calmed by soaking in God’s creation!
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Good morning, Trudy! Those quotes are all so good. This one by C.S. Lewis especially touched me: “The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.” So true. I love your gentle, listening heart, dear friend.
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Good morning, Lois! 🙂 That quote especially touched me, too. It was what nudged me to find more to share. Thank you for your kind words, my friend. I think of you often these days with all the changes your life is going through. May God give you special strength and peace!
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Your family are such talented photographers, Trudy! I loved all the nature photos, especially the hummingbird, and I appreciate all the quotes too. It’s so important to be loving and gentle with others. Often we have no idea what they are going through beneath the surface.
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Thank you, Lesley. 🙂 That is a rare snapshot of a hummingbird, isn’t it? Especially since they’re so small. So true we often have no idea what someone is going through beneath the surface. May we pass on the same love and kindness Jesus gives so generously to us!
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Oh, you’ve brightened my day with these images, Trudy! And you have shed light on the importance of not judging those with mental illness. Being compassionate for those with mental illness as well as being there for their loved ones who are doing the best, is what brings hope into a hard situation. It was lovely to see you in my inbox this week! I hope to share hope and light into the internet space again soon, too. Blessings to you!
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I’m so glad the images brightened your day, Lynn. Thank you for pointing out also the importance of being there for the loved ones of those with mental illness. Yes, they do their best! I’m looking forward to reading more of the hope and light you share. 🙂 Blessings to you, too! May we love and support both those who deal with mental illness and those who love them and need so much strength to care for them!
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These quotes and these photos are such balm to hurting hearts, Trudy. You are such a bringer of comfort! Blessings to you, sweet friend.
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It blesses my heart to know these were a balm to your hurting heart, Lisa. Thank you for your kind words. Blessings to you, too! May God who knows and cares about your deep heart pain give you strength and healing!
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Ahhh, Trudy. Such a lovely post. I truly appreciate the quotes you shared, and you know I love the photographs. That butterfly one captured me. 🙂
I’m so thankful for the wisdom you share each time you post. Sending you a hug, friend.
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Thank you for your kind words, Jeanne. Yes, I know you always love nature photographs. 🙂 Yours always refresh my spirit. Sending a hug back to you! May God’s grace free us to fly through Him and for Him!
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Trudy, I was looking back on my blog and realized there were comments I never got to respond to you, and yours was one of them. I just did that, and I realized I haven’t seen a blog post from you in a while.. I hope you are doing good and all is well with you. God bless you.
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Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers, Cheryl. And your recent post. So very encouraging. This line especially comforted me – “No matter what crumbles around you, He is your Rock, your safe place, your security.” Also all the comforting verses. It has been a busy summer with family doings, etc. We took a few days vacation, too, and it takes me a while to recuperate and recover my energy, sometimes even after a one-day event. Thank you for thinking of me. 🙂 God bless you, too! May we both cling to our Rock, our Safe Place!
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