Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 4

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30 ESV).

The fourth practical thing we can do for those with mental illness is to help them learn to rest. This is both physical and emotional rest. And, it is rooted in the spiritual dimension of our lives. We may not understand the biological details of any illness unless we have specific training in that area. We are not called on to give advice on physical remedies; we are thankful that there are physicians and counselors who have expertise in these specific areas of treatment. But we can and should all know that there are spiritual realities at the heart of all misery. Learning the right means of rest, reconsidering the love of God, the sufferings of Jesus, and the presence of the Spirit bring comfort and hope. Our weariness results from the cumulative, multilayered intersections of life’s complexities, bodily frailties, emotional heartbreaks, and the consequences of sin. It surpasses understanding. Because our burdens are not simple, they are not relieved by simplistic platitudes (“Cheer up! Things are bound to turn around!”). But a simple promise can relieve a complex burden, provided we believe that the power behind the promise is complex and strong enough to relieve our heaviness. The simplicity of Jesus’ promise in our reading today is both striking and refreshing. Jesus doesn’t offer us a four-fold path to peace-giving enlightenment, like the Buddha did. He doesn’t give us five pillars of peace through submission as Islam does. Nor does he give us “10 Ways to Relieve Your Weariness,” which we pragmatic, self-help-oriented 21st century Americans are so drawn to. Unique to anyone else in human history, Jesus simply offers himself as the universal solution to all that burdens us. That is the point at which we can be so helpful to those suffering, especially from mental illness. It is the hope Jesus offers that brings encouragement and relief from the terrifying effects of mental illness. Like the four friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus, lowering him through the roof, take your brother or sister to the One who does give us rest. Take them to Jesus with your words and actions.