Counseling, Christianity, and the increasing need and demand for help... how do we navigate a culture in which some, especially the young, believe that everything is a diagnosis and mental illness, and others think that nothing is a mental health problem but only sin nature? As for many things, there is probably some truth to both sides of this coin, and navigating it takes discernment. We know that there's a mental health crisis in America. People are experiencing different stress thanks to things like social media and the amount of information available at the click of a button; truth is no longer accepted as truth; and our society seems to be more comfortable with sin than ever before. Even if we can agree on the problem, what do we do about it? In my role, I often find myself part of conversations working to navigate both mental health and spiritual health needs. It's helpful to start with the fact that sin is very real and very much a part of the way that we all experience the world. We experience the pain of our own sin, the sins of others, and original sin in our lives. Additionally, addressing our issues with the help of a“God will never give you more than you can handle.” This is one of those Christian phrases that sounds great and encouraging, but isn’t really true, and nor should we want it to be. As the Spiritual Director who offers sessions and integration teaching to our team recently reminded us, we often confuse the passage of scripture in First Corinthians encouraging that God will not tempt us beyond what we can bear. This IS true. However, being able to “handle” things on our own us not promised in scripture. We see many times in the Bible that people are given much more than they can carry on their own, and we certainly see it in our own lives. As the Director of the E91 Counseling center for the last 11 years, I’ve walked with many clients as the work through much more than feels bearable. Why would God allow that? Why are we asked to carry a burden heavier than we’re able? ve more than you can handle?
When we’re given more than we can handle, a few things happen. First, we can often experience a true need for God. In our current world, many things are “easy” in comparison to other times and other places. It's in our burdens, not our everyday lives, that we’re more likely to see and feel our need for a Savior. What else happens when we can’t carry things alone? We need others’ help! When things are hard, we can turn to our community and our church for support and assistance. We are created as relational beings, but our world can become so singular. Often our needs put us in a position of needing to accept help from those who care for us. What are some other reasons God may allow you to have more than you can handle? *If you’re currently feeling like you have more than you can handle, consider some of our groups, events, or counseling. We’d love to be part of the team walking alongside you in your struggle.
