This episode is entitled: Learning to love your mentally ill friends and family members. On this podcast, I have spoken at length about physical illness and even death and how as Christians, our faith in Christ deepens our hope and gives us strength through seasons of intense grief. Topics like this matter to me because as a Navy chaplain, I want to encourage you and remind you that you are not alone in your pain. I want to encourage you that you don’t have to grieve alone. Grief can isolate us from others and when we allow Christ to deepen our faith when we hurt, it allows us to invite others into our lives.

I have often pointed us to scripture and pointed to Jesus as the one who is our ultimate hope and peace in this life for those who suffer physical pain and death. But what I have failed to do thus far is to address another kind of illness. Mental illness is much more common than we realize. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 American adults lives with a mental illness. The World Health Organization says 1 in 4 people worldwide will experience mental-health issues. No one is exempt from mental illness. Anyone can have mental illness regardless of your age, gender, or ethnic background. Join me in this episode of Evening Thoughts and let's talk more about how to love our mentally ill friend or family member.