Offering the Support You Would Want

As another month is coming to a close we can look back and reflect how this month of May has been set aside to take time for mental health awareness. To become aware of something basically means to come to a knowledge or understanding of a particular subject or situation. SAMHSA is an organization with a purpose to help bring public awareness to the topics of mental health and substance use issues. To bring awareness to the public can be done through such things as a campaign designed to educate about a topic, promote “health,” or influence social change for the better upon the topic.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) posts on its website that 1 in 5 US adults experience some form of mental illness each year and each year 1 in 20 will experience a serious mental illness. Also, 1 out of 7 Youth ages 6 to 17 will have a mental health disorder. This lets us know that there are many people affected by mental health issues across the country that still work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love, and inspire each day through the lens of treatable mental health issues.

Just like with a physical health issue there can be different stages and levels of the illness that determines what the best type of treatment for it may be. One may have the sniffles and a headache that some rest and an over the counter medication may help. While others may have some severe symptoms such as sudden confusion, trouble speaking, loss of balance, and a sudden headache may need more immediate attention to help save someone’s life.

One could have had some stressful situations in life with several life changes such as moving to a new area, starting a new job, having to meet new people may cause some higher levels of anxiety or depression that is situational. Having these symptoms may not require any counseling or very minimal with no forms of medications being prescribed. However, there could be someone who had a parent and grandparent who had a severe mental health issue and they may be now having similar symptoms that have been greatly impacting his or her life. This person may need to seek help and not be judged for it just like the one suffering symptoms of a stroke would not be looked down upon for seeking treatment.

The last week of the month the theme is “Supporting Loved Ones: Connection is a powerful form of care.” SAMHSA is raising the awareness that we all should come to know about mental health issues because if we don’t currently have an issue of our own, we either know or will know someone who does. To be able to offer encouragement and support often starts with an understanding of the issues one faces. Only then do people tend to have more empathy and concern and show a willingness to be there for the one having to face the symptoms they are experiencing.

Mental health like physical health issues do not discriminate. Anyone can “develop” an issue. Just because you don’t have a mental health issue today doesn’t mean you can’t have one later. Therefore, learn to offer the support that you yourself would want if you have to face a mental health issue.

~TRS 5/23/26

Insignificantly Significant

Something that is insignificant means to be unimportant, trivial, or of little consequence. It can also refer to small things, or things that are inadequate, or lacks distinction. It is quite amazing that the Creator of the Universe and time would choose to most often use the things, nations, or people who by human standards are insignificant. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:1-3, “And when I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, fear, and the awe of God.”

The plan of salvation was known before creation as it is referenced in Revelation 13:8, “The Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world.” God made a way for all to come to know Him personally. He first chose an insignificant nation at the time who was smaller and weaker than others to ultimately show and model justice, love, and worship to the world. Israel was chosen for a specific purpose not to exclude other nations from God, but to be used as a means of extending God’s blessings and salvation to all people. Israel’s role and purpose was to provide the human line through which the Messiah would come. Again God chose to come through the “insignificant” to become the most significant, which is the quality of being worthy of attention and importance.

Jesus did not come into a “royal, well to do family.” He was born in a stable around animals to a working class family. He wasn’t raised by a Pharisee or Sadducee, the religious elite of the time. He was raised by a carpenter, not a king or a soldier. He was humble and walked or rode on a lowly donkey. Though He will be returning as a warrior-king riding a white horse to destroy one thing specifically that He created, which is time.

Time is significant. It is something that stops for no one. When God started the clock it continues to move forward until He stops it and it will be no more. There is no time in eternity. Though our own time is temporary on this earth. This again makes time very important. We can become either so busy that we don’t even savor the time we have, or be so lazy that time is wasted. We need to be thankful for the times we have had that are now in yesterdays and cherish what time we have in the moment, and have hope for the time we may be blessed with in the future. But, the most important and significant thing we can do in the time that we have is understand what the plan of salvation is that came through the most insignificant ways. Though it came about through insignificant ways it is very significant that there is no other way. As 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.”

~TRS (I thought I had posted this one weeks ago and realized when I published another one today that this one was still only a “draft” and had not been published. So I will be posting it for the first time or re-posting it bc I’m sometimes crazy:)

A Word Spoken To Healing

May is mental health awareness month. This month is set aside to promote and support those dealing with an emotional or mental health issue, which also often are those who need to be or are in recovery, and aims to raise awareness about recovery. Every day is a day for one in recovery to celebrate, but this month is a time to truly reflect on the progress of those who have finally chosen to be set free from the bonds of addiction.

It is a time to attempt to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders. It’s a time to encourage those who are now in recovery to share their stories of how they have overcome. It is a time to highlight the positive outcomes of recovery as well as the strength of those who have found freedom from addictions and healing of their emotions.

It is a time that local communities should be supportive of those making better, healthier choices and encourage those on their journey to sobriety. In 2019 studies showed that the majority of people who keep alcohol sales up are those who are “problem drinkers.” Local governments should encourage those establishments if they are going to be part of the problem to offer options to recovery. It would be great if establishments that serve alcohol or stores that sell it be required to post and provide brochures and literature on ways to recover. Right next to the coolers or by the door as they leave with their purchases should be a listing of the different support groups and treatment facilities available for whenever they choose to get help.

I recently read of where a sobriety token given out at some recovery support groups was found on a shelf of a liquor store. This means that someone who was in recovery and knew about treatment and help unfortunately had a lapse that may have led to relapse. But, if there were postings and information given out in the packages of these establishments that might be a “sign” or once they are over their hangover and in a better state of mind will call for help.

Studies also show that those with substance use disorders are up to 14 times greater risk of committing suicide. Some specific substances are linked to even higher rates such as those who use heroin. Those who abuse alcohol are 10 times more likely, though reports are that 20% of suicide deaths are connected to alcohol use.

According to NAMI it is a “time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time.” The motto for this week is, “Words matter and words can heal.” This like many good sayings, originates from the Bible. Proverbs 18:21 states, “The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat of its fruit.” What we tell ourselves or the words we listen to from others will impact us and the choices we make.

~TRS (re-written May 18, 2026 for Mental Health Awareness Month)

You Are Not Alone

Since 1949 SAMHSA has observed the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. As the rise of social media it will put out relevant content to encourage and support those personally dealing with substance use or mental health issues and also offering hope and education to those who may have family members who are struggling.

In week one the theme was all about having compassion on those who have these issues. To be honest most people if they don’t have a genetic form of a mental health issue then at some point in their life they may have had a situational issue that caused depression, anxiety, or trauma. Never think that just because you currently don’t have a mental health issue that in a blink of an eye something could happen that could lead to you having one.

Some erroneously think that a child could not have a mental health issue, but some “issues” do not discriminate. It doesn’t matter one’s age, race, socio-economic status, or the like. In 1997 was my first job as a counselor and for 5 years all of my clients were between the ages of 5 and 12. Since that time I have expanded to working with older students, teens, and adults but the point is that even kids can suffer from mental health issues.

The theme of week two is “Early Support Matters; Recognizing Signs in Children and Youth.” It has been said on the SAMHSA website that it may be the parents or caregivers who are the first to spot when something feels different in the youth in their care such as; changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or behaviors may be a signal a young person needs some added support.

It is important to remember that maybe not all “changes” will be related to a mental health issue that requires seeking counseling, but know that “sometimes the most important step is listening.” All the way back to the 15th century there was a saying, “children should be seen, but not heard.” Unfortunately, I would guess this left many youth who grew up feeling unheard and unloved. When a child has a mental health issue that is not dealt with then they will grow into an adult with a mental health issue.

Hopefully, at some point in one’s life when they or someone else may realize there are some mental health or substance abuse issues they will know where to go for help. Most towns have multiple mental health agencies and with modern technology telehealth is available that you could have a counselor from a different town. Most insurances will cover the cost of counseling and if not may have sliding fee scales. The main encouragement of this week is to know that if you or someone you love is struggling with substance use and/or mental health issues no matter the age, you are not alone. To be Continued…

~TRS 5/10/26

Moved With Compassion

Next May will mark my 30 year anniversary in the professional counseling world. I often joke with my new clients as I am going over informed consent and explain I have been counseling since 1997 that doesn’t make me an expert, just old. Approximately 10 years ago when I reached the 20 year mark I learned to never say I have “heard everything.” I made the statement that I had heard probably everything under the sun of what a client has been through and then the next week I had a new client that blew that out of the water. I was told things that had happened to them that one would only think would happen in a fictional horror flick.

May is Mental Health Awareness month and each week there is a theme. Week one is “Understanding Mental Illness and how understanding and awareness leads to compassion.” Some of the key points that are listed on SAMHSA website to promote are:

Mental illness are medical conditions involving changes in emotion, appetite, thinking, or behaviors that can impede one’s daily living. This also will impact how those affected deal with others; family and people in general. Mental health issues can interfere with how one does at school or work, self-care, causing issues in dealing with “normal everyday stresses,” and can increase feelings of guilt and shame for not being able to just “snap out of it” and even if they are “people of faith” be made to feel that if they just had “more faith” then maybe they would be better.

I was actually shocked when I saw part of the theme from SAMHSA which is The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a US department of health and human services agency made available to repost online information that says these various statements, “Faith supports Healing,” “Hope, Healing, and Help are within Reach,” “Connections in (Faith Communities ie Church) is a powerful form of care,” and encouragement to take care of our “Mind, Body, and Spirit.”

It should be no surprise that when the “world” catches up to the truth of God’s Word and promotes what Christ already has set an example for us to do. Throughout the Bible and particularly the Gospels that tells of Jesus’ earthly ministry before He did any form of ministry He was “moved with compassion” to heal the sick, feed the hungry, shepherd a lost people, and help comfort those grieving loss.

Being in the counseling profession and in the faith based world of ministry I have all too often heard clients tell of the unfortunate experience of being told by someone in a leadership position of a church or even a family member that if that just “had more faith” they wouldn’t have mental or emotional health issues and should never be on meds for it. I tell them to look up Christian Comedian Chonda Pierce as she would say, “Tell them to stop taking all their medications for their physical health issues and take their glasses off and drive home.” (To Be Continued)

~TRS 5-3-26

A Journey Directed

When we start out on this journey of life we never really know where we may end up when it comes time for our journey to be over on this side of eternity. Some would say that there are many different paths that we can take on this journey. Some stay close to their roots and never leave their hometown. Some may take off and never look back. How we are raised definitely does impact the choices we make and which direction we may choose to go down, but ultimately we all do have a choice of which roads we are going to travel.

Our jobs and careers may take us down certain roads that otherwise we may have never gone down. We may meet certain friends or a mate that we choose to follow down a path they are on. The sad truth is that often tragedy and trauma may hinder the good path we were on to cause us to stray onto paths that if those things had not of happened we would have never gone down.

A question some may think about could be, “Is it too late to turn around from the place I am at, especially if it is not a good place to be?” Most if not all people have at some point been on their journey and looked around and seen this was not the best place for them to be. It is at that moment that we have to choose to take a different path. There will be struggles to find the right path. Our past negative choices sometimes cloud our vision of the right path to be on. Traumas of life may have darkened the path we’re on that we can’t see the light of day on how to get to a better place. We may be bound to others or addictions that hold us back from getting to the road of self improvement.

In the book of Daniel it is very evident that God knows the future. Through visions and dreams and subsequently their interpretations Daniel wrote about events so precisely that often some historians in their disbelief say that the book of Daniel had to have been written after the fact of all the prophecies fulfilled because it was so accurate they can’t believe Daniel would have known hundreds of years before. At first Daniel didn’t know, but God does. He is the Beginning and the End and He already knows what choices we will make or what choices we would have made. Every possible scenario that our life could take God knows the outcome of what it would be. This is why some doors open and some close.

The most important thing to remember is no matter where you are on this journey and you know that it is not the best place to be we can take comfort and solace in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” May you trust in Him and in your dark moments on this journey let your faith give you rays of hope to see the path you need to be on.

~TRS “an old article updated and added too” 🙂 3/15/26

Crossing On Dry Ground

(Part 4)

This article will conclude the series on “dry places.” To review the previous three columns they were 1. About how we can become dry and thirsty spiritually and have a need to seek diligently after the Living Water. 2. Sometimes things in our life may “dry up” after a season of being plentiful just to help us at those previous moments until God makes another way and 3. We may have issues that are in excess and need to be dried up for our own good and healing.

Now we get to the fourth part of seeing how God works through things being “dried up.” It is based on one of the probably more well known stories and accounts of how God “dried up” the Red Sea for the children of Israel to walk upon dry ground to get them away from their enemy who was coming after them. Just a small recap if you do not know the story but the Israelites had become slaves to the Egyptians for a long period of time and now through an unlikely hero God was going to use the leadership of one who felt very unqualified for the position, Moses.

After some convincing through a burning bush and a series of ten plagues the Egyptian Pharaoh decided to “let the people go.” However, as they started on their journey to leave the Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his troops to bring them back. We can read in Exodus 13:17-18, “And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest possibly the people turn when they see war, and they return to Egypt; but God led the people about through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea.” This lets us know that there was a closer way; but a way that would have been harder. Harder to the point that the people would have turned on their own to go back to the bondage they were escaping from. So, they were brought to a place where their trust in God and faith had to be activated.

Some battles in life may get so tough that the thought of it may make us want to turn back into our “old ways.” Therefore, God will ultimately for our own protection open up new ways that only He can do. In the movies of this scene typically it shows Moses putting his staff down and the waters of the Red Sea from him back begin to separate. However, this is not how it actually happened.

Singer and youth minister, Jason David from MyTribe is one of the first times I heard it told how it really happened and how it explains in Exodus 14:21-22. God “caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land and the waters were divided and the children of Israel crossed on dry ground.” The waters started to split on the opposite side from where they were and it was happening all night. Which meant they couldn’t see what God was doing on the other side. As the divided waters were getting closer I’m sure they may have then heard that something was happening but not until it was right there at them would they then know that there had been a path made for them to cross.

If God had started the divide from where they were at then possibly the ground would have still been muddy and harder to cross. But, because of starting from the other side that also required their trust and faith something was happening even though they couldn’t see it at the moment turned out to be a great defining moment in their journey. As this series on “dry places” comes to an end it reminds me of a quote from a devotional, “Heart Rehab” by Jerry Flowers, Jr that said, “God may have to dry up some of the places in our lives to get us to go or be elsewhere.

Maybe you are in a spot where the enemy is fastly approaching from behind yet all you see is another huge obstacle in front of you that you see no way through. Trust that the Lord has already been at work “all night” and has been making a way that will give you “rays of hope” that a way will open up for you to escape some problems to cross on dry ground.

~TRS 2-15-26

Too Much Dried Up (part 3)

Many times as we go throughout life we get involved in lots of things and get busy. Often we have a mindset of take, take, take, and more, more, more. Often we may hear that anything in moderation is good, but anything in excess is not good.

Go to your favorite restaurant and eat too much of your favorite meal and leave the place in misery. Have a kid eat too much candy and see them have an energy spike and then crash. We hopefully know that having too much alcohol will lead to higher tolerance and alcoholism.

Maybe you have a certain bed time and have company come over and they spend “too much” time talking and even having fun but then staying longer than expected can lead to minimal sleep and a rough next day. Speaking of sleep, we know that it is good and needed, but too much sleep is not beneficial. Many could benefit from some exercise, but too much of it can actually cause injuries or heart issues.

Water is something that we cannot live without but there is a thing called water intoxication (hyponatremia) from drinking too much of it. We may be in the heat of the day with a mouth so dry and think if I can just fill up on water all will be good, but then drink too much and suffer the consequences.

So what is the point of me listing all of these things that too much of that leads to bad happenings. One thing that we can never get enough of is reading the Bible. Even research shares that reading the Bible aloud can promote healthier brain function helping to create new, positive neural pathways replacing the more negative thought patterns and can promote emotional healing. So, we can never get too much of the true God but it is Him who can help “dry up all of the excess” of things in our lives that we may have too much of.

Once after reading Mark 5:28-29 it tells of the story of the “woman with an issue of blood.” This basically meant she had a medical condition where she likely had a form of heavy, prolonged menstruation. It tells how for 12 years she sought out many forms of treatment and had spent all she had with no success getting rid of her problem of “too much.”

However, when she heard that Jesus was going to be coming her way she had the faith to believe that He could help her. Verse 27 reports, “When she heard about Jesus she came behind HIm in the crowd and touched His garment. For she believed if she touched even just the hem of it she would be healed.” She did and immediately she was made well. Take a moment to reflect on what may be too much in your own life. Learn from the woman, who Jesus referred to as “Daughter” and how coming to Jesus in faith releases His power to dry up the excess in our lives.

~TRS 1/18/26

Provision in the Dry Places

(part 2)

Sometimes the dry places of life can prepare us for bigger battles we will face. In 1 Kings the prophet Elijah had prophesied that there would not be any rain for a time period because of the wickedness of the people of Israel’s sin. This lets us know that when we deliberately choose to walk away from the will of God consequences will follow, but for our own good. Discipline is to teach us self control, responsibility, and personal growth.

During the time of the drought God had informed Elijah that his needs would be provided for down at the brook Cherith. God had commanded the ravens to feed him morning and evening and he would quench his thirst in the brook. Elijah was obedient and did according unto the word of the Lord and “after a while the brook dried up.” This lets us know that even the place that God may lead us to for a time will supply our needs for that time period until He is ready for us to move on to another place.

At this point being in a dry place will cause us to see that we are to “move on.” There are times when things may be going good and we become content when God wants us to go to another place to be a blessing to others. This leads him to the widow who God had commanded to take care of Elijah. This would have been interesting because in that time typically a widow would be the one who would need taken care of. Elijah goes to her and she tells him she has only very little. Basically just enough for one more meal and she was going to fix it for her and her son and then they would basically starve to death. Elijah encouraged her to “Fear not,” or not to be filled with anxiety over her situation, but to trust in God and He would provide. The widow had been in a hopeless situation, but agreed to do according to what Elijah had spoken. She chose to trust versus continue in hopelessness. As she did she realized her dry place was going to be taken care of by having just enough oil in her earthen vessel until the rain came again.

The key word in that is “until.” God was supernaturally going to supply their needs until He sent the rain back and then things would go back to how they normally sustained themselves. In some of our dry times of life God will still care for us through our obedience, but we are never to think that when God does supernatural things for us that means He will continually do it that way. Through these experiences Elijah went through was also preparing him for a bigger battle he would soon face with the “evil king and Jezebel.” So if you are currently in a dry place stop to think about how God can use the situation to prepare you for something bigger you may face and how through your trust and obedience will lead to provision even in the midst of a dry place.

12-14-25 ~TRS

Quenching A Thirsty Heart

To be desperate for something means that it has become vital to our survival. Anytime we have been hungry or thirsty our body signals for us to quench our thirst or feed our appetite. The rumbling of an empty stomach or the parched lips and dry mouth start us on a journey to find something that will bring us some relief and satisfaction.

A Psalmist once wrote, “As the deer pants after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, “where is thy God?” (Ps 42:1-3).

To study these verses out one can come to the conclusion that the Psalmist knew something about being in a dry place. In this sense the concept of a dry and barren place has come from a place of heartache and great sadness. “My tears” is what he had been feasting on for some time, as he put it “day and night.” There are times in our lives that tragedies or bad circumstances happen that can lead some to having great distress and depression.

Those experiences and happenings are definitely not good to have to go through, but it can be these things that let us know just how thirsty and hungry we are for the “living God.” We can learn that from the dry places that we can be filled when we desperately seek after that which is most important for our survival. The writer of Hebrews 11:6 wrote, “Without faith it is impossible to please God; for those that come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Those who are diligent are those who are committed, persistent and plan on finishing what they have started.

I think it would be safe to say that those who are diligent are those who also have been desperate and truly seek after the will of God just as a hart, an adult male red deer longs after a water brook. The hart (deer) knows that if it does not get to the water his survival may hang in the balance. Likewise, if our “heart” does not become quenched by the Spirit of God we will continually seek after those “artificial” things that only bring temporary fulfillment.

Even Jesus said, “Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they SHALL be filled” (Matthew 5:6). This means we think it is vital for our survival and spiritual well being to be in a right standing with God. We will purposely make choices that align with the Word and will of God.

This alignment doesn’t even mean that at that moment we will get out of the “dry place,” but it will start us on a journey that through faith we will become committed to quenching the thirst of a longing heart.

12-7-25

TRS