May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We’ll have various bloggers writing about different aspects of mental health over the course of the next few weeks. We hope that what is shared will be meaningful and helpful to you. 

To start things off, I want to share something that might seem obvious to many, but I feel like it can’t be said enough -- It’s ok to not be ok. As a Christian, sometimes I feel pressure to always respond in a positive manner and to have any other response is a lack of faith or like I’m complaining. But sometimes I am not ok, and that’s ok! Vulnerability and healing can’t begin until I acknowledge that basic truth. 

When I am not ok, it’s up to me to decide who I want to bring into that space. Maybe it’s just a personal acknowledgement and taking it to Jesus. Maybe I bring in a few friends to whom I can bare my soul. Maybe I need a therapist or medication. It changes depending on what I’m dealing with, but however it looks, I need to be transparent with myself and others during my ‘not ok’ moments or seasons. Shame grows in secrecy and the more I isolate and pull away from others, the more shame is going to dominate. It’s going to tell me that I should have it all together and that I need to hide the fact that I don’t from others. 

No surprise -- we all have hard things in our lives. Some of us have big stuff we’re carrying, and others may have smaller.  It may seem like every part of your life is falling apart or maybe just a few areas or one major thing. Any of that “stuff” means that at times we’re not going to be ok. And that’s ok. 

There were times when Jesus was not ok. He wept at his friend’s death. He cried tears of blood before He was crucified. He felt grief and distress and deep empathy. And while He didn’t hide those emotions from others, He also had times when He needed to go off by himself and commune with the Father. I’d guess at times the crowds were too much, and the disciples were probably annoying Him and He wasn’t ok. He was able to recognize that and reached out for the support He needed. 

Let’s follow His example and not let things get piled up so high before we acknowledge that we need help. Set pride aside and let others into the struggle you’re having. You don’t need to wait until there’s a crisis to reach out to a friend or start therapy. Let’s set a new standard of being a community of believers known for being real and authentic with one another – about all things. 

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

Danielle (Dani) Rupp grew up in a small town in Ohio and is a true Buckeye fan, though she tries not to be obnoxious about it. In 2011 she came to PA to earn her Master of Social Work degree. After graduation Dani accepted a position as a mental health therapist for children and adolescents in Coatesville. She was a nanny for several years as well. During that time she lived in Kennett Square and attended Willowdale Chapel. She returned several years ago from South Asia where she learned to tolerate spicy food and cross the roads without being hit, as well as volunteered with International Justice Mission in their Aftercare Department. In her free time, Dani enjoys going on mission trips/traveling,  running, reading, and connecting with loved ones—preferably over coffee and a sweet treat.