The New Mission Field

Trauma is the New Mission Field

1. He explained that he and his wife are undergoing counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder. (PTSD) He is experiencing stress-related nosebleeds. Worse, he is experiencing dry heaves on his commute from the office in anticipation of what awaits when he gets home. His wife has collapsed multiple times in recent months due to the constant stress. We talked about this over lunch recently.

2. You’d never know it. My friend is a successful businessman, and he and his wife love each other. The pain is due to a family member in the residence dealing with mental health-related issues. Did you know the U.S. has observed Mental Health Awareness in May since 1949? 

3. This family member is not “crazy,” “incompetent,” or “dangerous.” This family member is unwell, and thankfully…loved to the point that my friend and his wife endure incredible difficulty in caring for him.

4. So far, highly skilled medical professionals have been unable to solve my friend’s dilemma. What about faith? His wife believes in reincarnation, and so does he to some degree. Multiple people have told him he will go to hell if he does not accept Jesus. Still, he asked me -his Christian preacher friend- what he should do.  

5. Trauma is the new mission field, and God wants to deploy His people into this harvest field. My prayer is that Almighty God will provide solutions from heaven and bring wholeness to all families dealing with mental health-related issues. Jesus did not come to send people to hell. He came to heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives, and set at liberty those that are bruised. (Luke 4:18-19)

6. The Lord encouraged my friend. Before we left the restaurant, he wrote a note on a napkin and showed it to me before folding it in his pocket: hope. Those of you dealing with household-related stress, anxiety, or mental health-related issues, BE ENCOURAGED!!

7. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isaiah 45:2, NKJV) God Bless! Press On!! Kevin Willis