May is
Mental Health Month—what have you done for yourself…for others?
Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children...
with five loaves of bread and two fish.
Have you shared your food today?
Dish from Israel depicting the "feeding" miracle.
As I look
around my community, I see that the homeless and drug issues are basically also
mental health issues. I’m not a trained psychologist or sociologist, but even I
can see that there are problems and those in trouble need help. The Lord,
through the prophet Isaiah, clearly tells those reading this portion of the
Bible that we need to feed the hungry and help those in trouble. He
also says that it is appropriate to give clothes to those in need and shelter
to the homeless. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), there were about 771,000 homeless people in 2024 in the United States.
What about
people around you who look normal, healthy, and have a roof over their head—but
just have mental problems? The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) gives
an extended list of signs of mental illness. Their list of common signs in
adults and teens included: excessive worry or fear; prolonged or strong
feelings of irritability or anger; avoiding friends and social activities; difficulties
understanding or relating to others; feeling excessively sad or low; extreme
mood changes; including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria;
difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person
experiences or senses things that don’t exist); overuse of substances like
alcohol or drugs;; thinking about suicide; inability to carry out daily activities
or handle daily problems or stress.
Jesus
addressed some of these same issues—starting with worry.
That
is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food
and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body
more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store
food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable
to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:25-27
Then
Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am
humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke
is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
We are to give our worries, problems,
concerns to Jesus. He will carry them…and us…with Him. He also says that we
will have the poor with us always. All we can do is help with their immediate
needs for now.
Are you willing to share your
food with the hungry, give shelter to the homeless? Let your light shine out
from the darkness? The choice is up to each of us to be the hands and feet
of Jesus to those in need.
Share
your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to
those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then
your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your
godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you
from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he
will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your
finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in
trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness
around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like
a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:7-11
John
replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food,
share it with those who are hungry." Luke 3:11 NLT
Meditate. Consider what you can do
for others.
Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for
raising the awareness of mental illness in our communities and throughout the United
States. Help us to be bold for You, to feed the hungry and help those in trouble.
Verse of Salvation ~ You (John the
Baptist) will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of
their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is
about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." Luke 1:77-79
My gratitude for today: Awareness of the plight of the homeless in
the US—not just ignoring them. Hope for those who look to Jesus. Joy that I can
share with family and friends.
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M. Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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