What does it look like when someone is in crisis? Sometimes it is quite obvious, visible, disruptive, or chaotic.  Sometimes it is more quiet, internal, heavy, or tense.  Sometimes it is entirely unexpected or unseen.  Whatever the case, you almost certainly have someone in your life who is in the midst of a mental health crisis of one kind or another.

Based on recent statistics regarding the prevalence of mental illness, you are actually more likely to have a few people close to you who are struggling in some way (www.nami.org/mhstats).  If you have ten close friends, it is likely that at least two or three have experienced poor mental health in the past year.  If you belong to a church of 100 people, somewhere between 25 to 30 would fit that description.  If you work with a team of 20 co-workers, at least a quarter of that team has been navigating these personal hardships in the midst of their day to day work.

If we’re being honest, people in crisis are not always easy to be around.  There can be a sense of disruptiveness or reactivity that comes with them.  Or maybe a heightened sense of neediness or insularity, a lack of consistency and reliability, a feeling of self-centeredness.  Or maybe they are just hard to pin down, hard to connect with, hard to know how to help.  This can make it difficult to have compassion for a person in crisis.

This is where we need to step back and remember the teaching and example of Jesus.  Who did Jesus most often seek out in his ministry?  People in crisis.  Those who otherwise would be viewed as disruptive, out of place, burdensome, and afflicted. Not only did Jesus seek these folks out - he actually showed preference for them over those who would see themselves as having it all together.  To these, Jesus tended to offer rebuke and warning. To those in crisis, Jesus instead offered this invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matt. 11:28-29, ESV)”

Jesus demonstrated compassion toward people in crisis. Rather than scoff at them or be put off by them, Jesus lovingly recognized the weariness and pain that they carried. Rather than distancing himself from them or insisting that they get their act together, Jesus offered his gracious presence as a source of comfort, connection, and rest.

You may know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Awareness is absolutely critical, but it is ultimately incomplete without compassion. We might see the needs and struggles of our neighbors, but if we don’t see with eyes of compassion, our seeing does no good.  We might make ourselves present to people in crisis, but without compassion, our presence is bound to carry more judgment and impatience than the “gentle and lowly” heart of Jesus.

Of course, we are flawed and needy people ourselves - and also sometimes facing crises of our own - and we cannot love perfectly like Jesus. But we would do well to be a bit more like Jesus in the ways that we think about and act toward people in crisis.

HCC is continuously working to promote a more informed, effective, and compassionate response to mental health issues within the local church. As a practice, we are always striving to serve as many people in need as possible with clinically skilled, biblically informed, gospel driven counseling services. We could use your help in continuing to fund and support this mission. Please consider offering a monthly or one-time gift by clicking the button above to help us meet the growing needs before us.