Okaaaay! Welcome to the Yielded Center. I love you. My name is Vanessa, which means butterfly š¦ thatās how I fly into peopleās hearts daily and refuse to leave (LOL).
Newsflash , Iām an author hehe! My book came out yesterday and Iām so excited! Yesterday, God reminded me of all those years I was writing for the shelf, writing so much but never quite breaking through as an author, even though itās been my greatest desire. This year, I self-published two books. Then God said to me, āYou have broken a threshold. You have broken the limitation.ā And I was like, āWow! I didnāt even realise it!ā The enemy tried to stop me before but Iāve punched him in the face twice! š„
Iām sharing this to remind you: sometimes the prayer you prayed yesterday has already birthed something new you just havenāt seen it yet. Give it a few days or weeks, and youāll know. Anyway, go buy the book itās only R180 . āThatās too expensive!ā Some will say? Well, Iāve learned something: what one person says is expensive to buy from you, they have bought the same thing from someone else for the same price or more. Itās not the price, itās you. Itās not the product , itās who is selling it. Now, letās talk about something thatās been on my mindā¦
I was reading a message one of the ladies I know wrote yesterday, and it got me thinking deeply about the mental health crisis in the church something weāve merely brushed off with phrases like, āYouāre being too dramatic,ā or āJust leave this depression talk; youāre just sad for no reason.ā
Now, Iām not saying this because Iām a counsellor. Iām saying this because Iāve spoken to people who, without a doubt, were depressed and even suicidal, yet they couldnāt find a safe place of expression. Why? Because they feared being judged as weak believers people who ādonāt take the things of God seriously.ā But hereās the truth: we have no idea what people are going through in their homes. Behind every smile could be a battle, a silent cry, a heart hanging by a thread.
Does the Bible talk about depression? Nah. Not in those exact words. But when you read closely, youāll meet people who, by all accounts, were discouraged, suicidal, worried, stressed, and completely disconnected from joy. One of them was Prophet Elijah. He literally says, āIāve had enough, Lord. Take my life.ā (1 Kings 19:4) Wait, what? Youāre a prophet talking like that? I thought people in ministry donāt go through such things!
Jokes on you. š
Elijah had just come from a mighty victory heād called down fire from heaven, embarrassed the prophets of Baal, and witnessed Godās power firsthand. Yet right after that, he wanted to die. It makes you pause and ask, āHow can someone feel so low right after a big win?ā After a conference? My people, you know the answer.
Before I became a counsellor, I still spoke to many people. Looking back, I realised I was too tough on them, and Iām truly sorry. I was very hard on some people. Iād say things like, āYou need to get up! Nobody is coming to save you. Donāt remain weak!ā And I meant well, but I was wrong in how I approached it. It took me actually studying and gaining understanding to realise something important:
If youāre not well-informed about a situation truly informed then please, keep your advice to yourself. Donāt go around counselling people just because you have a few āwise words.ā Donāt try to explain situations that are beyond your enlightenment. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply listen and offer prayer. Why? Because many times, without realising it, weāve added to someoneās depression. Now, am I saying we should entertain the spirit of depression because yes, it is a spirit? NO! Iām saying we must first acknowledge that itās there, and then find a way to pull people out of that pit with a gentle hand.
Prophet Elijah, Why are you suddenly speaking of death? Donāt you want to run the race anymore? You donāt want to minister to people anymore? Why?Why are you now talking about sitting down while others serve? Are you okay? Why donāt you show up joyfully like before? Whatās on your mind, dear prophet? I thought you were fine just by looking at you but it seems youāre not. Prophet Elijah, why is your best option to die? Canāt you at least say, āLord, strengthen meā?
Ah, people of God sometimes we donāt even know how to pray because we are so overwhelmed. I see you, and I understand. And most times, youāre alone, because even those around you are wondering: How can a prophet be asking for death?An apostle? Someone everyone looks up to? God forbid! But my people, itās there. It happens. And I want us to be very careful about how we handle such people. Again, itās better to offer prayer than to speak rashly about what you donāt understand.
Your friend says theyāre suicidal, and you reply, āYouāre ungrateful, you have food at home!ā Can you just shush for a moment and listen more carefully? Because if you listen long enough, youāll find a line or two a clue that leads you to the real problem. Iāve said this before, but Iāll say it again Iām sorry. I did not handle some cases well because, truth is, I just didnāt know.
Thereās a difference between advice from someone who cares for you as a friend and advice from someone who has actually studied mental health. And Iām not saying this to sound like I know it all. Iām simply drawing a contrast between the me who used to advise and the me who now counsels. Two completely different people. Why? Because now, I can listen to you and actually discern what the real matter is. By the way Elijah just needed food and strength.
And maybe a good trip, because right after that, he travelled for forty days. š Sometimes, thatās all you need too a hug and a little money. I just came on here to tell you this: The same God who saw Elijahās sadness and helped him up has seen you, too. And He will lift you up. I love you, and see you tomorrow.
Head over to https://buymeacoffee.com/ziyambivanx to purchase my book or support my blog with a gift. Thank youse! ā¤ļø


