Love Is Oxygen

When Jesus began his ministry here on earth, he didn’t take the route you might expect. He didn’t take advantage of his power as the almighty Alpha and Omega. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and words of anthem-like proportion, and he did what everyone was least expecting from the Messiah. He didn’t try to rub shoulders with powerful influencers or rich politicians to gain popularity and status. He didn’t set out to build his Kingdom from the top down or go out of his way to try to sell the fact that he was the Son of God. He didn’t brag about who he was, try to trick individuals into joining him, or use Jedi mind control to gain a following. His approach was gutsy and raw and grassroots. He started from the bottom.

Jesus went to “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40)—the people who were the absolute last on anybody’s list of Most Influential People. Take his followers, for example: the twelve disciples. These guys weren’t philanthropists, social influencers, or scholars; they were blue-collar boys, fishermen and tradesmen. It’s not that the disciples weren’t smart; they just didn’t have the societal ranking that people would expect. And Jesus didn’t stop there. He chose to do life with the hurting and brokenhearted, the oddballs, the black sheep, and the misfits—people who continually needed his attention, help, encouragement, and forgiveness. Prostitutes, drunks, swindlers, thieves, adulterers, tax collectors—these are just a few of society’s castoffs whom Jesus truly and deeply and wholeheartedly loved. God’s Son came to spend time and die for sinners, the messed up, and those who are sick. How incredibly humbling and beautiful.

The perfect Savior wanted to spend time with imperfect people, and he did this knowing he’d be there to witness firsthand their struggles and misfortunes. But he loved them—despite the hardships, despite the messiness. Love may be like oxygen, but that doesn’t mean the air around us is always clean and abundant. It doesn’t mean that love is always going to be easy. If you’ve ever climbed a mountain or stood at high elevation, then you know that gasping feeling—that raspy, winded, stretching-your-lungs-out feeling of trying to get in a good breath. It hurts. It’s not the kind of oxygen we wish we had. It’s not the easy kind of breath we need. But without those much-needed breaths, no matter how hard they are, our lungs would deflate and our hearts would cease. Don’t believe me? Try to hold your breath for ten minutes and see what happens. (I’m just kidding. Don’t do that.)

That’s how it is with love. It’s not always going to be simple to love others. It’s not always going to be convenient or without hardship and deprivation. But it’s still how we breathe. It’s still the very thing that keeps us alive in the spirit of God. Because when we breathe out love to others for the sake of glorifying God, we in turn breathe in the love that God has for us. We’ve been assigned the arduous and humbling task of showing love to all people, and this includes those we consider our worst enemies, those who live differently, those whom we don’t believe deserve love, those whom we think are too far gone. Thieves, cheats, and liars are just a few of the people we are called to show love and grace to. Why? Because these people are no better or worse than you or me. That may be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth. We’re supposed to show love to everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done—because Jesus died for all of us. This may sound extreme, but that’s love.

This is an excerpt from Jarrid Wilson’s book, Love is Oxygen: How God Can Give You Life and Change Your World.

Christian Mental Health Statistics

Since 1974, the United States has observed National Suicide Prevention Month in the month of September. Not only does this bring much needed awareness for Christians who are suffering from mental health issues, but it also provides an opportunity for the church and/or faith-based organizations to talk about an important topic that affects people more than we often realize or like to admit.

“Depression was once a topic reserved for ‘other people,’” Former LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer wrote in a Facts & Trends issue on mental health. He goes on to say, “The truth is, pastors are as likely as other Americans to experience mental illness.”

Here are 13 statistics from several LifeWay Research studies that may help you better understand the issue of mental health and the people in your church:

Christian Mental Health Statistics:

• 23 percent of pastors acknowledge they have personally struggled with a mental illness.

• 49 percent of pastors say they rarely or never speak to their congregation about mental illness.

• 27 percent of churches have a plan to assist families affected by mental illness.

• 65 percent of churchgoing family members of those with mental illness want their church to talk openly about mental illness.

• 59 percent of those actually suffering from mental illness say the same.

• 53 percent of churchgoers with mental illness say the church has been supportive.

• 76 percent of churchgoers say suicide is a problem that needs to be addressed in their community.

• 32 percent of churchgoers say a close acquaintance or family member has died by suicide.

• 80 percent of pastors say their church is equipped to assist someone who is threatening to take his or her own life.

• 92 percent of pastors say their church is equipped to care for the family that experiences the suicide of a loved one.

• 4 percent of churchgoers who lost a loved one to suicide say church leaders were aware of their loved one’s struggles.

• 68 percent of Americans feel they would be welcome in church if they were mentally ill.

• 35 percent of Americans say mental illness could be overcome with Bible study and prayer alone.

Christians still have a long way to go in regards to the conversation surrounding mental health, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do SOMETHING about it today. By using our voice, platforms and influence, we can be the change needed to elevate the much needed conversation surrounding mental health within the local church, faith-based organizations, and beyond.

Over 800,000 people a year lose their lives to suicide, and we believe it’s about time Christians start doing something about it.

—Jarrid Wilson, Founder

10 Statistics You Didn't Know About Suicide

10 STATISTICS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SUICIDE

1. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

2. Each year 42,773 Americans die by suicide.

3. For every suicide, 25 people attempt. 

4. On average, there are 117 suicides per day.

5. Over one million people die by suicide worldwide each year.

6. On average, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds somewhere in the world.

7. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-24. 

8. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined.

9. Four out of Five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs.

10. Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 5,240 attempts by young people grades 7th-12th.

—Anthem of Hope

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please visit our 24/7 Anthem of Hope LiveChat. 

Your Journey May Be Dark, But That Doesn't Mean It's Hopeless

Who have I become?

I remember sitting in my room one night after I had just got home from smoking weed and drinking a little too much with a group of people that I had convinced myself were real friends. I was about nineteen years old and still trying to navigate my purpose in life as most of us do. As I sat in my bed and stared at the wall with glossy eyes and tears beginning to stream down my face, I remember thinking to myself, "This is hopeless." I then walked into the bathroom and proceeded to look at myself mirror. I remember being confused at who I saw staring back at me. 

"This isn't me," 

I mumbled under my breath.

"Who have I become?" 

I thought to myself. 

I had been going down this dark road for quite some time now. I wasn't the person God created me to be. I was doing things I swore I'd never do, I was becoming a person I swore I'd never become, I was spending time with people I swore I'd never spend time with, and I was digging myself a hole that eventually felt too deep to climb out of. I had convinced myself that there was no way out of this darkness. I felt stuck. I was depressed, lonely, searching for worth in all the wrong places, and I was sure that God wanted nothing to do with me. 

We all go through dark times. 

Depression does that to you. Anxiety can do that to you. Darkness can do that to you. You begin convincing yourself that darkness actually means hopelessness. But it doesn't. This couldn't be any farther from the truth. The reality is we all go through dark times in life. And although our darkness may look and feel different depending on the person, this doesn't make hope any less obtainable, no matter how broken and lifeless one may feel. 

Hopeless is how I spent most of my life. But what I perceived as hopelessness was actually just darkness in disguise. It wasn't until I learned to drop my guard, admit that it was okay to not be okay, share my hurt with others, and grab hold of God that things started to change for me. The darkness started to subside, and hope began infiltrating every crevice of my life. It wasn't immediate. It took time. And nor did it prevent darkness from trying to control me on a daily basis. But it was there, and it was present. 

Hope is one of those things we can't outrun no matter how quick and witty we think we are. It's always one step ahead of us, waiting to be seen and grabbed hold of.  God's love, regardless if you believe in it or not, is a light in dark and weary times. It's a lighthouse to a ship lost in a sea of colossal waves, and life-raft for those who are sinking. 

Hope is available.

Your life has a purpose no matter how broken you think it may be. And although "darkness" is something you might struggle with throughout your life, you must always remember that the hope of God is their to grab hold of in times of need. 

—Jarrid Wilson