By David Mandani

There is peace and HOPE in knowing that when my body has problems like heart disease or cancer, there are treatments. Similarly, when my brain is not working right, there are effective treatments and there are good choices I can make in journeying toward wellness & recovery. This is what SFSG is all about—journeying with you and providing wellness tips and tools while on the recovery trail. Your journey through recovery might likely be winding. Twists and turns. Ups and downs.

Society likes to put labels on people. What is misunderstood is often sidelined or explained away. Media perpetuates fear or, worse yet, pokes fun at individuals. But you do not have to accept stigma, shame or everyday misconceptions that can lead to isolation – and a barren land or valley.

You will save yourself and/or your loved one a lot of pain in understanding this, and it gives God permission to instead lead you into His green pastures and still waters.

The Bible Has A Lot To Say About HOPE: When you are in the midst of suffering and you are desperate, broken and believe nothing can nor will change- I have learned that God brings HOPE and He is a catalyst for change. He is compassionate. He is faithful. He is near. Even when you don’t feel like it, His word endures forever and His promises are true. Romans 15:13 (NIV) says “May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as your trust in Him so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

My relationship with God has brought hope for me living with mental illness. I have been in and out of the valley. Numerous times. The trail has never been straight. It has been winding, with ups and downs, along the way. I’ve come to expect that, yet God has brought an incredible RESILIENCE to me in surviving the tumultuous journey that recovery brings. I am not alone in this journey. God is with me. You don’t have to do recovery alone. Your loved one who may be suffering is not alone. And, this HOPE and life giving connection is also available to you. Can you trust in this, and in Him, today?