Hope for Our Mental Health in 2021

Psalm 121:1-4 – I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Do you feel like you have no purpose going into the new year? Do you feel adrift in a sea of change? What kind of adversity will your mind and emotions face in 2021? Is there any hope for our mental health in 2021?
 
Many people are saying that they couldn’t wait for 2020 to be over because it was such a bad year for everyone. But will 2021 be better or is there the possibility that it could be even worse?

1. Will we make more bad memories? We certainly have a lot of bad memories now. It can be difficult wanting to be with people and trying to do something memorable because we fear it will be another bad one.
2. Will heartache fill our days? If you’ve been hurt many times in the past, it can be difficult to trust people and to want to build new relationships.
3. Will depression drag us down deeper into dark waters? If we have no hope, then we are unleashing depression. That depression can prevent us from leaving our homes and venturing out into the world. It’s easier to just stay closed up in our own little world than to seek sometimes fearful choices.
4. Will we experience great loss in the coming year? We’ve already lost so much. How can we possibly survive another loss?

 
Newportacademy.com in their article, “The Connection Between Hope and Mental Health,” shows us how important hope is to those who struggle with mental health issues. It shows us what characteristics those who have hope have such as they choose healthier lifestyle and cope with and recover better from illness. It also shows us how hope impacts mental health. Hope shows improved coping skills and well-being. In addition, the article provides ways to cultivate hope and reduce anxiety. Focusing on our strengths and not our weaknesses and practicing gratitude cultivates hope. It provides us with much needed positive beliefs and shows us to focus on what we have and not on what we don’t have.
 
Finally, where does our hope, our help, come from? It comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Cling to that hope walking into the new year, and you’ll not only feel more grounded, but you’ll also be able to find joy in the midst of your adversity.
 
The verses above also tell us that God won’t let our foot slip. He watches over us whether we are awake or asleep for God never sleeps. I often find it helpful if I put my name into a certain Bible verse and then read it. It can not only make it more personal but can make you feel like God is speaking right to you. So here’s mine:  Karen lift up your eyes to the mountains – where does her help come from? Karen’s help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let Karen’s foot slip – he who watches over Karen will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Karen will neither slumber nor sleep. Now put your name into the verses and read them out loud. Therein lies our hope for our mental health in 2021. It is God who will watch over us and stay right beside us no matter what the new year brings.
 
Key words: hope for 2021, adversity, hope and mental health connection, God brings us through, God beside us

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