I Love Jesus. And I Take Medication

I love Jesus.

I try to spend time in prayer, in His Word with my Bible and in worship. I try to show His love wherever and whenever.

I have come across people in my lifetime who also love Jesus. Whenever I would confide in those people about my anxious thoughts, or deep sadness, their response was always the same. “Ashely, you need to let go and LET GOD!” “Have you prayed about it?” “You gotta let that stuff go and let God carry it for you!”

Yes. While I agree, talking with my Creator will give me a peace only He can give, sometimes I need a little extra help.

Maybe in the form of my therapist?

Or my medication?

Didn’t God put us here to help each other? The Pastor of my church often uses the phrase “Be Jesus with skin on.” I have always taken that as … I should act as Jesus would want me to. Try to love the way He does the best I can.

I read something extremely dangerous on Facebook the other day.

Granted many things you read on any social media platform are dangerous. In fact, I rarely comment on anything unless it’s cute pictures of baby animals or baby humans.

In the post was the story of a psychiatrist who “gave up his practice and license after he was introduced to deliverance ministry.” This person goes on to say, “I never saw medication heal anyone. Sure it lessened symptoms in the short term for some, but it never healed anyone. I have a bunch of friends that would have previously been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, bi-polar, whom Jesus has made whole. The pharmaceutical system is designed to enslave for profit. Pop another pill but never get healed. Stay sick so the prescriptions never end.”

The last thing I read from this post was “Jesus is the only one who can heal out hearts. Everything else is a worthless band aid that will never actually help us. “

A worthless band aid.

I couldn’t not say anything.

Didn’t God put people on this Earth to make the medications help with depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses?

I am taking medication for my mental illness. Does that mean I love Jesus less? Am I less of a Christian?

I am very passionate about mental health advocacy and part of that includes me talking

about my relationship with Jesus AND my doctor AND my therapist who have helped me and who have put me on a medication that works IN ADDITION to spending time in worship, in His Word, and in prayer. If someone breaks their leg, don’t they need surgery to fix it? What’s the difference if a brain is broken?

Telling someone they don’t need medication for their mental illness is a dangerous thing. If you don’t understand what these people are going through, please don’t tell them they don’t need their treatment plan. It’s not like anxiety, depression and bi-polar are some secret club to be a part of. It is hard getting out of bed sometimes. It is hard leaving the house sometimes. It is really hard fighting your own thoughts every single minute of every day.

I’m sorry you don’t understand these illnesses. I’m sorry you have a distorted view of what counts as healing. I’m so sorry if you think that someone doesn’t love Jesus as much as you because you don’t believe in medication.

It’s not up to you to decide who loves Jesus more.

I love Jesus. And I take medication for anxiety.

I love Jesus. And I take medication for depression.

I love Jesus. And sometimes I live with suicidal thoughts.

I love Jesus.

And He loves me.

You can love Jesus and still take medication.