Months after writing her short, to-the-point suicide note, the mother of four and former missionary to Turkey sat on her porch and said the last thing she would ever write: I pondered a phrase.
“You can write a short note about despair, or you can write an entire book of hope.” That’s what Julie Bassler thought at the time. Now an author, speaker, Bible teacher, and mental health advocate, Butler shares the hope he found after two hospitalizations, therapy, medication, and a renewed focus on God’s Word. We focus our energy on helping people find.
In her book, Joyful Grief: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness, Bassler talks about her struggles with depression and undiagnosed trauma.
fighting depression
It was while she was in Turkey with her husband and family that she made plans to end her life.
“You can’t pretend forever, so I got this disease, was hospitalized, and then went home. When I was readmitted to the hospital in America, I felt, ‘God, I’m done.’ There is no place for me in ministry. ’ Someone at church told me verbally that I was unfit for the ministry, but because of my depression, I believed them,” Bassler said.
“I could never understand how someone who was struggling like me could be used by God.”
While healing, Bassler kept a diary, even though she felt very hurt. It took her about a year before she was ready to tell her own story. At that point, she realized that sections of her diary could become chapters.
“Maybe these lessons that brought me back to life can be used to help someone else,” she said.
She is still amazed at how the Lord appeared to her while she was in an American psychiatric hospital.
Psalm 23 was recited to her three times. Once from her fellow patients and once from women who visited her. And even her doctor said, “Julie, have you ever read her Psalm 23?”
shepherd’s voice
At the time, she believed her brain was so damaged that she couldn’t hear God’s voice.
“Later, I realized that if mental illness can interfere with God’s voice, then God is not God. Jesus said that the sheep know the voice of the shepherd.
“It was so miraculous to me that even at the lowest point in my journey, when I felt like God had completely abandoned me, God revealed Himself to me even in a mental hospital,” Bassler said. Told. “I didn’t pray enough. I didn’t even have a Bible.
“But God has shown me that there are no constraints on His Word. Yes, God’s presence is in church and Bible studies, but He is also very present in psychiatric wards.” I did.”
There was another reason she compiled those lessons into a book that could be shared with others. When she returned to America, she could not find a book like “Joyful Sorrow.” She had no idea where she and her husband should go.
They decided to serve at a local church, and Ms. Bassler joined the planning committee for the annual women’s event. She said Ms. Basler was too embarrassed to tell the women why she and her husband were in the house.
The committee wanted three women to tell their stories. Basler knew he was supposed to be one of them, but “I fought with God for 30 minutes.” [her] Chair. “She didn’t mean it like that.
dependence
Bassler eventually surrendered and told him he could talk to her about being admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She was surprised that all the women thought it was a good idea.
After the event, “people were like, ‘Me too!'” Me too! Oh my god! I’m a pastor’s wife, and if you can struggle as a missionary, maybe I can too. ” This is what I thought about the overwhelming response. It’s not just me. ‘All of these people are acting as if I’m the first one to tell them, ‘You love Jesus and it’s okay to struggle in ministry,”’ Bassler said. .
Mr. Basler reminds others that God does not expect everyone to be perfect, but rather that they should depend on Him and not be ashamed of their mental health struggles. I sincerely hope you will know. She learned that she can still be human and that God will support her no matter what she is going through.
“There is beauty in our weakness. That’s what the Bible is all about. I don’t know why so many of us feel like we have to have it all together. Yet God He will use us,” she said.
painful topic
Another thing Basler highlights is how suicide rates are increasing. Over the years, the stigma of mental illness has diminished considerably, but suicide needs to be discussed more.
“This is a troubling and painful subject, but seeing numbers like this increase makes me pretty passionate about talking about this issue.
“For me, it’s worth it to be uncomfortable. That’s one of the loudest voices I hear: ‘I can’t do that.’ I can never share my story.” did. ” I say, “Yes, you can!” Your story matters.
“That’s why I don’t have much courage. I feel like God keeps giving me the grace to keep sharing.”
To learn more about “Joyful Sorrow” and Baszler’s ministry, please visit: JulieBusler.com .
