Though sometimes it may feel impossible to continue on, we can never be so broken that the Lord can’t make us whole again.
!["God's love is there for you, whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simple always there." By Thomas S. Monson](https://i0.wp.com/latterdaysaintinsights.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Final_PQ_Acker_PC_oo11o.jpg?resize=356%2C356&ssl=1)
In times of trial and affliction, it can feel as if there is no end in sight. For those who suffer from mental illness, the struggles can persist over a lifetime. Intrusive thoughts of feeling unwanted, unloved, and undeserving can cloud your mind and make you desire to give up. Recently, I have struggled with feeling broken and unworthy. However, I know that Heavenly Father can and will repair me; all I have to do is trust in him.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s general conference address “Like a Broken Vessel” explores the mental health struggles that are prominent today and gives three suggestions for how to respond when such challenges arise:
- Never lose faith. Never doubt Heavenly Father’s love. Work towards bringing the Spirit of the Lord into your daily life. As Elder Holland states, “Hope is never lost.”
- Do what you can. Be aware of stress indicators. When you feel your mental health declining, take time to slow down, rest, replenish, and refill.
- Seek help. Heavenly Father wants you to get help. He will provide a solution. When things seem too hard to handle on your own, seek advice from reputable people.
We all deserve to feel whole. There is no shame in feeling unworthy of God’s love; however, don’t linger on those negative feelings—you will always be worthy of his love. President Thomas S. Monson taught, “God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there.” Heavenly Father loves you. In his eyes, you are deserving and he strives to help you feel your worth.
Read more about how to confront feelings of unworthiness in Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “Like a Broken Vessel.”
Source: General Conference
—Kassidy Acker, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY PEXELS
Find more insights
Read more about dealing with anxiety in the Ensign article “Upon the Top of the Waters” by Jon Warner.
Learn how to trust in the Lord in “Trusting the Lord through Anxiety and Depression” by Camilla Stimpson on Latter-day Saint Insights.
Discover more about improving mental strength in Ashlin Holbrook’s article “Six Simple Habits that Promote Mental Strength” on Latter-day Saint Insights.