Faith@First - January 31, 2025
I’ll never forget the day I got the call—my grandmother didn’t have long to live. The words hit like a wave, and before I knew it, tears streamed down my face. In that moment of raw grief, my then six-year-old Isabella looked at me with wide eyes and said, “I didn’t know mommies cry.”
I tried to wipe my tears, but they wouldn’t stop. The weight of loss, love, and helplessness came crashing down. It was a meltdown—an overflow of emotion I couldn’t control. But isn’t that what we all do? We push down our pain, mask our struggles, and pretend to be okay—until we aren’t. Until everything bubbles up and overflows, sometimes in ways that shake us to our core. If you’ve ever felt like that, you’re not alone. The Bible is full of people who struggled with their emotions and mental health. And who with God’s help, were able to hold on, find hope and healing.
We hope you may find that too this Sunday as we begin our new sermon series: Epic Meltdowns: Learning from Life’s Breaking Points. We’ll explore the stories of those who wrestled with their emotions and discover how their struggles can guide us toward greater mental and spiritual health. We’re also partnering with Kristen Boice, a licensed counselor and founder of Pathways to Healing who will lead a workshop entitled: Managing the Meltdown: Strategies for Mental Resilience on Thursday, February 20, from 6:30-8 PM. Sign up here for the workshop.
God gives us both Scripture and skilled professionals to help us heal. No matter what emotion you may be carrying, I’ll be there Sunday. I hope you will too. And know this: God is already there, waiting for us.
Keep the faith, @ First.
Pastor Nicole
P.S. This picture is one my most treasured memories, Isabella with my Grandma
