Like a Broken Vessel
Like a Broken Vessel
BY SARAH J.
Last autumn, I was in a dark place. I worked full time, was in school full time, had multiple devastating health complications, and lost my young nephew all while navigating Covid in a healthcare setting. It was the lowest point of my life while it seemed that everyone else was at their highest. Others got babies, job promotions, and houses while I got stress, worry, and heartache. I consider myself a fairly resilient person, but if it wasn’t for my supportive husband and my loving Heavenly Father, I would not have made it through the end of 2020.
I’m not the only one who feels like this! Unlike any other time in the world, we live in constant never-before-seen chaos. We have more responsibilities than ever. More pressures than ever. More trials than ever. The list of to-dos seems to be never-ending – kinda like that pile of laundry that just keeps growing. Our mental health is flying out the window; we’re grasping at whatever we can to stay afloat. How do we do it all without falling apart?
The answer? Jesus Christ.
He is the calm within the storm, the peace within the warzone, and the light within the dark. If we let him in, he can take upon himself all of our burdens – mental and physical – as Alma 7:11 teaches us. Although Christ provides unconditional love and comfort, Elder Kopischke reminds us that this doesn’t always make our struggles disappear:
“We now understand that ‘there is not a simple cure-all for emotional and mental wellness. We will experience stress and turmoil because we live in a fallen world with a fallen body. Additionally, many contributing factors may lead to a diagnosis of mental illness. Regardless of our mental and emotional well-being, focusing on growth is healthier than obsessing about our shortcomings.’” (Erich W. Kopischke, “Addressing Mental Health”, October 2021)
Christ knows the stresses we face and is willing to yoke himself to us despite knowing our imperfections. I love the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:
“Though we may feel we are “like a broken vessel,” as the Psalmist says, we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel”, October 2013).
Merciful. Nonjudgmental. Kind. When we are broken and at our lowest points, these are the type of people we need. We don’t need added pressure. We don’t need the reminder that we’re struggling. We need Christ-like love and compassion. Depression, anxiety, and the myriad of other mental health disorders are real struggles that Christ understands. If we’re trying to become like Christ, shouldn’t we try to do the same?
