And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
Psalm 50:15
Because God is always merciful and kind, He will never ignore or despise the cries of his children...
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
Psalm 50:15
Because God is always merciful and kind, He will never ignore or despise the cries of his children...
And for many of those who are in jail or prison, mental illness has been their lifelong "day of trouble."
In addition, for decades, correctional facilities have become the warehouses and dumping grounds for those who have mental health issues, and who have run afoul of the law. The biggest reason for this being that there are not enough psychiatric centers and hospitals to handle everyone, or so it has been claimed. This has been an often discussed issue in the media and among prison and mental health officials. So I'll leave it at that.
However, this afternoon, as I entered the facility's Intermediate Care Program (E-North) to visit the residents, sixty-four in all, I sensed the Lord's presence in a unique yet gentle way. And as I looked around at the faces of the men, my heart was touched with compassion. Not that I ever lacked compassion. After all, this is why I chose to work here in the first place. So that I could befriend these troubled men, give them hope, and share the love of God. Yet, for some reason, today was different. My heart was warmed in a special way that I cannot describe.
As I walked along the tiers in E-North to chat with and visit my inmate friends, I had a desire to silently pray for each man. In Matthew's gospel account, the Lord Jesus was quoted as saying "For ye have the poor always with you" (Matthew 26:11). True! Poor people exist throughout the planet, but may I humbly add that in this fallen world we also have the mentally ill and psychologically tormented with us, too. And God, I believe, sent me to these men to tell them that He loves and cares for them very much.
D.B.
In addition, for decades, correctional facilities have become the warehouses and dumping grounds for those who have mental health issues, and who have run afoul of the law. The biggest reason for this being that there are not enough psychiatric centers and hospitals to handle everyone, or so it has been claimed. This has been an often discussed issue in the media and among prison and mental health officials. So I'll leave it at that.
However, this afternoon, as I entered the facility's Intermediate Care Program (E-North) to visit the residents, sixty-four in all, I sensed the Lord's presence in a unique yet gentle way. And as I looked around at the faces of the men, my heart was touched with compassion. Not that I ever lacked compassion. After all, this is why I chose to work here in the first place. So that I could befriend these troubled men, give them hope, and share the love of God. Yet, for some reason, today was different. My heart was warmed in a special way that I cannot describe.
As I walked along the tiers in E-North to chat with and visit my inmate friends, I had a desire to silently pray for each man. In Matthew's gospel account, the Lord Jesus was quoted as saying "For ye have the poor always with you" (Matthew 26:11). True! Poor people exist throughout the planet, but may I humbly add that in this fallen world we also have the mentally ill and psychologically tormented with us, too. And God, I believe, sent me to these men to tell them that He loves and cares for them very much.
D.B.
