Ever since we started on this mental health journey to get men into therapy has been one of the most rewarding yet toughest things I have ever done. As a backstory, I battled some severe depression and anxiety a few years ago and by the grace and love and mercy of God, I am still here. I vowed though when I got back on my feet I would spend very day telling men how much God loves them and they matter.
The suicide rate for men over 45 is so dang high that it has become my battle. I have lost several close friends in the past few years and I hate that they never realized how many people truly loved them. That is why therapy is so important and going to therapy saved my life.
The number one question I get from most men I talk to is that they are so consumed with their past and mistakes they feel as if God will never forgive them so it seems as if it is a lost cause. Nothing is further from the truth. Nothing. I understand it though, because I still deal with my mistakes but something happened not long ago which stopped those thoughts.
I was having a bad day, which is rare for me, and I was on the interstate and my car had a massive blowout. A tire, a brand new tire at that, just ripped to shreds and by the grace of God I was able to make it off the road and into a parking lot. It was 11 pm so I pulled out my phone and called roadside assistance. One problem. I never clicked all the way through to get assistance so I had to find someone to come help me change the tire. (Yes, I know how to change a tire but I did not have a jack in my car I soon discovered.)
It would be two hours before he could get to me so I just sat in my car and watched some videos on my phone. I was not in a good mood and maybe this would relax me. Suddenly, something told me to put the phone down and look out through the windshield. What am I looking for? What did I need to see.
As I looked out, my focus shifted towards the windshield in the car and it was something I will never forget. Every dumb thing I had done in my adult life played out as if it was a movie screen. Everything. Yes, all very surreal. It played one more time and I was asking, why am I watching this? Then a voice said “Press delete.” What? Press delete? “Yes, press delete and erase it.”
Now it was getting weird because I was having a conversation with God. No doubt. The voice said just press delete and tell others to do the same. No sense in carrying that around all the time. I pressed delete and wiped it away. Immediate relief in my body; in my soul; most importantly, in my mind.
If you are struggling with that as well, it is easier said than done because I know first hand, just do it and trust God. All of that is gone and now I just focus on today. Here is my email—BigJoeOnTheGo.com—I ask you to reach out if you need to talk and a lot of men have so don’t feel as if you are the only one. We all walk together. You are powerful. You are forgiven.
Just press delete.