The day I dropped out from university, studying History and German due to mental health issues…….is not the end of the story

The day when I couldn’t face going out, because I was crippled by agoraphobia…….is not the end of the story

The day when my major achievement for the day was buying one pint of milk from the supermarket, without having a panic attack……is not the end of the story

The day I enrolled on Celebrate Recovery….is not the end of the story

The day I enrolled on an online theology course and failed the first assignment……..is not the end of the story

The day I started work at 10ofthose.com…….is not the end of the story

The day I found out I have inflammatory bowel disease……is not the end of the story

The day I preached for the first time (with someone waiting in the wings with a backup sermon, in case I couldn’t do it)……..is not the end of the story

The day I learnt to manage my mental health and anxiety……..is not the end of the story

The day my calling to Baptist ministry was recognised…….is not the end of the story

The day I started ministerial training……is not the end of the story

The day I realised I loved preaching and God had called me to it……is not the end of the story

The day I graduated with a first-class degree……is not the end of the story

The day I started working at Spurgeon’s College….is not the end of the story

The day I was ordained as a Baptist minister……..is not the end of the story

The day I became acting senior pastor of a church…..is not the end of the story

The day I accepted I would have to sit down to preach, due to disability…….is not the end of the story

Today as I sit at my desk, as deputy vice-chancellor of Spurgeon’s College, Baptist minister, charity trustee and company director I have two reflections.

Firstly, with God, all things are possible. You may be reading this feeling that there is no way forward, or that you can never rise above your present situation and that you’ve got to the end of your story. I want to remind you, that God is in the business of using the weak things of this world and making them strong because of who He is and what He can do in your life. My story is not my own, but a story of God taking me step by step through valleys and high places, to be the person that he has called me to be, a strong courageous down to earth woman of God. If you are sitting there, reading this, it’s so important to remember that today is not the end of your story, there is hope and God will and can work with you and in you, if you surrender your life to him.

Secondly, if you feel that God has a calling on your life, that God has given you a vision and a purpose for your life, step out, even just one tiny step in the direction he is calling you into.

God made it clear to me that he had called me to be a Baptist minister, whilst I was still struggling with agoraphobia, let alone standing at the front of a church preaching! To say I was a bit petrified was an understatement – but God in his grace, surrounded me with friends, opportunities and support to slowly pursue what he had called me to be – but do you know what, I still had to take that first step, put one foot in front of the other and move in the direction of my calling. So today, what can you do to pursue your calling – to move forward? Don’t just think about it, tell someone and start your journey to be what God has called you to be.

Finally, if you wondered why I wrote this post – today is the first day in the UK of Mental Health Awareness Week – a week to reflect on mental health, to get help where needed, but also, most importantly, to dismiss the stigma around mental health. So let this post be an encouragement to you…..mental health issues do not have to be the end of your story.