Silence Can Be Deadly
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In a world that is increasingly connected, it’s ironic that so many people feel more alone than ever. The struggle of dealing with problems alone, in silence, is a dangerous path that can lead to severe consequences, including even death. You have the power to improve or possibly save someone’s life. Today I will explain how you can help. Please take the time to read this important message.
I have written extensively about the positive benefits of silence in the context of our relationship with God. Being silent in order to hear God’s voice is an essential part of our spiritual journey. However, when it comes to our wounds and brokenness, silence is unhealthy, dangerous, and in some cases deadly.
Thirteen years ago, God touched my heart and gave me the courage to break my silence. Like so many others, I had wounds that were a well guarded secret. Those wounds negatively impacted my life in ways only I knew. On the outside I appeared fine. Inside I was struggling. God prompted me to make my wounds known. In response to God’s prompting, I not only broke my silence, but with the guidance and courage from the Holy Spirit I started Broken Door Ministries to help others break their silence and find healing too.
Not long after beginning this ministry, I read an article about a mother who had lost her teenage son to suicide. The mother’s quote in that article has stuck with me ever since. It epitomizes the reason Broken Door Ministries exists. She said, “It’s hard to heal the wounds you cannot see!” This mother would have done anything within her power to prevent her son’s suicide if she had only known her son was suffering so badly. But she didn’t know. On the outside he looked fine. Inside, he was falling apart. He was deeply wounded and no one knew it. Sadly, it seems nearly every human being lives with some well guarded secrets and hidden pain.
When we choose to struggle alone, we carry the entire weight of our problems. This burden can be overwhelming, leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and sometimes a loss of faith. The silence amplifies our fears and worries, making them seem insurmountable. It’s like being trapped in a room with a growing shadow, with no one to turn on the light.
The stress from struggling alone doesn’t just affect our spiritual and mental health, it can also take a significant toll on our physical health. Chronic stress can lead to a weakened immune system, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. Struggling alone is a silent killer that operates under the radar, slowly chipping away at our wellbeing.
Our wounds can be inflicted by others or by tragic life events. Frequently, our brokenness comes from our own sinfulness. In the end, it really doesn’t matter where our struggles originate. We all have them. Far too often we choose to struggle and fight alone. Doing so is detrimental to us, and it prevents others from being Christ to us.
Sadly, most people attempt to hide behind a false mask implying to others that their life is fine. We all need a safe space to be open and honest. When we struggle in silence, we are more likely to keep struggling. If our brokenness is a result of a pattern of recurring sin, we usually become a slave to that sin. By sharing honestly with a few close friends about our struggles, our friendships deepen and everyone begins to see each other as we really are, just another person struggling to be the best Christian we can be.
I have traveled around our country and shared the message God put on my heart for the past 13 years. Many people, after hearing the message of Jesus’ healing touch and after hearing my personal testimony, have mustered the courage to open up and share their own hidden secrets. One woman told me she had suffered in silence for almost 87 years. After sharing her story, she experienced a new found freedom.
In Ezekiel 37:4-10, God brought dry bones to life. God can do the same for everyone who comes to our retreats. He can mend their wounds and heal their brokenness and restore their dead bones to life. He longs to bring everyone peace and joy.
The message of helping broken and wounded people hurting alone in silence does evoke the same emotions as so many worthwhile charities that tug on your heart strings. Despite the reality that everyone has wounds and brokenness, personal brokenness remains a topic people are afraid to confront. It has been a challenge for us to get this important message of healing out to everyone who needs to hear it. This is where you come in!
Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a strength. It takes courage to admit that we’re struggling and need help. Whether it’s confiding in a trusted friend, seeking professional help, or joining a support group, there are many ways to break the silence. This is why I am so passionate about putting on retreats to help people break free from the deadly silence. Our Blessed, Broken, and Scared retreat is built on the healing power of Jesus. During the retreat, attendees learn how to be Christ to one another. They also gain courage to break their own silence. But I need your help to get this message out!
I am not asking for your financial support. Thanks to the generosity of our financial supporters I rarely ask for donations, although they are always appreciated. I need your help in a different way. I am asking you to do something that is quite easy to do. I am asking you to send our new brochure to your pastor. Encourage him to invite me to your church to put on a retreat. That’s it. It is that simple! Maybe you would also be willing to spearhead the committee to make the retreat a success. We provide all the support to make that job easy.
The retreat’s message of Christ’s healing touch, mercy, and forgiveness, has made a positive impact on many lives. Just think, your simple action of telling your pastor about our retreat might even save someone’s life.
Simply click this link to print out our new brochure or copy the link and send it by email to your pastor or the person at your church in charge of retreats. After sending the email, follow up with a phone call and encourage him to contact me. That’s all I am asking you to do. If possible, copy me in the email so that I can follow up as well.
Help Broken Door Ministries bring an end to suffering in silence! Working together we can be a powerful force to bring the healing power of Jesus to the world.
Finally, I have always thought this the song, Truth Be Told by Matthew West conveys the important message we try to share through Broken Door Ministries. Please take a moment to listen to this powerful song.
Heavenly Father, we need your help. Everyone harbors pains and sinfulness they are embarrassed to share with others. Bring people into our lives that we can trust, and give us the courage to be more open about the things that keep us from a more joyous relationship with you. Also Lord, help me to be a better listener for those who want to share their story with me. I ask this prayer in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen!
IMPORTANT NOTE
If you are reading this, and you are harboring silent hidden pains, please reach out to a friend and open up about your struggle so that they can listen, care, and walk with you in your trial. If you don’t have someone to open up with, feel free to contact me. We all need someone to walk along beside us to help ease our pains.
AMDG
As always, I love to hear from you. You can email me by clicking here.
Have you witnessed a miracle or experienced a miracle in your life? If so, please share your experience below.
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Thank you! I too have experienced a suicide of my only son and youngest of five. I miss him so much and know I should have seen signs to help him! He had a wife and two children only 3 and 5 years old! It has been 11 years ago. My heart still breaks! We also lost our youngest daughter just 5 years ago, she lived alone and missed her brother and was divorced and an atty. for th Rock Island arsenal. Again I did not see signs that she was drinking heavily and ruined her liver. I blame myself for not seeing signs to help her. Thank you for the retreat when you came to St. Patrick’s parish at Andalusia, IL.
Janice
I cannot imagine the pain you must feel. Please know of my prayers and the prayers of everyone who reads your post. By having the courage to post your story you may become the catalyst that gets someone to open up before it turns tragic. May God give you peace!
Brian
I will definitely share with Fr.Andres at Immaculate Conception parish.
Thank you, Brian.
Jane
Thank you!
Brian
Excellent message. God Bless., I will look for opportunities to spread Your brochure.
God Bless
Paul
On behalf of those people whose lives may be positively impacted by the love and mercy of Christ, I thank you!
Brian
Awesome words! Thanks so much for sharing.
Pat
Thank you! My prayer is that the message gets out. I would love to do many more retreats. They have always been well received and the message of Christ’s healing touch has touched many lives. But, there and many more that need to hear the message.
Brian