There's a tension that doesn't get talked about much in church, and it's this: as Christians, we're taught to long for heaven. We're told this world is not our home. We're encouraged to set our hearts on eternity.
And for someone who is in deep mental pain, that theology can get complicated fast.
Paul navigated this tension honestly. In Philippians 1:21-24, he wrote: "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live." (NLT)
He longed for heaven. He was honest about that. And he also knew he had a purpose here, people who needed him, a mission that wasn't finished.
The right posture, I think, lives somewhere in the tension between these two things. Yes, long for heaven. Believe that what comes after this is beyond anything you can imagine. Revelation 21 promises a day with no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain—and that is real hope.
And stay. Find your reason. Do the next hard thing. Because you have a purpose here that nobody else can fulfill.
If you're in a place where the pain has become too heavy, please reach out to someone today. You can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime.
Matthew 11:28 is still the invitation: "Come to me... and I will give you rest." (NLT)