Twice a year, Samford hosts “Greek Speak,” an event hosted in collaboration with the Office of Spiritual Life and Greek life to promote the spiritual health of students enrolled in Greek organizations. On Monday, March 20, Rebekah Lyons, an author and Christian speaker, led this semester’s event. Lyons focused her message on how to handle anxiety and stress as a follower of Christ, connecting to her 2019 book, “Rhythms of Renewal.”
Lyons began her sermon by reading a passage from John 14 and saying, “When we are walking through life and are experiencing despair or turmoil or hardship, we have to recognize that the Spirit of God’s role is to be our counselor, our comforter and our advocate. We have the access to that every single moment, everywhere we go.”
Stress is present in everyone’s lives, and Lyons shared her personal experiences with stress and God’s rescue in those times. Her first major encounter with God’s rescue was during the birth of her first son. The baby had not grown for weeks, and the doctors gave her an emergency C-section. After regulating the child’s heartbeat, Lyons and her husband were told that their baby had signs of down syndrome, which they had to prepare for.
“God got so close to me in that season,” Lyons said. “I remember when the final diagnosis came in confirming that, I just kind of collapsed on my knees, and I said, ‘God, you take the helm. I don’t know what to do.’ God drew so near. The Comforter, the Counselor and Advocate drew so near.”
Through this story, Lyons told the students that each of them would experience dark times in their lives, where God would come in and rescue them. She said Christians often do not invite God into those times until so desperate that they cannot imagine life going on without His guidance.
Nine years after the birth of her son, Lyons and her family moved to New York City. Little did she know that this would be the second time God came to her rescue. She began to have panic attacks caused by claustrophobia. In New York, she began to become anxious on planes, subways and crowded elevators.
During this season of her life, Lyons was involved in a small Bible study of four women. One day, the group prayed over her, and God worked a miracle in her life. That night, she had a major panic attack in her bed, and she called out to God for rescue. She said everything went still, and the Lord took her anxiety away.
“I want to tell you that Jesus is looking at you and saying, ‘Do you want to be healed?’” Lyons said.
Since this event, many students have discussed the theology of these statements. Many people who attended the event, such as student Amelia Vernon, have argued that healing does not always come to those who ask.
“You think I didn’t cry out to God to take this away?” Vernon said. “God led me to medication, and she’s taking that away from people.”
Whether you agree or disagree with Lyons’ message, it has clearly sparked discussions at Samford about how Christians should be reacting to mental health as a whole.
Arts & Life Editor
