What I Learned From Being Bigfoot: Learning To Deal With Mental Health Challenges From A Christian Perspective

By Kevin W. Gieger

Are you a Christian who finds themselves trapped between two worlds? Are you trying to serve the Lord on the one hand yet finding yourself struggling with mental health challenges on the other? Do you find yourself hiding behind an outward mask of pretending everything is great but inwardly constantly fighting to stay out of a dark place mentally? If so, this book is for you. After a humorous encounter deep in the woods of Eastern Oregon, I have learned how to deal with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. This book will teach you simple tools and exercises that anyone can adapt and apply to their lives. By consistently using what is taught between the covers of this book, you will find yourself being a little more of who God intended you to be: an overcomer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385023165

Kevin W. Gieger

Kevin W. Gieger is a regular guy who has faced the challenges of dealing with mental health issues while trying to serve the Lord. He believes that people with mental health challenges have long been ignored by the Christian community and have even been made to feel like second-class Christians. He is passionate about teaching the Word of God and equipping others to overcome their challenges and live a more fulfilled life in Jesus Christ. He currently lives in Woodburn, Oregon, with Mary, his wife of 36 years. He firmly believes we are created by a God who cares about all aspects of our lives, including our mental and emotional well-being. He loves encouraging others and adding value to them whenever he can. For the record, he does not believe in Bigfoot. Well, not 100%, at least.

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Copyright © 2024 Kevin W. Gieger.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as medical advice, and the contents are not designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental, physical, or spiritual conditions. Consulting a medical professional is encouraged before beginning any type of treatment plan.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2314-1 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2315-8 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2316-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024907092

WestBow Press rev. date:  05/10/2024

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1     The Beginning of the End

Chapter 2     The Dawning of a New Day

Chapter 3     Clouds Begin to Block the Son

Chapter 4     Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 5     What I Learned from Being Bigfoot

Chapter 6     Beginning to Follow the Calling

Chapter 7     Just Who Do You Think You Are?

Chapter 8     Discovering Who You Are

Chapter 9     The Gift Inside Your Mind

Chapter 10   What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Chapter 11   The Three Monkeys

Chapter 12   It’s OK to Talk to Yourself (as Long as You Are Saying the Right Things)

Chapter 13   Unpack Your Bags

Chapter 14   Go Ahead; Make Your Day

Chapter 15   Don’t Waste Your Pain

The Conclusion

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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I want to first acknowledge God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost for their help in writing this book. I truly feel this book belongs to them, and I am so grateful for the inspiration and anointing that allowed me to even consider taking on this challenge. Without their help, it would not have been possible for me to accomplish this. I would also like to thank my wife, Mary, for her support and encouragement. Despite my challenges, she has stuck with me through all these years, and I am fully aware that I have not always been the easiest person to live with. Lastly, I want to acknowledge and thank those who prayed for me during the time of this writing. Those prayers made a real difference.

PREFACE

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I am a flawed man. In my mind, I am much more flawed than anyone I know. I feel especially flawed when reading God’s Word and communicating with Him in prayer and worship. It is there that I realize that God is so much more than my mind can ever grasp, and it is there that I see my shortcomings, which are many. There are so many that I wonder why He puts up with me. I have failed Him so many times. I am so thankful He does not have the same human attributes I do since I would have given up on myself long ago if I were Him. That is because I know myself, what I have done, and what I can do, good or bad. But He also knows me. He knows me better than I know myself; after all, He made me, and the Creator knows more about His creation than the thing created.

What you are about to read is a deeply personal journey, one I have never told before, at least not in this kind of detail. I ask of you a few things. First, have patience with me and my writing. It is, after all, my first book. It may have flaws, so go easy on me. Second, try not to judge me and question my relationship with the Lord. Trust me; I do that enough on my own. Third, try not to judge me and people you know who have mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, fear, negative thinking, and poor self-image. Unless you have walked in their shoes, imagining what it is like isn’t easy.

Lastly, as you read this, pray and seek God’s direction while keeping an open mind. I have worked hard to ensure the tools and principles found here are biblically based, accurate, and helpful. Every tool I share is one that, at some point, I have put into practice. Some I continue to use daily, while others on an as-needed basis. This book is not for everyone. It is designed for those who struggle with mental health challenges or know someone who does. In the following pages, you will discover tools to help you discover who you are and why you are here. We will explore ways to create new thinking patterns to dispel negative thoughts. Some tools will improve your self-esteem and assist you in learning to love yourself. Some exercises are designed to assist you in letting go of emotional baggage. One chapter is dedicated to helping you make the most out of your time. We close with a discussion on emotional pain and some ways to assist you in releasing it. All from a scriptural point of view. One very important point I need to make clear is that nothing in this book will replace the personal relationship you need with Jesus Christ. The tools will assist you in your journey, but He must have the preeminence.

Thank you.

CHAPTER 1

The Beginning of the End

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I st ill remember Mary, my wife, having her hand on the doorknob, looking back, and asking, Didn’t you think I would leave? Those words continued to be a haunting memory for many years that, at times, I heard over and over. It appeared our marriage of seventeen years was over, and I knew it was my fault. Even as I write this, it would be easy to slip back into the emotion of regret, wishing I could do so many things over. I find that most people have made decisions that, given a chance, they would do differently. That is just human nature. For most though, it is not something of the magnitude of becoming a person with such ugly behaviors that it causes their spouse to take the kids and leave. That is where I found myself in 2004. I had no idea that a few years later, I would have a life-changing experience with something that most people consider a myth.

Regret can be a powerful emotion that can take you down the dark road of What if? and I wish. It’s an easy state to fall into, but it will prevent you from moving forward and cause you to go backward. I am not sure where you are in life, but my objective with this book is to help you put your life into first gear and begin to move in the right direction, which is forward. I have discovered a couple of things about our past experiences. We all have good and bad ones, and there are no exceptions. From a biblical point of view, think about the life of a man named Saul, who was born in Tarsus and later became known as Paul. We are introduced to him with just one scripture in the book of Acts, chapter 7, as the stoning of Stephen is related. Read what verse 58 has to say:

And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

It doesn’t seem like much of an introduction of a man who would go on to write much of the New Testament. We later learn some other facts about Paul.

• He approved of Stephen’s stoning, making him an accessory to murder (Acts 9:1).

• He wreaked havoc on the church, entering every house, dragging off men and women, and committing them to prison (Acts 8:3).

• He was very educated (Acts 22:1–3).

• He had an encounter with Jesus so powerful it knocked him to the ground (Acts 9:3).

• Near the end of his life, he told the Sanhedrin that he lived in good conscience (Acts 23:1).

Don’t miss that last part. Even though Paul had caused great harm to God’s people, he did not live a life of regret. In other words, he chose to look forward and not behind, allowing him to do great things for God. This can only be accomplished with the saving grace of the Lord. As His blood washes us from all sin, it has the justifying power to allow us not to be consumed with guilt and regret over our past. It’s not that we don’t remember it. I am sure Paul remembered some of the things he had done, perhaps even thought about the death of Stephen and others he was responsible for. The key is that he didn’t dwell on it. The blood of his Savior washed all feelings of guilt away, and it will do the same for us if we allow it. He learned to move forward and experience all God had for him. Let what he wrote in Philippians 3:7–14 sink into your heart.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The key here is found in the righteousness of Christ, not our own. He goes on to encourage believers to have the same mindset in verse 15.

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

Yes, there are things I would like to do over, and it is difficult at times to understand how God uses the dark times in my life to bring about good things, but my trust is in Him, and I have seen good come out of my experiences, even the ones where I was away from Him. I have learned that you can let your past be your punisher or teacher. The choice is up to you. An analogy I like to use is driving. If you put your car in drive, you intend to move forward. What would happen if you began driving down a highway and never looked out your windshield? If you only looked in your rearview mirror, it wouldn’t be long before you had a wreck, possibly injuring yourself and others on the road. Focusing on your past regrets will do the same. It will cause you mental and emotional harm and affect those around you. I want to help you start looking through the windshield so you can move forward. I also want to show you how my encounter with a wild, mythical creature changed my life and how it can also change yours.

WHY IS IT THIS WAY?

How many of you have ever been in a church service, Bible study, or prayer meeting and the person in charge asked the attendees for prayer requests? Most of us have experienced this, and that’s a good thing. There is nothing like the people of God uniting in prayer for the needs of one another. Common requests might include success in an upcoming job interview, safe travels for a trip, salvation for a loved one, or healing from a physical illness they or someone else may be battling. Maybe they have a doctor’s appointment the next day and want others’ help seeking the Lord to guide the attending health care professional. However, it is likely that no matter how often you may have been in such a