Sunday I preached a message about the myths surrounding mental health. Today mental health is everywhere in the news. The National Institute of Mental Health is always sharing statistics and at the moment about 1 in 5 adults are dealing with mental health issues. Recent studies bare out that 1 in 20 adults have considered serious thoughts of suicide. This is an important topic that many of us try to tackle:
1 by ourselves
2 usually equipped with a handful of bad ideas
3 while believing lies about mental health & how it does or doesn’t line up with faith
My goal: Lay out myths about mental health & use God’s Word to show you truths about your mind, God and his plan to renew our minds. Let’s start with truth, move to common myths, then end w/ truth.
“What I’ve learned is that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness it’s a sign of maturity.”
ISAIAH 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
God keeps those in peace who stay their mind on Him. Let’s look at some truth about ourselves and God.
1. You are more than your body
Our culture is body obsessed. Jesus reminds us we are more than flesh when He challenges us to love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul. Body is part of us not all of us. Your brain is part of your body, but it affects your heart, mind and soul more deeply than your body. You are more than what you look like or do for a living.
2. You are more than your diagnosis
Satan often tells us we are what we do. Lie and he calls you a liar forever. He’s the great accuser. If he can’t find sin, he’ll settle for sickness to use as leverage against your purpose and peace. He’ll say “You’re just a mess. What a problem you are, what a burden!” By the way: WE. ARE. ALL. BURDENS. …yet God forgives redeems and calls us to bear one another’s burdens
GALATIANS 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, & so fulfill the law of Christ.
3. Your mental health (good or bad) doesn’t change God’s redemptive nature.
The Word tells us that our hearts are deceitful, but God is good and He longs to redeem us in spite of our hearts. His plan is deeper than saving our soul. He saves us and promises an eternity with resurrected bodies. God has a plan bigger than your physical or mental health. Nothing can get sepearet us from the Love of God.
I THESSALONIANS 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, & may your whole spirit & soul & body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Now, let’s discuss some commons myths believers latch onto surrounding mental health.
MYTH 1. REAL CHRISTIANS WON’T STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH
You may hear “Jesus saved you. You’re good. Stop feeling that way.” Jesus did save me but I still wear a seat belt, watch what I eat, go to the dr and wash my hands. I’m not negating the spiritual side of life. I want to point out that very spiritual people in God’s Word dealt with depression and mental health often. Jeremiah was a weeping prophet. David was in despair in the Psalms. Elijah was so depressed he asked God to die. Jonah too.
“Struggling with mental health doesn’t mean you’re a bad Christian, it means you’re human. ”
MYTH 2. IF A BELIEVER DOES HAVE ISSUES, ALL THEY NEED IS THE BIBLE AND PRAYER
You wouldn’t say that to someone who broke their arm. You wouldn’t offer someone the Bible or prayer if they were starving. Yes, there are spiritual aspects that affect our mental health, but we are physical beings too. I preach Bible reading and prayer every single week. Jesus modeled well how to navigate this dichotomy. When He was healing people everyone assumed everything was spiritual. They’d ask who’s sin caused this sickness. They assumed everything was a demon. Jesus would cast out demons when it was demonic or spiritual. Other times He’d just heal people indicating the issue was physical. Today our culture believes everything is physical and nothing is spiritual. Believers should model a both and approach. I go to the dr, but I pray too. I trust God, and I do my part (healthy eating, exercise). But when we are sick emotionally, or mentally it’s not as clear what to do. When Elijah was suicidally depressed God told Elijah to take a nap and eat some cake. I love God’s advice. God knew he was exhausted. God didn’t chastise Elijah or tell him to go read some of the Law. He told him to rest and eat.
MYTH 3. I CAN HANDLE THIS ON MY OWN
In scripture we are told to rely on God and His people in our time of need. Counsel, therapy, mental health professionals, these aren’t off limits to believers. Just like hospitals, medicine and doctors aren’t. God often uses these places and people to help. Trust God to guide you to right counselor, dr, people. Don’t assume every “Christian” counselor is giving you solid advice. Filter everything through prayer and the Word of God.
““God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible — what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.” ”
Now let’s observe 3 truths about God.
ISAIAH 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
1. GOD CARES ABOUT YOUR MIND
Long before it was popular God’s Word addressed the power of our minds in multiple passages. When common understanding said “toughen up, get over it, big deal” God’s Word indicated that our minds and feelings mattered to God. Other religions and cultures mocked the idea of gods caring about humans. The Bible inidcates that God CARES and is near the hurting.
PSALM 34:17-19 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
2. GOD USES PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS
Peter had a temper. Samson was a womanizer. Martha was a busy bee. Thomas was a doubter. Moses had a stutter. Abraham was a liar. People have problems. Jesus died to save, redeem and use people with problems. You are no different. God knew what He was getting when He saved you and called you.
3. GOD OFFERS A PATH TOWARD PEACE OF MIND
God’s plan is deeper than saving your soul. Scripture says He will redeem earth, save our soul, give us resurrected bodies etc. But Jesus also said to his disciples about to endure persecution that they could have peace here as they face an awful future physically.
JOHN 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus was interested in helping his disciples have peace in world of storm heading their way. Many of us assume God just wants us to grin and bear it. God is interested in leading us to trust Him in such a way that we have a peace that passes understanding.
I THESSALONIANS 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, & may your whole spirit & soul & body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
For more encouragement along these lines read this blog post at the Gospel Coalition.