Faith and Mental Health: Embracing Our Struggles Together

Summary

In today's message, we delved into the complex and often stigmatized topic of mental health and wellness, exploring how it intersects with our faith and biblical worldview. We began by acknowledging the pervasive nature of mental health issues in our society, supported by alarming statistics that highlight the urgency of addressing this topic. Mental health struggles are not limited to any one group; they affect everyone, including pastors and church leaders. Despite this, there remains a significant reluctance to discuss these issues openly, often due to fear of judgment or misunderstanding.

I shared my personal journey through a challenging period in 2017, marked by a series of life-altering events that left me feeling out of control and struggling with my identity. This experience is not unique, as many of us have faced similar feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression, especially in recent years. The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who experienced deep emotional and mental struggles, including Jesus himself, who faced immense sorrow and anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane.

We explored the idea that struggling with mental health is not a sin, nor is it a reflection of a lack of faith. Instead, it is a part of the human experience, and the Bible offers us guidance and comfort through its stories and teachings. Jesus' own struggles remind us that it is okay to feel overwhelmed and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

To address mental health issues, we must be willing to invite others into our struggles, seek professional help when needed, and most importantly, cry out to God for healing and strength. The church should be a place where we can be honest about our struggles and find support and encouragement from our community. By doing so, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health and create an environment where healing and growth are possible.

Key Takeaways:

1. Mental Health is a Universal Struggle: Mental health issues affect everyone, including pastors and church leaders. It's crucial to recognize that struggling with mental health is not a sin or a sign of weak faith. Instead, it is a part of the human experience, and acknowledging it is the first step toward healing. [06:13]

2. Biblical Examples of Struggle: The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who faced deep emotional and mental struggles, including Jesus himself. These stories remind us that it is okay to feel overwhelmed and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. [10:23]

3. The Importance of Community: Inviting others into our struggles and seeking support from our community is essential. The church should be a place where we can be honest about our struggles and find encouragement and support from others. [24:12]

4. Seeking Professional Help: It's important to seek professional help when needed, whether through counseling or medication. This is not a sign of weak faith but a responsible step toward healing and managing mental health issues. [29:13]

5. Crying Out to God: Ultimately, we must cry out to God for healing and strength. While human interventions are valuable, they are inherently flawed. We need Jesus to come into our lives, mend our brokenness, and offer us new life. [32:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:50] - Personal Story of Struggle
- [04:30] - The Challenge of Control
- [06:13] - Mental Health Statistics
- [08:17] - Why We Don't Talk About It
- [09:05] - The Importance of Conversation
- [10:23] - Biblical Examples of Struggle
- [11:53] - Jesus in Gethsemane
- [13:06] - The Crushing Weight
- [14:31] - Jesus' Emotional Struggle
- [16:40] - The Spiritual Weight
- [18:20] - Trusting God and Seeking Help
- [19:29] - Jesus' Need for Strength
- [20:59] - Balancing Faith and Medicine
- [22:44] - The Agony of Struggle
- [24:12] - Inviting Others In
- [29:13] - Getting Professional Help
- [32:19] - Crying Out to God

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 26:36-38 - Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. Psalm 51 - David's lament over his sin
3. Hebrews 12:1-3 - Endurance and looking to Jesus

#### Observation Questions
1. What emotions did Jesus express in the Garden of Gethsemane according to Matthew 26:36-38? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on mental health struggles? [11:53]
2. In the sermon, what personal experiences did the pastor share that highlighted the challenges of mental health? [01:50]
3. What statistics were shared in the sermon to illustrate the prevalence of mental health issues in society? [06:13]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of community in addressing mental health struggles? [24:12]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' experience in Gethsemane challenge the notion that mental health struggles are a result of weak faith? [17:10]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of seeking professional help for mental health issues? How does this align with biblical teachings? [29:13]
3. How can the church create an environment where mental health struggles are openly discussed and supported? [09:05]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that crying out to God is essential in the journey of mental health healing? [32:19]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's circumstances. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently in light of the sermon? [04:30]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of community. How can you actively support someone in your community who might be struggling with mental health issues? [24:12]
3. Have you ever hesitated to seek professional help for mental health? What steps can you take to overcome this hesitation if needed? [29:13]
4. How can you incorporate prayer and scripture reading into your daily routine to support your mental health? [19:29]
5. The sermon discusses the balance between faith and medicine. How do you view this balance in your own life, and what adjustments might you consider? [20:59]
6. Think about a time when you felt alone in your struggles. How can you ensure that you invite others into your journey moving forward? [24:12]
7. What specific action can you take this week to cry out to God for strength and healing in an area of your life where you feel broken? [32:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Mental Health as a Shared Human Experience
Mental health issues are a universal struggle that affect everyone, regardless of their role or status in life. Recognizing that these struggles are not a sin or a sign of weak faith is crucial. Instead, they are part of the human experience, and acknowledging them is the first step toward healing. By understanding that mental health challenges are common, we can begin to dismantle the stigma surrounding them and create a more supportive environment for those who are suffering. This understanding encourages us to approach mental health with compassion and empathy, both for ourselves and for others. [06:13]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt alone in your struggles. How can you reach out to someone today to share your experience and offer mutual support?

Day 2: Biblical Narratives of Emotional Struggle
The Bible is rich with stories of individuals who faced deep emotional and mental struggles, including Jesus himself. These narratives remind us that it is okay to feel overwhelmed and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By looking at these biblical examples, we can find comfort and guidance in knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. The stories of biblical figures who faced similar challenges can inspire us to seek help and lean on our faith during difficult times. [10:23]

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth." (James 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a biblical figure who faced emotional struggles. How can their story inspire you to seek help and rely on your faith in your own challenges?

Day 3: The Role of Community in Healing
Inviting others into our struggles and seeking support from our community is essential for healing. The church should be a place where we can be honest about our struggles and find encouragement and support from others. By fostering an environment of openness and acceptance, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health and create a space where healing and growth are possible. Community support can provide the strength and encouragement needed to navigate difficult times and remind us that we are not alone. [24:12]

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support today? How can you also be a source of encouragement for someone else?

Day 4: The Importance of Professional Help
Seeking professional help, whether through counseling or medication, is a responsible step toward healing and managing mental health issues. It is not a sign of weak faith but rather an acknowledgment of the need for additional support. Professional help can provide valuable tools and strategies for coping with mental health challenges, complementing the spiritual support found in faith and community. By embracing professional resources, we can take proactive steps toward healing and well-being. [29:13]

"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out." (Proverbs 18:15, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a professional resource you have been hesitant to seek out? What steps can you take today to explore this option for your mental health?

Day 5: Crying Out to God for Strength
Ultimately, we must cry out to God for healing and strength. While human interventions are valuable, they are inherently flawed. We need Jesus to come into our lives, mend our brokenness, and offer us new life. By turning to God in prayer and seeking His guidance, we can find the strength and peace needed to navigate our mental health challenges. Trusting in God's power to heal and restore can provide hope and comfort in the midst of our struggles. [32:19]

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)

Reflection: What burden are you carrying today that you need to cast upon the Lord? How can you invite God into your healing process through prayer and trust?

Quotes

1) "And so all of these situations, just continue to cascade over us and roll over us to the point where we felt like there is no rhyme or reason to any of this. It's one thing to say, I don't have complete control of the situation. It's another thing to feel like you have no control at all. And you're just out in the ocean, just being tossed around left and right. I had no control over how to help my wife. I had no control over how to help my family. I had no control over the ministry. I began to feel these sense of identity crisis. I began to get angry and bitter and would lash out at any sort of confrontation, whether it was at church, whether it was at my job, whether it was with my wife." [04:30] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "The truth is this though, and this is the wrestle that I want us to have today is that it's not a sin. Struggle. It's not a sin to struggle. If you're in here today and you feel like there's something going on, there's something wrong. I don't know how to deal with that. it's not a sin. I don't want us to walk out here saying, it's because of my lack of faith, or I'm not reading my Bible enough, or I'm not in a small group, or I'm not praying the way I should." [09:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Jesus feeling this way gives me hope. Again, I said it's not a sin to struggle. And so if Jesus in his perfection struggled, well, then that's okay for you and I too. Because not all depression comes from sin. Not all of our depression comes from the sin. Now, yeah, Psalm 51, there are passages in the scripture that talk about, you know, Psalm 51, particularly David says that he writes this lament over his sin, you know, over his, you know, sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. But to pray for him, depression, anxiety, mental health can come from so many different places. It can come from your environment that you grew up in." [17:10] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "We have to find the balance between trust God, not medicine. And medicine is my God. There's two ditches that we can fall into. We can say, well, it's just a lack of faith. You just need to pray more. You need to read your Bible more. You need to have more faith because faith in God is what will kind of heal you. And there's the other ditch where we can say, no, this medicine I'm taking, this is the thing that's keeping me sane. Jesus takes this middle road and he accepts the means of strength because he knows it comes from God." [20:59] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "If someone tells you, I think you need help, you need help. Because if they're saying it to you, they've been thinking about it for a while. If anybody, it's, it's, it's courageous enough to say, I think I need help. But there's a level of courage that says, I'm seeing this in you and it doesn't look right. And it doesn't feel right. And I'm concerned about you. And I think you need help. Whether that's mental health, whether that's addiction, someone says, Hey, I think it seems like you're drinking a lot. If someone tells you that you are, Hey, I think, man, you're really angry all the time. It feels like get help. If somebody tells you, you need help, get help on that." [29:13] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "But the third thing that you need to do, the third thing that we all need to do is we need to cry out to God. Because we know that any human intervention is by its nature flawed. Because you're flawed and I'm flawed. And any human experiment, experience will ultimately in the long run fail because there's just something not right in the world. And our best attempts at fixing things will ultimately fall short. And we need someone to come in, to step in from outside of humanity and to fix us. And that's Jesus." [30:19] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?