Finding Hope and Purpose in Mental Health Struggles
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor acknowledging the topic of mental health, sharing their personal experiences with mental health struggles. The pastor, who once worked at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, uses the scripture passage in 1 Kings 19 to highlight the message sent by Jezebel to Elijah, threatening to kill him. The pastor empathizes with Elijah, noting that receiving such a message from a superior would be disheartening. The pastor emphasizes that Elijah was not weak, as evidenced by his previous actions. The pastor then draws attention to the fact that everyone, at some point, may feel like they are done and ready to give up. The pastor continues to explore the scripture passage, focusing on how God treated Elijah in his depressed state. The pastor emphasizes the importance of looking at how God treats people in order to learn how to treat others.
The pastor then reflects on the various reasons why kids go to church, acknowledging that not all of them are excited about Jesus. The pastor then draws a parallel between the physical need to eat and drink and the spiritual need to seek nourishment from God. The pastor highlights the story of Elijah, who faced depression and slept for an extended period of time. The pastor emphasizes that those struggling with mental health issues often feel like they have no purpose, but reassures them that their feelings are valid and that they do have a reason to be here. The pastor shares their personal experience with depression and how they found hope and trust in Jesus. They encourage the congregation to trust God with every aspect of their lives and to remind others of their worth and value in God's eyes.
The pastor shares a personal experience of visiting a friend in a psychiatric unit. The pastor's friend, who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, finds comfort in reading the Bible that the pastor had given her. The pastor expresses a desire for his friend to accept Christ and shares the hope that she will eventually do so. The pastor also mentions a conversation with another friend who struggles with negative thoughts and encourages the congregation to focus on positive and praiseworthy things, suggesting that they can control their thoughts and choose what to focus on.
The pastor reflects on the protection and guidance that God provides to His people. The pastor shares a personal anecdote about their granddaughter, who teaches first grade in Virginia, and expresses concern about the increasing violence in schools. The pastor then references Romans 12:2, urging the congregation not to conform to the behavior and customs of the world, but to allow God to transform their thinking. The pastor acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a strong faith and shares their own experience of being labeled a fanatic by their own mother. However, they emphasize the importance of prayer and trusting in God's perfect will, even when facing difficulties with their children.
The pastor addresses the topic of demons and mental illness. The pastor acknowledges that in today's society, belief in demons is not common, but emphasizes that Jesus Christ frequently mentions them in the scriptures. The pastor clarifies that not all mentally ill individuals are demon possessed, cautioning against making such assumptions. The pastor shares a personal experience of a young woman who has been on medication for mental illness since childhood, but as an adult, she has shown improvement and is no longer schizophrenic. The pastor highlights that a key distinction between mental illness and demon possession is that medication does not work for the latter.
Key Takeaways:
- Everyone, at some point, may feel like they are done and ready to give up. However, it's important to remember that God treats people with compassion and understanding, especially in their lowest moments. This is evident in the story of Elijah, who was ministered to by God in his depressed state. [12:45]
- Those struggling with mental health issues often feel like they have no purpose, but their feelings are valid and they do have a reason to be here. It's crucial to trust God with every aspect of our lives and to remind others of their worth and value in God's eyes. [22:30]
- It's possible to control our thoughts and choose what to focus on. By focusing on positive and praiseworthy things, we can combat negative thoughts and maintain a healthy mental state. [35:15]
- Maintaining a strong faith can be challenging, especially when faced with the behavior and customs of the world. However, it's important to allow God to transform our thinking and trust in His perfect will, even when facing difficulties. [45:20]
- Not all mentally ill individuals are demon possessed. It's crucial to avoid making such assumptions and to understand that a key distinction between mental illness and demon possession is that medication does not work for the latter. [55:10]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Kings 19:2-9: "So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, 'May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.' Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God."
2. Romans 12:2: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
3. Philippians 4:8-9: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
Observation Questions:
1. What was Elijah's response to Jezebel's threat in 1 Kings 19:2-9? How did God respond to Elijah's despair?
2. What does Romans 12:2 suggest about the relationship between our thoughts and our actions?
3. What kind of thoughts does Philippians 4:8-9 encourage us to focus on?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Elijah's experience in 1 Kings 19:2-9 reflect the struggles that people might face when dealing with mental health issues?
2. How might the transformation of the mind, as mentioned in Romans 12:2, help someone struggling with negative thoughts or mental health issues?
3. How can the advice in Philippians 4:8-9 be applied to someone struggling with negative thoughts or mental health issues?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt overwhelmed like Elijah? How did you respond and what could you have done differently?
2. What is one practical step you can take this week to renew your mind as suggested in Romans 12:2?
3. Can you identify a negative thought pattern you struggle with? How can you apply Philippians 4:8-9 to shift your focus onto something praiseworthy?
4. How can you remind someone in your life of their worth and value, especially if they are struggling with feelings of purposelessness or mental health issues?
5. How can you demonstrate understanding and compassion to someone who is struggling with mental health issues, as God did with Elijah?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Compassion in Our Weakness
In life, there are moments when we feel overwhelmed and ready to give up. It's during these times that we must remember God's compassion and understanding, especially in our lowest moments. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Elijah, who was ministered to by God in his depressed state. [12:45]
Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed and ready to give up. How did you experience God's compassion and understanding during this time?
Day 2: Recognizing Our Worth in God's Eyes
Struggles with mental health can often lead to feelings of worthlessness. However, it's crucial to remember that our feelings are valid and we have a purpose. We must trust God with every aspect of our lives and remind ourselves of our worth and value in God's eyes. [22:30]
1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Reflection: How can you remind yourself of your worth and value in God's eyes today? What is one way you can trust God with an aspect of your life that you've been holding onto?
Day 3: Choosing Positivity Amidst Negativity
Negative thoughts can often cloud our minds, but we have the power to control our thoughts and choose what to focus on. By focusing on positive and praiseworthy things, we can combat these negative thoughts and maintain a healthy mental state. [35:15]
Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Reflection: What is one negative thought you've been struggling with? How can you replace it with something positive and praiseworthy today?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Perfect Will Amidst Worldly Challenges
Maintaining a strong faith can be challenging, especially when faced with the behavior and customs of the world. However, it's important to allow God to transform our thinking and trust in His perfect will, even when facing difficulties. [45:20]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: What is one worldly behavior or custom that you've been conforming to? How can you allow God to transform your thinking in this area?
Day 5: Understanding the Distinction Between Mental Illness and Demon Possession
In our society, it's crucial to avoid making assumptions about mental illness and demon possession. A key distinction between the two is that medication does not work for the latter. This understanding can help us better support and empathize with those struggling with mental health issues. [55:10]
Matthew 17:15-16 - "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."
Reflection: How can you better support and empathize with someone in your life who is struggling with mental health issues?
Quotes
1. "How did God treat this depressed man? And I want to look at that because it matters. If we are living examples of Christ on this earth, then we need to look at how God treats people because that's how we're to treat them."
2. "The first thing he did was minister to his needs. I can tell you right now, a depressed person doesn't often eat like they should. And our body actually requires nourishment."
3. "What it doesn't tell us is how long he slept. It looks as though it was just through the night. Because when you are suffering from depression, you often sleep more than just eight hours."
4. "I will tell you, I haven't taken medication for depression since. So, you know, but I found out who Jesus was. I believe he is who he says he is, and I can trust him with every aspect of my life."
5. "Now, in our lovely society today, we don't believe in demons. But if we believe in Jesus Christ, we almost have to, because he mentions them a lot."
6. "And like a week and a half into it, I'm starting to feel better. I just am. And things became a little more like they were before. And so by the end of that month, I just quit taking them. And I didn't feel like I ever needed them again."
7. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way that you think. Then you will learn to know God's perfect will for you."
8. "Being transformed. OK, that was actually kind of weird. So thank the Lord. I wasn't talking about demons when that happened. I mean, he definitely has a sense of humor. He created us, so but don't copy the behavior and customs of the world."
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