Mental Health

One of the issues that is facing our world today is the educational level and mental health of our children. One of the reasons why I feel it is important for us to support the Scouts is because it teaches our kids to be strong not only physically but also mentally and socially. During the time of the pandemic, our children suffered just as many of us did with lack of social engagement and now increased demands on learning. Not only do our kids go to school and church to grow in knowledge of concepts that will help them in their life and careers, but they grow in learning about social, physical and mental health. They grow in their spiritual health through church attendance. With good extracurricular activities like Scouting, they can hone in all of these skills to become even better persons. This is something that we cannot ignore. Nowadays we are seeing children suffer from some of the same mental health problems that adults have.

I was not told I have anxiety until in was in my thirties, yet I remember feeling anxious and at times depressed since my teen years. There are people in this congregation that have mental health issues. We, as the church, need to show our children that we do not hide or ignore suffering but that we support one another to be the best that God has created us to be. When Jesus said, “Do not worry”, He is not saying that is you worry, then you are not a good person. He is saying this to show us that He understands that there is worry but He has a better way to think and feel.

My favorite book in the Bible is actually a letter that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, giving guidance to a church that was going through a little feud at the hands of two of its leaders who were in heavy disagreement. When I read this letter, I don’t hear Paul reprimanding the church or these two women leaders on how they are acting and what they are doing wrong. Instead, Paul is addressing all the Christians of this church, and teaching us all how we should act, what should be on our minds, and how we should treat one another.

There are so many encouraging words and phrases that can be found within this letter. One of the very first is 1:6 where we learn that when God begins a good work in us, He will be faithful to complete it. Yet, my favorite chapter of the entire Bible, which is found in this letter, contains some of the most quoted Scripture.

Pray and Read Philippians 4:4-13

Philippians 4:4–13 NRSV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

From the very first verse we hear a positive affirmation that we say when things are hard, “Rejoice in the Lord, Always!” Everything that happens in that day, praise God for it. You may find that it is harder than you thought. So the next line we read “Again, I say rejoice”; so we are guided to try it again. “Do not be anxious about anything,” now that is harder than Paul makes it sound so we are given an how-to; he is always gracious to do that if he feels we won’t understand or follow well what he has told us. If we began to worry, pray about it! And be thankful that we have God how listens. “Peace that passes all understanding.”

The next four verses (verse 4-8) contain so much in them that they need to be read phrase at a time. You could take one phrase from the beginning of this short passage and mediate on it all day long every day for at least a week or even longer.

Every day we have to remind ourselves to think only on those things which are godly. When I am thinking at my absolute worst, I put my thoughts through the Philippians 4:8 test:

Philippians 4:8

Is it True

Is It Honorable

Is It Just

Is It Pure

Is It Lovely

Is it Commendable

Is It Excellent

Is It Worthy of Praise

Satan will still try to convince you that things are bad, that you are bad, and that none of this will ever get any better. There are times, there are cases in which no amount of prayer and reading the scriptures seems to help. Not says that God cannot always heal. He can and he does, yet we need to remember that our bodies are broken. When we hurt physically, do we pray? Yes, Do we continue to read our devotionals, I hope so! Do we talk with our Christian Brothers and Sisters? Yes, they can help! But don’t we also still go to the Doctor? Yes. Sometimes we need professional help, sometimes our loved one needs to talk to a counselor or a Doctor of the Mind as I like to call them. That does not mean that we can’t help or love or loved ones, or that God is not doing God’s job. God works through counselors like He does doctors. If you think you need this kind of help come and talk to me and I will refer you to a couple of trusted friends. This is nothing to be ashamed of!

Yet even through this there is still one more truth that everyone needs to know. Satan does indeed tell us things that are wrong. We can convince ourselves of all kinds of things that do not pass the Philippians 4:8 test. But the Devil is a liar!

Have you heard that phrase before? It is very true. Why would we listen to the one who is nothing but evil, the creator of all things evil and has as his main goal to destroy us? Why does he want to destroy us? Because we belong to God, we are His children. We belong to the One is all Good! We belong to the one who created us, loves us and gives us purpose!

Paul goes on to say that he has had many hard times and many good times, He has had times where he has been blessed, and many times where others have cursed him. But through it all, he says he is able to do God’s will and be at his best because Christ gives him the strength to do so. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Now, if what you are trying to do is not God’s will, then Jesus isn’t going to give you the strength to do it of course.

God wants you to be mentally strong and healthy. God gives us what we need and the means to achieve our best self. Thinking negatively will only keep us down, changing our mindset and thinking on holy things will help us rise out of our daily anxieties, worries and concerns. When you are worried about something, pray and ask God to help you to understand the truth about the situation. Ask, “Is it true or just, pure, lovely?” Let His Holy Spirit guard your mind in the Christ Jesus.

In the name of God the Father, Jesus His Son and our Savior, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.