Let's Talk About... Mental Health

Intro:

I remember when I was in middle school and high school, for some reason it became very popular, even trendy to say you had anxiety. It was an easy way to fit in, and even better if you said you had gotten put on medication for that anxiety. Unfortunately, knowing many of those people personally, they didn’t actually have an anxiety disorder, they just were saying it to fit in or felt nervous before an exam a couple times and assumed something was wrong with them. To be clear that wasn’t everyone but that was a lot of people at the time for some reason. But, fast forward to the last few years. Middle school and high school student stats have skyrocketed for legitimate anxiety and depression cases. But this time, there is a proven link between social media use, covid isolation, and the overall pace of life for teenagers in the past 5-10 years all combining to create a very real mental health crisis among teens and young adults. I don’t think you really need me to convince you of this but to put things in perspective here are a few stats:

Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder are some of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting 42.5 million adults.

21 million U.S. adults are living with depression, 6.2 million people ages 12 to 17 experience major or severe depression

There are 12 million U.S. adults living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

There are 3.3 million U.S. adults with a bipolar disorder diagnosis

Around 1.5 million U.S. adults have a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Teen depression has increased 59% since 2007.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has found that nearly 50% of adolescents in the United States have experienced a mental health disorder at some point in their lives.

Now, here is a rough one...As of 2020, suicide is the second leading cause of death for U.S. children ages 10 to 14- in fact the number is so high that it means an adolescent dies from suicide about every 100 minutes. That’s almost every 1 and a half hours a child dies by suicide.

This is not an acceptable place to be as a society, and it’s a problem that we need to be talking about.

So, to be clear Mental health concerns, struggles, and conversations are NOT new. But we do seem to be at a critical point especially among teens and young adults. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common struggles as we heard in those statistics and they are rising at alarming rates.

So, let’s talk about it.

First off, what are we talking about? What makes something a mental illness or disorder?

Unfortunately this topic has been mishandled by many christians over the years because we don’t define the difference between anxiety in general or depression in general and the actual medical disorders of anxiety and severe depression. This has led people to say that any form of anxiety is sinful or that you can’t struggle with depression and be a christian. Listen, these things ARE NOT TRUE! If you have ever heard those statements or ideas or even been told them- I am sorry, that doesn’t sound or look like Jesus.

It is such a more complex issue than that!

At the same time, on the flip side, we have to be careful not to get so caught up in the medical side of it that we say everything is about mental health, get everyone medicated for it, and make excuses or become complacent about this crisis.

Again, it is a more complex issue than that.

Yes, scripture says not to be anxious about anything and it is clear that christians should be full of joy, hope, praise, and thanksgiving- literally the opposite of depression. However, this does not mean we will not struggle with our mental health and it doesn’t mean that we are immune to a mental health disorder! Even being overcome by a mental health disorder caused by our bodies being broken because of sin.

So, what is the difference?

Low levels of anxiety in our body are a normal and healthy response that bring alertness, focus, concentration in the face of a threat or problem. But listen- it’s when that anxiety becomes persistent, excessive, and uncontrollable that it is a problem. When you are no longer able to function in your normal life without being impacted by that anxiety, you need to seek medical care to help you because there is likely something deeper going on.

So, again, simply getting nervous or feeling anxious in a particular situation or even over a number of days while you are going through something stressful is common and does not need medical attention. ITs not a disorder, it is part of life that we have to learn to deal with and let God grow us through. And it is that normal anxiety that Jesus says not to allow to control us. We are called to turn to him instead, pray and trust God through any concern we face! Depression, likewise, can be expected when we face some of life’s darkest, most difficult moments. Again, if that becomes a prolonged experience and impacts our everyday living and ability to work, have healthy relationships, etc. Again, medical attention is nothing to be ashamed of and can be helpful to make sure that does not begin to wreck your life and future and spiral into even worse effects like suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

There is a difference between dealing with a feeling of anxiety or depression, and actually having a disorder. But everything we are about to say applies to both- whether it is a momentary struggle or a long term battle with a mental health disorder.

There’s so much we could say in this conversation and we can talk more after tonight if anyone has more questions, thoughts or concerns please talk to me after service!

So, we can’t cover everything tonight but the big thing I want to make sure you get tonight is:

The Bible is not silent about our mental health.

That is great news!

Let’s look at a story in Scripture that will really help us look at how much God cares about our mental health struggles and how he teaches us to react when struggles arise!

Turn with me to 1 Kings 19

We need some context before we jump into this story.

We are going to hear about a guy named Elijah who was a prophet in the 9th century BC. He was a prophet in Israel during the reigns of King Ahab and Ahaziah. One of his most important moments happens immediately before the story we are about to read. Elijah faced off with all the prophets of the false god named Baal that many Israelites were turning away from God to worship. IF you remember, he challenged them to a display of power and they stacked up wood and the prophets of Baal prayed for their god to light the wood on fire and they ddid tons of different rituals to try to get their god to answer them but nothing ever happened. Then Elijah steps up and dumps a ton of water on all of the wood and then prays for God to show up and God sends fire down that dried up all of the water and then burned up all of the wood and even the stones and dust around the altar! The people all worshiped God after that and celebrated this victory.

So, Elijah is coming off one of the biggest victories and best moments of his life! But, this is exactly when the enemy attacks him. After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, they killed of all of those prophets and as we will see, Jezebel, the queen, hears about it and is not happy. Let’s look at the story and see what happens:

1 Kings 19:1–2 CSB

Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

Jezebel, obviously, is not following God, she worships baal and promotes his worship and so she sends out a threat to Elijah promising that she will kill him within the next day! This is a message from the QUEEN of Israel, so Elijah would know it is serious and pretty much guaranteed to be followed through on. Let’s keep reading.

1 Kings 19:3–5 (CSB)

Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree...

Look carefully here.

Elijah was overwhelmed and anxious because of his circumstances

Elijah was afraid. The word here is actually the same as Elijah SAW. Meaning Elijah saw his situation and became overcome with fear. Put it in context to everything going on in this story and we have a fuller picture of an Elijah who is exhausted physically from what he just did, exhausted spiritually as he was battling the false prophets through prayer and worship, and now he is hit with a threat of certain death- he is overwhelmed and terrified. It says he immediately ran for his life.

This is important because every other significant moment in Elijah’s life up to this point is marked by God’s Word coming to Elijah. Time after time you can see the phrase- the word of the lord came to Elijah… then Elijah would go and obey God’s Word.

This time, he doesn’t wait for God’s Word- he sees his circumstances, he is overtaken by anxiety and he immediately reacts and runs for his life.

Elijah reacted without God’s Word and isolated himself.

And where does that reaction apart from God’s Word take him? To a lonely place of isolation. He leaves his one servant behind and goes off to a tree by himself and prays to die.

Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand and feed off of each other. If we aren’t careful and we can cut ourselves off from God and others we can quickly find ourselves in a self-sustaining spiral of anxiety and depression that leads nowhere good!

Elijah was ready to die but God had a better plan!

I think many times when we are going through difficult times and feeling extreme emotions, or even battling our mental health struggles- we think God doesn’t want to be involved, like our emotions are too much for God, or that they even cause God to love us less somehow. Thankfully none of this is true. Watch the patience, love and compassion that God has for Elijah here:

1 Kings 19:5–18 CSB

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. He entered a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.” Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.” Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

First, God meets with Elijah right where he is- in the mess of his emotions and desperation God SEES HIM and God is WITH HIM! He sends his angel to minister to Elijah and he gives Elijah a plan to follow.

He doesn’t condemn Elijah for his struggle or even his suicidal prayer. He gives him a fresh loaf of bread and a whole jug of water. He says eat and drink and get some sleep and then go travel to meet with God at His mountain.

Do you know what the first questions most caring medical professionals ask someone concerned about their mental health?

How’s your diet, 2. How’s your sleep, and 3. Are you exercising?

Poor diet, dehydration, lack of exercise and lack of sleep greatly increase our risk of mental health struggles. yet, those are some of the worst practices for teenagers in our world today. I mean many of you have even been honest and shared your struggle to get enough sleep. And we know most of us don’t always eat well or drink enough water. Simply being intentional with those areas of our health can drastically change our likelihood to struggle with mental health in the long run of our life! In fact, among those who exercise, the number of poor mental health days per month dropped by more than 40 percent. Meaning, you are going to almost cut your mental health struggle in half by having a good, consistent exercise routine in your life!

So, Elijah eats a good meal, drinks enough water and takes a solid nap.

Then, he gets up and travels to mount Horeb, the mountain of God.

There he gets to hear from God. Not in the loud chaotic moments, but in the whisper. Elijah needed to pay attention for the voice of God in the midst of the noise and chaos. Our struggle with mental health can often be compared to chaos and noise either around us in the world or up in our own heads. But God’s voice is often a quiet whisper.

Elijah finally listened to the word of God and God encouraged him with a hopeful message for the future. He tells him to return and gives him instructions for what to do and he promises that he has 7000 faithful Israelites ready and waiting for his leadership!

He reminds Elijah that he is still God, he is still at work, and he has a good plan for the future!

Notice, God doesn’t let Elijah keep focusing on his own personal struggle, he reminds him of EVERYONE around him that God has been at work in and faithful to and He reminds Elijah that HE is not DONE!

God gave grace to Elijah through: 1. Food and rest

2. His voice to listen to.

3. A hope for the future.

What’s crazy about Elijahs story is he goes back and is faithful and he never dies! Elijah is one of the few people in the Bible who God does not allow to die but rather it says he Takes him up to heaven! Later, when Jesus is on the earth, Elijah with him, alongside Moses, to minister to Jesus in the sight of Peter, James, and John on the mount of Transfiguration!

Elijah, like many others in the Bible struggled deeply with his mental health throughout the difficult moments of life- yet God saw Him, was with Him, and rescued Him!

As followers of Jesus we have a personal relationship with this same God!

I don’t know what each of your stories is when it comes to mental health but the reality is that you each will face struggles- whether it is just for a moment in life, or maybe a longer term battle for you or someone you care about!

If you hear nothing else tonight hear this-

Even in your darkest moments God sees you, loves you, and has a plan for you!

I don’t believe there is a greater encouragement in the Bible than that truth for us tonight!

But, how do we actually respond to this topic?

We need to realize that :

Well rounded disciples of Jesus take care of their bodies and souls- that includes the mind!

Here are a few practices that will help us with our mental health as followers of Jesus:

Confession: admitting our struggles and need for mental health care. WE have to first get comfortable admitting we have mental health struggles and needs. The first step in getting help through it, is admitting it to yourself, God, and people close to you! That’s where the second piece comes in...

Community: intentional community with people who will do life with us and help us through life’s best and worst moments.This is arguably the most important piece of protecting your mental health. Listen to this quote by Dr Sandra Boynton- the Executive Director of the largest Mental health organization in the country:

“What scientists have found is that, whereas social isolation is associated with higher anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and suicide rates, social connectedness correlates with lower anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and suicide rates. In other words, community is critically important to mental health.” - Dr. Sandra Cumper Boynton, DBH- Exec. Dir. of the largest Mental Health organization in the country.

This is why we constantly say we were made for community, we are a family here, we have to talk and be vulnerable and do life together! God created us for community. Don’t go it alone because it won’t end well! Community.

Consistent Care: Spiritually and Physically caring for ourselves consistently: Consistent time with God, Consistent Diet and exercise, Consistent Sleep schedule- we need REST/RECOVERY from the busyness of life. Both by sleeping a healthy 7-8 hours a night and by having some sort of restful break in our week- really Sabbath rest for a day each week as we have talked about before! Care for your body and soul consistently!

Finally,

Counseling: We need to talk through our struggle with someone who is trained to help us. This can be medical or spiritual counseling and sometimes we need both! If your mental health is debilitating- holding you back from the work you need to do, healthy relationships, or giving you dangerous and harmful desires you need to talk to a medical professional immediately. Please let me know and I can recommend some great therapists for you in the Greensboro area.

CAVEAT about meeting with me:

But also, we need spiritual counsel. Meeting with a pastor should be a regular part of every christians life. I am here for YOU! Believe it or not my job isn’t to preach a message every Wednesday night. My job is to help each one of you navigate life as a follower Jesus by going through it with you! But surprise, that means you have to let me, talk to me about what you’re going through and open up when you’re struggling. Any day of the week you ned I will get food or coffee with each and every one of you and listen to what you’re going through and pray for you and point you to Scripture for wisdom! Also, to be clear this means 100 percent talk to your parents if you are going throuhg this and they aren’t aware. If you are nervous about that I will gladly help you with the conversation!

I love you guys and I am here for you! Don’t go alone and let me and the other adult leaders be there for you!

Again, this message tonight doesn’t cover everything but I hope you see more than anything- the Bible isn’t silent about mental health and God isn’t absent in our struggles.

Bow your heads and close your eyes as we respond together tonight.

God has so much love, grace, and compassion for us just like He did for Elijah. And we can live our lives in a way that sets us up to trust him through our struggles instead of isolating and falling apart in our struggles.

Our ultimate hope through our brokenness isn’t better health routines or habits. It is the Gospel. In light of Elijah’s story think of it this way:

Jesus is the Bread of life- when we have a healthy diet of his presence and word in our life we find abundant life, and He offers the voice of God in a personal relationship through the Cross, and a future hope that will no longer die and be eternally separated from God, but rather we have eternal life with Him in His Kingdom! The Gospel is our ultimate answer to the mental health crisis of today!

If there is anyone here living without the hope of the Gospel, you don’t have to anymore. God sees you, he Knows you and he loves you so much he sent Jesus to die in your place and raise from the dead so you could be saved and have new life in him tonight! IS there anyone here who has never turned to Jesus to be saved and given a hope and future? I want to pray for you- raise your hand if that’s you.

WE are going to sing one more time and I just want us all to praise God through this song. A powerful way to fight off our fear, anxiety and even depression is to praise God in the midst of it- to remember who God is and who we are in HIM! So, sing with all you’ve got, cry it out and do be afraid to literally cry if you need to! Let’s run to Jesus through our worship tonight. And if you need to talk i am here during this song and after service to talk as long as you need about any of this! Let’s pray and sing together.

PRAY.

God remind us you are bigger than we think! You are bigger than the circumstances we face, bigger than the emotions we feel, bigger than this life we experience! And remind us of your promises:

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Matthew 11:28–29 ““Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”