PainKillers: Week #3

5 Myths about Depression & Anxiety

Original thoughts by Perry Noble

MYTH #1: Those who follow the Lord will never wrestle with anxiety & depression

Moses asking God to take his life...

Number 11:14-15 — [14] I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. [15] If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

Numbers 11:14–15 NIV

I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

The people were dissatisfied & grumbled

I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

It angered the Lord & troubled Moses

One of the key phrases we see is … BY MYSELF

The Lord’s answer was to share the load

The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.

Numbers 11:14–15 NIV

I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

Vs. 16 - The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.

Overwhelmed = crushed by grief … surrounded by sadness

“to the point of death”

Jesus is shaken to the core

Matthew 26:38 NIV

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Even Jesus felt overwhelmed:

Overwhelmed = crushed by grief … surrounded by sadness

“to the point of death”

Jesus is shaken to the core

MYTH #2: The way to overcome being overwhelmed is to pray & read your Bible more

Perry says, “the theme song of hell is, “Do More, Try Harder”

Just read more, fast more, say Scripture more … work harder

Q4U: Why do we say we believe in grace yet depend on works?

Don’t stop doing these things...

ALSO

Life is not as simple as “take two & call me in the morning”

“Take two” — pray & read

Myth #3: The person who trusts in Jesus will never have to take medication

Stop with your badge of honor

This isn’t about you

If you needed medication to help with blood pressure, you’d take it

If you needed medication to help with rhythm … to deal w/A-Fib

Your brain is an organ, get help

Your brain can experience chemical imbalances…get help

Don’t cast more guilt on someone b/c they go to the Dr. & need meds

Myth #4: Anxiety & depression is who I am

Thought … “freedom will never become a reality for me”

2 Corinthians 1:8 NIV

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9

— We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.

Paul was burdened … “weighted down”

We don’t know for certain what Paul is describing but we know he faced the following:

Riots

Attacks

Imprisonment

Physical illness

Good News Though…

— Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

The New International Version Chapter 1

Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Paul wants us to know that God allows these things to bring us to the end of ourselves

It’s at the end of ourselves that we find God awaiting

He raises the dead

— The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Myth #5: Admitting these things means I’m weak … weird … nor normal

Already talked about Moses

Talked about Jesus

Talked about Paul

— [3] Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, [4] 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.”

[3] Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, [4] 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.”

1 Kings 19:3–4 NIV

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.”

Beth Moore — “One reason why a person who has truly loved Jesus stays trapped in secret sin & seduction is that he/she is terrified to trust anyone.” — Beth Moore

Don’t be Elijah

where Elijah faces the prophets of Baal is one of my favorite Bible passages

Elijah calls on Ahab, Jezebel, and 450 prophets of Baal & 400 prophets of Asherah to put his God to the test.

His faith is strong.

— [3] Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, [4] 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.”

He even mocks the others calling on their gods.

He issues this definitive challenge — — Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing

1 Kings 18:21 NIV

Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

Sunday was good.

Then Monday showed up.

Elijah was able to ride the wave & it was huge … High Waves

But He’d crash in the valley

The victory was sweet

But the backlash was sour

turns into

Elijah is met w/a challenge from Jezebel — — When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. [2] So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. 2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

— [3] Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, [4] 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.”

1 Kings 19:3–4 NIV

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.”

5 Responses of Elijah:

5 Responses of Elijah:

1.) Elijah was afraid

“ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.”

2.) Elijah ran for his life

“ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.”

3.) Elijah left his people

“When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there”

“He came to broom brush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said, “Take my life;”

4.) Elijah embraced isolation

“he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.”

Scripture says he went into the wilderness

Jesus was led into the wilderness

Elijah volunteered to go into the wilderness

“prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life;”

The isolation led to a place of desperation

5.) Elijah entered the trap of comparison

“I am no better than my ancestors.”

Elijah is feeling like he’s no better off than his dead relatives

HERE’S THE DEAL:

Elijah is human

Elijah proves humanity will face painful times

CHARLES SPURGEON QUOTE: “The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy.” — Charles Spurgeon

1 Kings 19:5–8 NIV

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.

1 Kings 19:5–8 NLT

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.

I Kings

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

[5] Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” [6] He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

[7] Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

[8] So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.

The God Response

1.) God replenishes Elijah

1.) God replenishes Elijah

Rest

Food

Water

2.) God restores Elijah’s ability to hear his voice

The angel of the Lord touched him & said to him

Elijah could hear again

Elijah could respond again

3.) God gives strength for the rest of the journey

God feeds him twice

So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.

“So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.”

CLOSE

There are a lot of things & people in this life who will try to tell you WHO YOU ARE

Your identity deserves better

What matters most is not:

Your past

Your zip code

Your gender

Your race

Your cultural background

Your marital

Your employment status

WHAT matters is WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE!

You are loved.

You are chosen.

You are made in the image of God.

God is for you & not against you.

You are no longer a slave to sin (the power of sin was destroyed through the death and resurrection of Jesus).

You are a CHILD OF GOD, a son or a daughter.

You are chosen –

I wrote this song with Reuben Morgan because I need this reminder (probably too) often…competition for our identity is insidious. So, when you need a reminder of WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE, these scriptures are powerful:

You are chosen –

You are called of God –

You are being changed into His image –

You are a new creation –

You are the temple of the Holy Spirit –

You are forgiven of all your sins –

You are redeemed from the curse of the law –

You are blessed –

You are the head and not the tail –

You are above and not beneath –

You are victorious –

You are set free – (you will know the truth and the truth will set you free)

You are strong in the Lord – (be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power)

You are healed by His wounds – (by His wounds you are healed)

You are free from condemnation –

You are reconciled to God –

You are joint heirs with Christ –

You are more than a conqueror –

You are accepted in Him –

You are complete in Him –

You are dead to sin –

You are alive with Christ –

You have the mind of Christ –

You can do all things in Christ Jesus –

You are the light of the world –

You are the salt of the earth –

You always triumph in Christ –

You are beloved of God –

You are one with Christ –

You are fearfully and wonderfully made –

 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”