A Biblical Response to Mental Health - Fear and Depression

Having just a few opportunities to preach to this body of believers, I have decided to spend two weeks sharing biblical responses to mental health.

My background - Depression in teenage years, anxiety as an adult.

If you are here today, and you struggle with mental health, you are not a mess. You are normal.

Fear - When all seems lost and there is no hope.

Depression - When your mind struggles to find joy.

Anxiety - When you cannot calm down and breathe.

Perfectionism - When nothing you do feels good enough.

All of these qualities are going to be experienced in our lifetime, but you cannot handle them without hope.

Hopelessness is one of the most effective tools from Satan.

How does the word of God respond to fear and depression?

1. Fear

(READ ISAIAH 43:1-2)

Exegesis

“Created” - To cause a happening, “Formed” - To form, fashion

Planned, ordained.

“Redeemed” - deliver, to by back, act as a kinsman

“Called” - given a name

“mine” - I am here.

Yahweh is responsible for both Israels creation as living beings and their formation as a nation.

Why were they afraid?

They were exhiled from their native land. God reminds them of the relationship they had between one another. No reason to fear. Salvation was assured.

God didn’t say that they had been generally created, but specially created. God would redeem them from Babylon as he had Israel in the times of the Exodusx.

Christ became a curse, doomed to death, so that we might be redeemed.

In Chapter 42, Israel was revealed as blind, inattentive, falling short of God’s plan, defeated, sinfully disobedient, spiritually uncomprehending, and insensitive.

God’s reaction, by a free act, the Lord determined to have a people for his very own, brought them into being and shaped them. This is the first ground on which God would say “you are mine”.

The 2nd is redemptoing. The Lord made himself next of kin to the people He created. They are his family and he shoulders their needs as his own.

The 3rd ground is personal relationship.

A child not fully awake thinking they would get dropped.

From God’s perspective, nothing is impossible. He holds everything to together.

The problem we often face is created from our own perspective. Paralyzing fear can grip the heart and impact every decision we make.

And people telling us “it’s going to be ok” isn’t going to fix it. The fall of man opened the door for our minds to lose sight of everything God intends for His people.

How do I know if I’m fearful?

Are you decisions based on not wanting anything bad to happen to you?

Do I trust God with my family, health, and finances?

Do I find myself in a state of fear or peace most often?

“You are mine” is Dad trying to remind you that you belong to Him and nothing will ever change that.

2. Depression

READ (2 COR. 1:3-4)

Exegesis

“Mercies” - Compassion, pity, compassionate feeling.

“Comforts” (7 times in verses 4-7) parakaleo - urge; implore; exhort; encourage;

It typically refers to encouragement or consolation given to someone in mourning.

“Affliction” - trouble, tribulation, and affliction.

This church was source of eternal joy and great depression for Paul. - Paul had been oppressed concerning the reception of the 1st epistle to the Corinthian church.

Verse three is known as a barakhah, the Hebrew word for blessing. Paul praises God for His provision of comfort during hardship.

Paul wrote that comfort came from the mercies he had experienced.

Paul knew that God could provide comfort in these afflictions.

Even though his mind was often in peril, Paul looked through everything to be reminded of the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus was a source of comfort in the middle of affliction.

Matt Black - “I’m just here bro. You can be sad.”

Depression can be crippling. My version may feel completely different than yours.

If so many people struggle with depression, why do few talk about it?

Admitting that you’re depressed does not make you weak despite what others may have said. You show strength when you ask for help.

Counseling

Doctors

Treatments.

If you can be isolated from other believers, the enemy can convince you to believe anything about yourself.

Is this a place where we can learn about the true Comforter?

“The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord.” - (Psalm 9:9-10)