Not often enough do we have conversations about mental health awareness or stress the importance of mental health. Not often enough do we as a society recognize the alarming number of persons we interact with, work with, go to church with, or even live with that suffer from a mental illness. Did you know eating disorders, personality disorders, PTSD, anxiety and depression are just a few mental illnesses that folks we are around daily may suffer with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Statistics show that in America 264 million people struggle with depression and 40 million struggle with anxiety? If I can be honest I am 1 out of 264 million that have struggled with depression. I didn\u2019t know what to call it, didn\u2019t want to claim anything through self diagnoses using WebMD like most folks do, and truth be told I didn\u2019t want to reveal my true feelings because I was afraid to be judged and ridiculed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many people decide to keep these things to themselves out of fear due to other peoples ignorance. Some folks believe you don\u2019t have enough faith if you suffer from a mental illness. Some folks in the old days would think you were possessed if you had thoughts of anxiety. And oh boy don\u2019t have suicidal thoughts; you would be shunned or worse- disowned and abandoned, when you would really need love and support the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too often the signs are there but we are too caught up in self to see when our loved ones are hurting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think of the father who died of a heart attack a few days after his wife was one of 21 killed at Robb Elementary. He died from a heart attack and his nephew said it was his grief that took his life. Now he leaves behind 4 children. Or what about the person who took these innocent persons lives- he reached out on social media, did research and even had private chats- but no one acted in time. Please don\u2019t ever take for granted the signs our loved ones display when they are crying out silently.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember 15 years ago when I lost my dad I wanted to die. Plain and simple- I was ready to leave this place. At the time I had no children, no husband, no one I felt would really miss me if I was gone. I was truly depressed. I wanted my dad back so bad I was ready to join him just so we could be together again- I thought it was so unfair he left without me (thank God for spiritual growth). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever struggled with a mental illness? Can you relate personally or may know someone who struggled or currently struggling with it in your circle? How can we help ourselves and help others? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udea8 DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SEEK HELP \ud83d\udea8 There is nothing we can\u2019t take to God in prayer. And to add to that, there is NOTHING wrong with seeking professional help by way of a doctor, counselor, therapist, or even your pastor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m reminded of the story about Elijah in the book of 1 Kings chapters 17 through 19. Let\u2019s dig a little deeper (take a moment and read 1 King 19:1-18. In chapter 19 the prophet Elijah had some struggles mentally. His mental state was challenged and he had suicidal thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 King 19:4 says: But he himself went a days journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, \u201cIt is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am <\/em>no better than my fathers!\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It sounds like Elijah was taken aback by Queen Jezebel. Here was a man who had just experienced a great victory\u2026.to be faced with death threats from Queen Jezebel was mind boggling. He was still in victory mode when adversity struck. Did Elijah show the same gratitude, joy, and faithfulness from when he defeated the prophets in Baal? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer is NO! <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s okay, does that make him less of a man or a half of a Christian? Not sure what your answer is, but mine is he is simply human. We all get weak, we all get weary, we all grow tired and faint hearted. So what do we do when we come to moments in our lives like this? Do we give up and throw in the towel or do we pause, pray, refuel on scripture and praise, find shelter in the Lord, rest, and then get back on it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are different strokes for different folks right?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the sake of today\u2019s message we are going to talk about preserving when in stress, I want to encourage you to learn how to respond to stress in a healthy way, and how to \u201cget back on the horse\u201d when you have been tossed and turned by the winds called life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture tells us that Elijah did not take his own life but instead the Bible tells us that he found rest in God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 King 19:5-8 reads: Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, \u201cArise and eat.\u201d Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said \u201cArise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.\u201d So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wow! WoW! WOW!!! I just got chills when I saw what the angel told Elijah and if you want to keep reading God\u2019s revelation to Elijah in verses 11-18 you will see how active listening to Christ truly blessed Elijah and ultimately he found rest in God and had a renewed mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How many of you have been stressed out? You have money problems, car trouble, feel unappreciated, kids acting crazy?! \u270b\ud83c\udffd\ud83e\udd1a\ud83c\udffe\u270b\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udd90\ud83c\udffe Welcome to my world folks! Wait for it, here comes the encouragement! <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of us who are concerned for our mental health or that of others should seek shelter in God. You see after Elijah got something to eat and had a jar of water, he rested. And when he woke up he was ready to continue his work for the Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God will give you what you stand in need of, we must listen, wait, hope, keep the faith, and believe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No you may not go to sleep and wake up the next morning ready to \u201ctake on the world\u201d but I can guarantee you if you put your trust in God YOU WON\u2019T GO WRONG! God is with you every step of the way. Recite Psalm 23 (my moms favorite verse) and believe it in your heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible tells us not to worry or be anxious about anything. I know it\u2019s easier said than done but we have to take those petitions to God through prayer and have thanksgiving in our hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today I want to encourage you to not let the lack of support or lack of knowledge\/ awareness on those struggling with mental health or a mental illness to give up. Seek God in everything. Don\u2019t be afraid to talk to someone you love and trust or seek professional help. God created doctors, counselors, and therapists for this exact reason. Tap into your resources! Expand your circle to help yourself be the best YOU, you can be! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like Elijah we may have all had thoughts of giving up, loosing hope, etc. God knows all and He sees all and He will still use you to bless others in, through, and after your struggle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you feel like David did when he was betrayed by his own son and basically hung out to dry from a king he had been loyal to, you are not alone, and there is greatness at the end of your story. Trust God! <\/p>\n\n\n\n We serve a God who is ALIVE! Stand up on your feet and praise God you not serving a dead God this morning. Give the Lord a hand clap of praise if you know your God is able! Shout glory hallelujah if you know without a shadow of a doubt that our prayers have never and will never fall into deaf ears. Praise the name of Jesus if you know our Lord is faithful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 37:17-18 says: The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Isaiah 40:31 says: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:38-39 says: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh I don\u2019t know about you my brothers and sisters but I feel the Holy Spirit moving right now. I feel the joy of the risen savior. Death did not hold Him down. God is bigger than mental illness. Anxiety has to bow. Depression has to bow. PTSD has to bow. Schizophrenia has to bow. Oh we bind up these things in the sweet name of Jesus. God is our strength and our refuge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As I close today\u2019s message I pray that this message has encouraged you in some way. I pray like Elijah we will listen to His voice and be alert for his angels are all around us and we too will find rest in God. Today I pray for those struggling in any form or fashion. It is my prayer each person will find strength and courage in Christ and will seek professional help if needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n