John and Angel Beeson teach on how the Bible addresses mental health issues and how we should respond.
J: M&M update: 64% commitments. $1.67M.
Campus is a go. Discernment around next steps. Infastructure/canvas. Commit. Give. Pray.
A: Last year 60 million Americans suffered from mental health issues. One in five. Maybe it’s you. Maybe a friend.
What do we do? Does the Bible have anything to say about mental health? Yes.
For some, the church has stigmatized mental health.
The church should be the most transparent place on earth. We should be the place it’s safest to answer, “How are you doing?” with “I’m not okay.” “It’s okay to not be okay.”
J: Sermon series: What is mental health? The state of a person’s emotional, social, and behavioral well-being. Anxiety, depression, despair, intrusive thoughts, joy, peace, wholeness. Topics: The heart and the brain, depression, anxiety, self-harm, and relationships.
Ps. 34:18: the Lord is near to the broken hearted.
1 Kings background: Elijah standing up to Ahab and Jezebel: Showdown against the prophets: 450 prophets of Baal. Fire. People respond and worship. Kill the prophets of Baal. Rain comes! Isn’t he on cloud 9? No. The threat of the post-sermon.
Walk through the passages: four truths, two promises
A: Mental health issues distort our view of God.
1 Kings 19:1-3: why is he afraid now? We often can’t make rational sense out of mental health challenges. We can’t rationalize our way out of it.
Two trees: Three roots to mental health issues: fear, grief, and pride. Healthy: trust, grief, humility.
J: Romans 8:22-23. The world groans for redemption. Sin distorts our feelings. The impact of the fall on mental health.
Secular perspective: none of it is your fault. Fundamentalist perspective: it’s all your fault. Biblical perspective: complicated.
Mental health and physical health are connected.
1 Kings 19:4: Elijah is exhausted, suicidal, and hiding. Fear and compounded grief.
1 Kings 19:5-6: God doesn’t rebuke him. He meets him with grace, rest, food, and his presence. There isn’t a divide between the spiritual life and the physical life. DA Carson: “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.” We are finite. Don’t negate the physical. Recognize your limits. You need rest. You need sabbath.
Take stock of your diet, exercise, sunshine, and sleep. You need 8 hours of sleep.
A: Mental health issues distort our view of self and others.
1 Kings 19:7-8: God doesn’t withdraw. Takes to Mt. Horeb- Mt. Sinai—where God met with Moses.
1 Kings 19:9: God meets Elijah. Lets him speak. Are you sharing your heart with God? God already knows your thoughts.
1 Kings 19:10: A rehearsed speech that exaggerates Elijah’s importance and misses God’s presence. Pride!
His self-perception is twisted.
1 Kings 19:11-12: God doesn’t rebuke Elijah. Don’t miss my presence in the quietness. Your problems aren’t going to be solved in the fireworks.
Sometimes we need to preach to our feelings. We need to take hold of our mental loops.
Speak God’s truth over yourself. Anchor yourself in the truth of who he is and the truth of who you are in him.
1 Kings 19:13-14: God asks the same question. Elijah gives the same answer. He’s the hero of the story, not God. Take your thoughts captive. Feelings are okay, but they aren’t necessarily facts. Elijah’s thoughts have taken him captive.
J: God doesn’t leave us alone
Is. 53:3: Jesus was full of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
1 Kings 19:15-16: God still doesn’t rebuke Elijah. He gives him a final mission: anoint a new king and a new prophet. Take the weight of responsibility off your shoulders, Elijah.
1 Kings 19:18: God gently corrects Elijah’s distorted view: there are a lot more than you, Elijah.
God has a community.
Resources: pray with us. Counseling. Booklet.
A: One call: Listen for God’s voice
-Word: preach God’s truth to yourself. Invite God’s Word into your life every day and have it speak to you.
–Prayer: Ps. 34:18. He is pursuing you. He already knows your thoughts and wants you to give it to him.
-People: Don’t isolate. Be a community that is safe. You don’t have to have the answer. Ask for help.
Sermon preached by John and Angel Beeson