Mental Illness and the Christian

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. 6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 

- Galatians 6:1-7

With mental illness, Christians must understand that:

The battle must be waged on three fronts… mental, physical, and spiritual.

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Every Christian struggles with some form of the “Big 3.”

• Anxiety: divided with distracting worries and outcomes.

• Depression: weighed down with anxiety and discouragement.

• Control (OCD): grabbing for control due to anxiety and fear.

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

- Galatians 6:2

God has given us a strategy for victory (mental wellness)!

• Knowing the truth.

• Believing the truth.

• Speaking the truth.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

- Galatians 4:6-8

Fixing Frustration

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

- Proverbs 4:23

We will find ourselves frustrated. We will also find lots of different reasons to be frustrated.

1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her.

- 1 Samuel 1:1-7

Our frustration can build until we reach a breaking point.

...Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.

- 1 Samuel 1:7

10 She was deeply distressed…

- 1 Samuel 1:10

God invites us to “pour out our souls” to Him.

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

- 1 Samuel 1:10

15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”

- 1 Samuel 1:15-16

We can choose to put our faith in God.

17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

- 1 Samuel 1:17-18

Find God’s favor through our frustration.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”

- 1 Samuel 1:19-20

Living in the Balance

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

- Matthew 22:34-40

Know the route and the rules of the road - Jesus first.

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

- Matthew 22:37

Make room for yourself.

39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

- Matthew 22:39

Make room for others.

Stay full.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 

- Philippians 4:8-9 

Leave room for disruptions.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

- Ephesians 4:1-3

Follow Jesus’ lead.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.

- Luke 2:52

The Yoke’s on You - Rest for your Soul

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

- Proverbs 4:23

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:28-30

Four verbs: come, take, learn, find.

Accept Jesus’ invitation.

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

- Matthew 11:28

Submit to Jesus’ authority and follow His ways.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart…

- Matthew 11:29

Arrive at the rest you’ve been longing for.

and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:30