mental health matters

i’m pausing my series to talk a little bit about mental health. As you guys know, I’ve been seriously struggling with my anxiety. It’s caused me a few health issues, and it’s been hard, to say the least. this month in youth, I’ve been talking about different mental health disorders and how to fight them with God. through this series, I’ve learned a few things I wanted to share with you!

first, I wanted to make sure you know that if you’re struggling with a mental illness, you are seen and loved, and YOU MATTER. mental health isn’t something we often find talked about in the church. my youth students have ideas of their own as to why this is, but one answer they give stuck out to me. “it’s because we’re supposed to look perfect on the outside.” I couldn’t agree more! the church doesn't want to seem like a group of broken people. they want to fake it, push it down, and hope it goes away.

i’m here to tell you that you will not receive healing this way. in 1 Kings 19, a man named Elijah was battling depression. Elijah first tried to run from his problems, but God met him where he was. in a cave. He sat with him and comforted him. Elijah didn’t want to live any longer, but God showed him the purpose and plan He had for Elijah’s life!

i’m telling you this story to say mental illness was a thing even people in the Bible struggled with. you are not alone! I know it’s hard; this post doesn’t bring much comfort now, and sometimes doctors and medicine are necessary to fix those chemical imbalances in your brain, AND THATS OKAY! your mental health condition cannot and will not define you! you are a child of God, and He has a PLAN and a PURPOSE for you! don’t give up. your mental health matters🤍

”Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 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.” 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. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬