It’s ok NOT to be ok!

Mental Health Sunday May 22, 2022 

I saw a billboard for mental health that said, “It’s ok not to be ok!” I wondered, why does a billboard have to even say that? If you break your leg, no one says: you’re a horrible person. No, they sign your cast, they open the door for you. We understand physical illness and we give a little extra care to people who are physically ill. 

Now if you are feeling depressed, anxious, have an eating disorder, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar, post-natal depression, schizophrenia or another mental illness, there’s a feeling that you shouldn’t talk about it. Don’t tell other people. It’s too horrible. Or you might worry people will tell you you’re just lazy! You just need to get out of bed and live your life each day like everybody else. You need to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. People might say “It’s silly to be anxious and afraid.” They might say, “Just get over it!” There’s a stigma to talking openly about mental illness. 

So, we don’t talk about mental illness much. And that makes it worse. If you suffer from mental illness, you can feel even more alone, because it’s hard to talk about it with other people.  

So today we’re going to take away the stigma. Today we’re talking about mental health. Not only is it ok for us to talk with each other about it. It’s ok to talk to God about it. We’ll look at someone in the Bible suffering from mental health, and see that God is there with him. 

What does it mean to have good mental health. WHO says: Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.  

Mental health is really important. It means we can cope with the normal stresses and strains of life, achieve our goals, reach for our dreams and enjoy life. 

The majority of Americans will suffer from a serious clinical depression at some point in their lives. And most people never get help; they just fight this battle on their own. In order for people suffering from mental illness to get healthy, it’s important that we all know medication is ok, going to a counselor is ok, and God does not punish people, giving them mental illness because they sinned. No, God loves you and wants you to feel well. 

I have gone to counselors at least four times in my life. The first time a doctor suggested I go. And I thought I didn’t need to go. But I thought, my Dad would never go to a counselor, and he probably would have benefitted from help. So, I didn’t think I needed counseling. But I didn’t want to be that person that won’t get counseling. So, I saw a counselor and I’m so glad I did! It really helped! Sometimes talking about mental health issues is hard. But in the long run, we’re happier for it. I go to a counselor now! It makes life better. I remember a counselor once told me, it’s the people who admit they have problems and get help who are the strong ones. 

There’s help out there! There’s counseling, medication, and self care. Getting help means you are strong! Strong people get the help they need. 

Today we are looking at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, and a time when he had a mental health crisis.  

Elijah lived 3000 years ago. He was a prophet and miracle worker. Today’s story actually starts because of a great success! By the power of God, Elijah had shown who the one true God is. One prophet of Israel, Elijah, had gone up against 450 prophets of the false god Baal. Where 450 prophets of Baal couldn’t get Baal to answer them and get a fired started, Elijah got a huge fire going on an altar that was drenched, just by calling on the name of the Lord. Then right away Elijah killed the prophets of Baal. 

So, Elijah had a tremendous success with God’s help. But this made King Ahab and Queen Jezebel very angry. Queen Jezebel sent a message by a messenger to Elijah, to tell him she would kill him.  

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. Before this, in chapter 18, Elijah knew King Ahab wanted to kill him, but he boldly went to see the king. Today’s story from 1 Kings 19 takes place on a different day, and on this day Elijah is afraid. He goes into the wilderness, sits down and prays that he might die. “I have had enough Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 

What do you think God said to Elijah? Did he say, “That’s a sin to want to die! You’re horrible!” No, God didn’t say that. God sent an angel to Elijah, to touch him and say, “Get up and eat. You’ll feel better!” And the angel provided some freshly baked bread and water. 

When Elijah was depressed, God loved him and sent an angel to take care of him! Just so, when you have a mental health issue, God is not surprised by your thoughts and feelings. He meets you right where you are! 

Elijah eats and drinks and goes back to sleep. Then God sends an angel a second time to wake Elijah up and tell him to eat and drink, or the journey will be too much for him. Elijah gets up, eats, and drinks. Then he travels 40 days to the mountain of God, where he sleeps in a cave. 

Then God speaks to him. Elijah says, I’ve been a very good prophet for you, God. The Israelites rejected you and killed your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too! 

Elijah’s state of depression causes him to exaggerate his troubles. Elijah says the Israelites rejected God. But there are 7000 faithful worshipers of the Lord left in Israel. Elijah says he is the only remaining prophet. But Obadiah hid 100 prophets of the Lord from King Ahab in a cave, to keep them safe. 

When Elijah is depressed, God is not surprised by his thoughts and feelings. God meets him right where he is! 

God’s next response is to give Elijah a mission: Go anoint a new prophet named Elisha, so you will have a friend and won’t feel so alone. Go anoint a new king who won’t worship the false god, Baal. 

It’s like God is saying, “I believe in you Elijah. Your life is not over. Here and now, I give you a purpose and a mission. You will do great things!” 

God is not surprised by Elijah’s thoughts and feelings. He meets him right where he is! 

In all this, God never says to Elijah, “It’s your fault you are depressed.” When Elijah has a mental health crisis, God responds with food and drink, encouragement, respect, and acceptance. God does not condemn, exclude, or punish Elijah. 

God loves you all the time! He loves you when you’re hurting. God wants for you mental well-being. 

Church is called to be a safe space for people to express their emotional pain. When your mental health suffers, it’s ok to not be ok. In Elijah’s story, the church is the angel. We are the ones who provide food and drink and encouragement. So today, if someone tells us they are depressed, they suffer from mental illness, we’ll do what we would do if they broke a leg: send a card, say a prayer, tell them we’re sorry, and offer to help.  

It’s a good thing to get help when you need it: counseling, medication, and practice self-care. 

You know what else we need in hard times? We need God. We need the peace God offers that passes all understanding. We need a relationship with God, where we come to Him and know He is with us and here to help us in every way. 

Laura Howe is a counselor who started an organization called “Hope Made Strong.” She created a Mental Health Sunday 7-day devotional you can take home today. It has 7 keys for building resilience and strengthening hope. The seven keys are:  

1. Stay connected to friends, family, church, community, or be part of a group. 

2. Know yourself: who you are in Christ.  

3. Set boundaries.  

4 Meditate 

5. Practice selfcare such as exercise and relaxing activities. 

6 Have fun.  

7. Rest.  

My challenge for you this week is to take the devotional home and begin to think about your mental well-being. 

It’s ok NOT to be ok! One in five Americans has a mental health diagnosis. So, we all know someone with mental illness. Most of us will experience a major depression at some point in our lives. We are not alone. And we are fortunate there is so much help available to us. God does not condemn or punish us for a mental health crisis. God is not surprised by our thoughts or feelings. He meets us right where we are with understanding, encouragement, and hope. Thanks be to God who loves us just as we are and is our stronghold and hope. Amen.