We Need to Talk, Pt. 8 “Mental Health”
Eugene Delacroix, “Christ Asleep in the Boat”
Fear leads to hiding. Genesis 3 tells us the first story of this basic human trait. No illness causes the same kind of fear as mental illness. It’s invisible, it’s hard to blame on anyone or anything but yourself, and so, we humans do what we have always done. We hide form God, we hide form others, we try to hide from ourselves.
This week we’re talking about mental illness. We’re attempting to shoo away the fear by shining a light on an illness that no one chooses yet many feel shame for. Those who are ill may feel that the disease has replaced who they are with someone else. This is tragic, frustrating, and draining, but it is not hopeless. We’re going to look at our hope this week, rooted first in God, and then in others. We can’t heal ourselves, but God and those he has gifted can certainly help us on a journey toward healing and wholeness.
Anchor Texts:
Warning These texts are brutally honest words from people to God. They may trigger similar feelings in you. This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s good to be conscious of the gravity of these verses.
Jeremiah 20:7-20 ESVUK - O LORD, you have deceived me - Jeremiah’s complaint vacillates between great hopes and massive disappointments with God.
Psalm 137 ESVUK - How Shall We Sing the LORD's Song? - Some people wonder how a Psalm like this could be written and preserved in the Bible, but we need Psalms of trauma like this. They give voice to what the human condition really is and what human experiences are really like. It’s not a Psalm of action, but a Psalm of expression - and we need to express what is in our hearts before God - something the church has often not taught.
Resources to Explore:
Christian Mental Health Articles - The Mind and Soul Foundation : Exploring Christianity and Mental Health for Leaders - There are great articles here for everyone, not just leaders of churches!
Crisis Care - If you or someone you know if suicidal or in immanent danger, call 911. If someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts and doesn’t know where to turn, consider “Talk Suicide Canada” - 1-833-456-4566.
Non-Crisis Care - Setting up a meeting with Pastor Brian or myself (Pastor Nate) would be most welcome - we’d love to listen, talk, and pray with you! If you are looking for counselling and therapist support, By Peaceful Waters counselling agency is a wonderful local service group to contact.
Questions to Ponder:
Why do you think mental health is controversial among Christians?
What can we do in our churches to promote conversations, honesty, and a deepening of faith and relationships to help stem the growing mental health crisis?
Consider Jeremiah’s words in 20:7-20 again - take a pen and (alone or together) work to categorize what you read - where are the complaints, who are they directed at? Where are the statements of trust?
Are there places where Jeremiah is being “honest but not accurate?” Explain why you think so.
Is there something going on in your life that Jeremiah’s words could help you express yourself to God?
Thee Theme in Song:
This whole album is powerful and worth listening to for all, especially if you are in a difficult season of life right now. It is an expression of lament, complaint, and hope. Let God speak to you through it.
The Theme in Art:
Let’s turn our attention again to the title art of this week’s blog post. Why would Jesus asleep in the boat be a fitting representation of mental health struggles?
Consider the words of the disciples in Matthew 4:38 “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”. So often, this is how we feel when we are in trouble. The storms around us threaten to sink our little boat - and it would appear in the moment that Jesus is going to let the whole thing go down and take us with it. Then we find the surprising resolution - not that Jesus isn’t helping us, but that the storm was so tiny compared to His strength that he was never worried. Of course, that doesn’t change our terror in the moment, but it shapes us, trail by trial, to see that Jesus cannot be overthrown by any trouble in this world. Not just that, but he is with us in the tiny little vessel in which we travel through life. He isn’t far off, swooping in to save us at the last moment, but Christ dwells in our hearts through faith - he couldn’t be any closer to us in the storms of life. And that it a comforting truth.
The Theme for Kids:
Of course, the Hey-O bible story series tells a great version of this important story of Jesus’ faithfulness for kids!