I’M GOING OUT OF MY MIND!

Why “…according to the National Alliance On Mental Illness…60 million Americans experience a mental health condition -- that’s one in four adults -- and one in ten children.”

• (Rick Warren, Rick Warren: “Churches Must Do More To Address Mental Illness,” Time, March 27, 2014)

Why when Elijah

got sick in 1 Kings 19, deeply depressed, God through an angel “…touched him…” (I Kings 19:5) and provided food for him “…a cake of bread… and a jar of water…” (1 Kings 19:6).

Recognize: Hardship Is Not A Sign Of God’s Disfavor;

‘Rain Falls On The Just and Unjust Alike’.

But scripture is clear, hardship is part of God’s design, for God intentionally placed His glory and gospel, in an imperfect container, “…an earthen vessel…”

(2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted -- and saves those who are crushed in spirit…”

(Psalm 34:18)

Note The Relationship Between

‘The Thoughts We Think,’ And

‘The Feelings We Feel.’

For Proverbs 23:7 is correct: “…as a man thinketh…so [shall he be]…” (Proverbs 23:7, KJV); translated: there is a direct connection between our mental thoughts and our mental health.

Thus, as we address mental dis-ease, we must amplify God’s Word -- setting our minds, as Paul advises, on things that are above…” (Colossians 3:2) thinking on “…whatever is honorable” – the apostle notes – “…whatever is just, whatever is pure, what is lovely, whatever is commendable…”(Philippians

4:8) -- and I might add: whatever is true.

Our Sovereign God!

• A -- awesome

• B -- believable

• C -- caring • D -- devoted

Get the idea?

For through the Sovereignty of God, the sheer power of God – we can in the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 -- “demolish [every thought and argument counter to God] taking every thought captive [making every thought] obedient to Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

‘Lean Into’ God’s Timing, God’s Grace,

And God’s Stamina.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away…But the Lord said [no] – [you see Paul] “…my grace is sufficient for you -- for my power is made perfect in weakness…”

(2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

Be a friend and just show up

Lean into God’s grace and God’s timing – confidant that “… [God’s] grace [and timing] is sufficient…for [God’s] power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

Bow down to God’s sovereign ABC’s For in spite of the challenge of our brains -- God is awesome – God is believable – God is caring – God is devoted – “…close to the brokenhearted…[saving] those who are crushed in spirit…” (Psalm 34:18).