Have you ever struggled with anxiety, depression, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts? If you have, you're not alone. Those thoughts are running rampant in our world today. The CDC says that over 50 percent of all Americans will struggle with mental health issues during their lifetime. That stat tells us that every one of you reading this right now have either dealt with anxiety or depression yourself or know somebody who has. It's that prevalent in our society today. Which means there couldn't be a better time than right now to start having really good, open, honest, and biblical discussions about mental health! But unfortunately, the church can be the hardest place to talk about it. That was my story. I'm the pastor of a large and growing church, but for years I kept my mental health struggles to myself. I didn't talk openly about them because I didn't think I was allowed to. So instead, I suffered silently until I hit a breaking point and couldn't hold it in any longer. - There's this weird stigma with church where we talk about, learn about, and sing songs to Jesus, who gives us peace, joy, and freedom. But for many of us, there is a disconnect between what we are singing and what we are actually feeling. Because in the middle of our seasons of mental health struggles, peace, joy, and freedom are the furthest thing from what we are experiencing.
And so we start to feel like we must be second-class citizens, second-class Christians. We think we are the only ones struggling and we start to think, Maybe I don't have enough faith. Maybe I don't really believe in God. Maybe I'm too broken. Maybe no one else will understand. Since we feel like we are the only ones struggling with mental health, we assume we must be doing something wrong. Plus, we feel so much shame about it that we start to think we are supposed to hide it. After all, everyone else has it all together, so no one else will understand, right? So,I've just got to hide it and pretend that I'm okay. We treat church like a courtroom instead of a hospital. We go there and pretend that everything's okay instead of being open and honest about what we're struggling with. And Satan absolutely loves it. He wants us to suffer in isolation. - The Bible says that we're supposed to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). But when we hide our burdens, how can anyone help us carry them? How can they bear it if they don't know it exists?
I've learned over the years that we're all suffering from the same thing, but we don't know it because we're all keeping the same secret. It's time to start talking about this in the church. We have to start admitting that it's a real issue. And the starting point is calling out the lies of the enemy: - No one will ever understand.
- I must be going crazy.
- I'm so broken.
- I've got to hide this stuff.
Those are lies from the pit of hell. The Bible shows us that we don't have to just deal with depression and be attacked by anxiety, but through the spiritual weapons that God has given us, the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us, and the powerful name of Jesus, we can experience more peace, joy, and freedom than we ever thought possible. And it all starts with opening up the discussion! |
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Your Turn Have you ever felt resistance to entering into the community of God during a season of profoundly isolating trial and suffering? What happened when you dipped your toe back into church? How did the fellowship of other believers help? Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you!
~ FaithGateway |
** If you are seriously struggling and have any thoughts of self-harming, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. They're available 24 hours a day, in both English and Spanish. |
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It's okay to not feel okay. |
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| Attacking Anxiety By Shawn Johnson In Attacking Anxiety, Shawn Johnson, lead pastor of Red Rocks Church, gives a searingly honest portrait of anxiety and depression and shows readers how to fight back and live free. He vulnerably shares about this dark time and offers those familiar with that same struggle everything he's learned in his battles with anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. $18.99 Sale Price: $13.29 (30% off) |
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| Out Of The Cave By Chris Hodges Do you feel guilt and shame about negative thoughts and emotions and your inability to overcome them? Bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges helps those struggling with depression find liberating solutions by drawing from the life of the prophet Elijah. $18.99 Sale Price: $13.29 (30% off) |
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| Depression, Anxiety, and Other Things We Don't Want To Talk About By Ryan Casey Waller Mental illness loves to tell lies. One of those lies is that you really should be able to manage what you're struggling with. Pastor and psychotherapist Ryan Casey Waller says no. Mental health issues are not a symptom of a spiritual failing or insufficient faith; rather, suffering is the very thing our Savior seeks to heal as he leads us toward restoration. And yet, as Waller has experienced personally, the battle can be lonely and discouraging. But it doesn't have to be. $18.99 Sale Price: $13.29 (30% off) |
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| Through A Season of Grief By Bill Dunn If you've lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend, you've discovered that few people understand the deep hurt you feel. Where do you turn for daily comfort and help? Where do you find the tools to move forward? Through a Season of Grief is the first 365-day devotional designed to support and uplift you in the first, most difficult year of bereavement. $17.99 Sale Price: $9.89 (45% off) |
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| Fear Gone Wild By Kayla Stoecklein A pastor's wife's shattering yet ultimately hopeful story of her husband's death by suicide, her journey to understand mental illness, and the light she found in the darkness. With a clear-eyed acknowledgment of how misguided and misinformed she was about mental illness, Kayla Stoecklein shares her story in hopes that anyone walking through the wilderness of mental illness will be better equipped for the journey and will learn to put their hope in Jesus through it all. $26.99 Sale Price: $18.89 (30% off) |
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| Changes That Heal By Dr. Henry Cloud Many of us struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. We know that God created us in his image, but how can we be loving when we feel burned out? How can we be free when we struggle with addiction? Will we ever enjoy the complete healing God promises? With fascinating case studies and helpful techniques we can start using immediately, Changes That Heal reminds us that God promises to complete his good work in us. $19.99 Sale Price: $13.99 (30% off) |
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| Changes That Heal Workbook By Dr. Henry Cloud This hands-on workbook companion to Changes That Heal will help you apply Dr. Henry Cloud's revolutionary four steps of healing to your everyday decisions and relationships.In this workbook companion to the groundbreaking bestseller Changes That Heal, Dr. Henry Cloud guides us through the four crucial tasks we need to complete on our way to lasting healing and growth. $12.99 Sale Price: $9.09 (30% off) |
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| Made In His Image Are you always busy? Is it challenging to find time for yourself? If you're searching for a simple way to replenish your spiritual life, Made in His Image: 100 Bible Verses to Grow in Health and Wholeness offers brief but powerful devotions, encouraging Scripture, and rich prayers to strengthen your body and soul. Made in His Image will help you discover the energy to glorify God in all He's called you to do. Inside you'll find Scripture and reflections that will coach and support you for the journey ahead. $14.99 Sale Price: $10.49 (30% off) |
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| Checking In By Michelle Williams An uplifting, behind-the-scenes look at Grammy Award–winning singer Michelle Williams's life and path to healing, Checking In reminds you that you are not alone, and that God is not yet finished writing your story. $26.99 Sale Price: $10.00 (63% off) |
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| Signs of Hope By Amy Wolff Amy Wolff, a busy mom and small business owner, often felt this way--and didn't feel qualified to connect and uplift others. But one day, after hearing about several suicides and suicide attempts in her community, she printed 20 yard signs with hopeful messages and anonymously placed them throughout her city. This small action sparked a global movement of encouragement, hope, and love, which spread to 50 states and 27 countries in just 18 months. $18.99 Sale Price: $13.29 (30% off) |
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