In my study recently, I have been reading a lot on fear and anxiety in preparation for a sermon series that will start on May 7th (Lord willing). I had planned on returning to my series on Revelation after a short side road on To and From the Cross (in honor of the death and resurrection of Jesus), but God had other plans.
Something happened along the way and I felt a deep need to delay Revelation and do a short series on fear and anxiety. WOW! Little did I know 1) what I was getting into; and 2) how much it is needed. I’ve had so many express they struggle with it and how they are looking forward to the help they need. I only hope, of course, I am “up to” the challenge.
I’ll probably say more about that as it gets closer, but in the last couple of days I’ve been able to share something with several people that I have learned from my study. I would like to pass it on to you this morning. It is simple but far more complex than I am able to develop here, and at this moment. (Again, maybe in the future I can “flesh it out” more for you). I found snippets of this scattered in my reading, but one put it succinctly:
- You are not crazy.
- You are not alone.
- This will end.
Mental illness, mental struggles, and all the branches of that is not something to shrug off, pretend it doesn’t exist (especially if it is you or someone you know who is struggling), or (horror of horrors), criticize. There are millions of people affected E.V.E.R.Y. D.A.Y. Each one of those three bullet points is an essential to getting a grip on depression, fear, anxiety, panic attacks, breakdowns, etc.
At the risk of sound simplistic, put-off-ish, or calloused, due to time and space constriction, I want to close this devotion with the following promises:
“My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives you. Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be afraid.” Jesus in John 14:27
“I will not leave you as orphans.” Jesus in John 14:18
Walk with Him. His hand is motioning for you to come. You can even find it at His side simply waiting for you to slip your hand into His. Go ahead. Start with that and start healing.
I love these beautiful verses you shared and also those three profound truths. This is a vital message right now, not only for me, but for my dear son who is walking through some very tough trials. I am going to forward this to him. I deeply appreciate your blog and am so thankful for your faithfulness to God’s call on your life.
I am humbled Cheryl that you think the words I share can help your son whom I have never meet. I pray He will find the arms of the Savior comforting and His hand welcoming. Again, thank you for your kind words.
I have no doubt that God will use you to deliver what needs to be heard. My prayer is that those listening are receptive to the message and receive exactly what God intends. My prayer is for a peace the surpasses ALL, not some, ALL understanding. As the world continues to unwind, it will be important for those in Christ to be firmly planted in the foundation that will not be shaken.
Those kinds of prayers move mountains Ryan. I am counting on God doing just that. And you are right: with things getting wound even tighter may we find our foundation is God and His Word.
May we reach out and take Jesus’ hand every day. He alone is our rock and our salvation.
Blessings, Bill!
he is the only One who will not let us down
I know several families that have had to deal with several different types of mental illness. It certainly is not an easy situation to deal with or is their a quick fix. Father, I pray that Bill’s sermon can enlighten those hearts of the families so they do not feel so alone, and that they can learn to walk with God as they learn how to help the one suffering. I lift of those who are suffering, that they learn Father, to lean on You, to understand that Your love, will help to bring them peace. Father you can guide them to find solutions that will help them, Your promise to never leave us, is Your word we can firmly stand on.
Tragically, I’m guessing there is not a person who has not been affected by mental illness in some way Gail. thank you so much for your prayer. They will much needed when that time comes to preach but as you can guess, even now as I study.