Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness in the Church

1) You are not alone in your mental illness today.
- The great prophet Elijah struggled with depression
- 1 Kings 19:1-10 NKJV
- Oftentimes discouragement sets in right before or after a great spiritual experience
- 1 Kings 19:16-18 NKJV
- David struggled with feeling alone, abandoned, and in despair
- PSALM 42:3, 9-11 ESV
- PSALM 13:1-4 ESV
- Job struggled with depression through great loss and devastation
- JOB 3:11 ESV
- JOB 3:26 NIV
- JOB 30:15-17 ESV
- Charles Spurgeon, “The Prince of Preachers”, was often overwhelmed with depression, anxiety, and panic.
2) Not All Depression Is the Same
- Examine Yourself. Do You Have a Lack of Faith or Sin Issue?
- Sometimes there are no obvious causes for feelings of deep sadness.
- God Gave Wisdom to Doctors to Treat Illnesses With Modern Medicine.
- 1 Timothy 5:23 ESV
- Medication should NOT be a replacement for Jesus
3) Jesus is with you even when you don’t feel Him there
- Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)