Mental Health Part 1
There is Freedom from Depression
Sunday, April 7, 2024
I. Mental Health
A. Depression is Real and on the Rise
1. Testimony
2. Mental Health Statistics and Fact at a Glance (CDC)
~1 out of 4 young adults under 30 considered suicide in 2022; and 1 out of 10 of the rest of us.
~In 2022, 33% of adults experienced both a mental health and substance abuse condition.
~As of 2020, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for children 10 to 14, preceded only by unintentional injury.
~Mental Health Hotline calls increased 900% in 2020 and continue to increase during and post Covid 19.
~A new study reports antidepressant prescriptions for teens and young adults 12-25 increased 64% since 2020 during and post Covid 19.
3. Set framework: There are some very real genetic and biological reasons for depression in some cases, but if we make that the main narrative we can miss out on some real biblical solutions.
a. Depression is a group of conditions associated with the elevation or lowering of a person’s mood. “Depression is the inability to construct a future.” Rollo May – psychologist
~Depression is not a malfunction of the mind. It’s a signal.
b. There’s a real stigma surrounding this topic.
~God has real solutions (money, physical, family, marriage)
c. My difficulty is not my identity.
B.There is Freedom from Depression
1. (John 8:36 NIV; Gal. 5:1 NIV; 1 Cor. 10:13 NLT) God has freedom for you!
a. Some characters in the Bible who experienced depression and came out victoriously because they applied God’s solutions. (Peter vs. Judas)
2.Job
a. (ref. Job 1) Job, an upright, God-fearing very rich man with 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large household. In one day all his possessions are stolen, all his servants murdered and his all his kids are killed in an accident.
b. (ref. Job 2) Job’s health is attacked. The only thing Job had left was God, his wife and three whack friends. His wife said “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die.”
c. (Job 3:1-13, 20-26; 42:10-17 all NLT) Job’s story ended well because he ultimately did it God’s way.
3.(1 Sam. 30:3-6 NIV) David
4. (Lam. 3:17-22 NIV) Prophet Jeremiah
5. (2 Cor. 1:8-10 NIV) Apostle Paul
6. Elijah
a. (ref. Matt. 17:1-8) appears at the transfiguration
b. (ref. Rev. 11:3-12) one of the two witnesses
c. (ref. 1 Kings 17) miracles: 3½ years no rain; widow woman and son provision; raises widow woman’s son
d. (ref. 1 Kings 18) showdown at Mt. Carmel with the god of the 850 prophets of Baal/Asherah vs. the God of Elijah.
~850 prophets of Baal/Asherah killed
e. (1 Kings 19:1-4 NLT) After the greatest victories and miracles of Elijah’s life he faced great depression to the point of suicidal thoughts but God delivered him.
[Pastor Lee Stokes]