Built to LastNäide

Where Are You Going?

Mental health.

The words alone can cause men to stop in their tracks.

Whether it is depression, anxiety, or any other type of situation, mental health is a real and challenging issue for many of us.

And as men, it seems to also come with a stigma where we don’t feel like we can talk about it because it makes us feel weak.

After all, don’t we believe in the God who has overcome all of this and wants to give us “life to the full” (John 10:10)?

Yes, so let’s look at another man who also believed that and yet struggled:

Elijah.

As Israel’s prophet, Elijah heard from God and witnessed incredible things, culminating in the defeat of pagan prophets on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 17-18).

It’s after this amazing event that Elijah’s life takes a turn as fear takes over, and he collapses into depression and wants to die (1 Kings 19:4).

As Elijah lies under a broom bush, God provides for him while he slips in and out of sleep. Then he takes a 40-day journey into the desert.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Following Jesus. Seeing victory. When out of nowhere, like a scene from a 1950s Batman episode, WHAM! BAM! KAPOW! Depression, anxiety, and a panic attack. And you don’t want to get out of bed.

But Elijah doesn’t stay there. His journey leads him further to the mountain of God, where he encounters the LORD in a new way—not in the thunder, earthquake, or fire, but in the whisper—the quiet. From there, he is able to get up and go back to work.

Our mental health journeys are complex. How do we do it well so we don’t get stuck under our own “broom bush”?

By remembering:

· We are not alone, and God is with us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

· To physically take care of ourselves. Eat well. Rest. Exercise. See a doctor.

· To emotionally take care of ourselves. Talk to a pastor or counselor. Reach out to a friend.

· That God will redeem our stories to tell His.

In your journey, keep moving forward until you, too, can hear God’s whisper.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for caring about my mental health. Help me not to get stuck, but to journey closer to You in everything. Amen.

Reflection: What is one step you can take towards becoming mentally healthier?