Bright Spot: Find support in faith during mental health month
Statesman Winston Churchill named it his “black dog.” Mega-pastor of yesteryear Charles Spurgeon described it as a “black cloud.” Arguably our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, referred to it as his “tendency toward melancholia.”
We call it depression.
In the past few years, NBA superstar Kevin Love joined this not-so-exclusive "club" made up of 50% of the U.S. adult population. Maybe we need more than the month of May to commemorate “Mental Illness Awareness Month.
Confessing depression is never easy, especially for males. I know that from personal experience of my own “dark nights of the soul,” the label early church leader St. John of the Cross gave it. Thankfully I don’t suffer nearly as intensely as K-Love. There I go but for the grace of God.
Men especially battle the labels of wimpy, weak and weird. Careers often suffer or sink after we “come out.”
But Love also celebrates the super support from superstars and others.
Mental illness devastates individuals, families and societies. It’s the leading reason for long-term homelessness. More mass shootings come from MI than terrorism. MI underlies many of the suicides that have shaken our communities.
It’s our youngest who too often seek that permanent solution to a temporary problem.
In spite of the stigma, many are opening up about mental illness. NBA all-star Jerry West, all-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, newsman Mike Wallace and Prince Harry all admitted battles with mental illness. Thankfully, this openness helps bring others “out into the light,” where healing and help are available.
Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Psychologists have long documented how gratitude increases happiness and longevity and helps drive away depression. The Bible prescribed that medicine first: “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God...will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
The Bible prescribes the healing power of confession and supporting one another: “Confess … and pray for one another so that you may be healed." (James 5:16)
“Looking at the log in our own eye,” as Jesus commanded (Matthew 7), churches must ask what more can we do? Many offer support groups like Celebrate Recovery. But there’s still the nagging feeling there’s more we can and should do.
One of the wisest counselors I know urged churches to be “safe places” where followers of Jesus will listen without judgment as the first step toward healing.
Love’s closing comments were personal, poignant and powerful: “For me, I guess what I needed was to talk to somebody ... what I needed was to know that I wasn’t alone. If you’re struggling right now, I can’t tell you that this is going to be easy. But I can tell you that it does get better, and I can tell you that you are definitely not alone.”
“Bear one another’s burdens," and thus fulfill the law of Christ, which in light of one of our examples above, this law is appropriately called “the law of love.” (Galatians 6:1-2)
Rick Sams is pastor emeritus of Alliance Friends Church.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: Find support in faith during mental health month
