About the Book
Human bodies are puzzling, and mental illness plagues numerous people in the world today. “Mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in four adults and one in ten children—or sixty million Americans” (nami.org). I see a gap, though. Most churches don’t truly address the issue of mental disease. It’s not that they must address every health problem, but Christians seem to go the opposite way and say that belief in God can solve a person’s mental problems, including actual disorders. I believe that the church needs to express the difference between worldly grief and hardship and the concrete health issue of mental illness.
People need to know it is OK to take medication, go to therapy, and work with medical doctors to treat their ailments, even their mental disorders. That doesn’t mean that we should ignore the help of God. In Psalm 30:2 David called to God for help, and he healed him. We need to call to God also, and he will heal us. In Psalm 107:20 God “sent forth his word and healed them.” Therefore, let us “give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men” (Ps 107:21).
Jesus told his disciples that their grief would turn to joy (Jn 16:22). One of the definitions of grief is “acute sorrow” or “intense emotional suffering.” Sorrow isn’t just ordinary but “acute”—meaning it’s sharp. I know that in my life, I would describe my mental pain as “sharp.” It is so comforting to know Jesus knows and understands. Jesus knew we would have deep sadness here on earth. How could we possibly escape it? We’re not living in eternity yet with Jesus. As Christians, we long for the day we’re with Jesus.
About the Book
Human bodies are puzzling, and mental illness plagues numerous people in the world today. “Mental illness impacts the lives of at least one in four adults and one in ten children—or sixty million Americans” (nami.org). I see a gap, though. Most churches don’t truly address the issue of mental disease. It’s not that they must address every health problem, but Christians seem to go the opposite way and say that belief in God can solve a person’s mental problems, including actual disorders. I believe that the church needs to express the difference between worldly grief and hardship and the concrete health issue of mental illness.
People need to know it is OK to take medication, go to therapy, and work with medical doctors to treat their ailments, even their mental disorders. That doesn’t mean that we should ignore the help of God. In Psalm 30:2 David called to God for help, and he healed him. We need to call to God also, and he will heal us. In Psalm 107:20 God “sent forth his word and healed them.” Therefore, let us “give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men” (Ps 107:21).
Jesus told his disciples that their grief would turn to joy (Jn 16:22). One of the definitions of grief is “acute sorrow” or “intense emotional suffering.” Sorrow isn’t just ordinary but “acute”—meaning it’s sharp. I know that in my life, I would describe my mental pain as “sharp.” It is so comforting to know Jesus knows and understands. Jesus knew we would have deep sadness here on earth. How could we possibly escape it? We’re not living in eternity yet with Jesus. As Christians, we long for the day we’re with Jesus.