Sunday we continued our
“Built God Tough” series and talked about the huge problem of mental illness,
depression and discouragement. This is
one of those areas that for a long time churches have avoided talking about. We at The Community Fellowship deal with
people every day who are struggling with this stuff.
Some of those people have
been diagnosed with an illness, yet far many more simply deal with the real
struggles and pain of the battle of the mind.
God has a plan for all of us. He
made us to win and gives us strength. By
trusting God and having faith, we will push our fear, frustration and even the
overwhelming thoughts of failure.
Don’t worry about anything; instead,
pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has
done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can
understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ
Jesus.
Easier said
than done. Would you agree? Worry seems to be a way of life, and living
by faith is almost extinct or at least rarely seen. Less worry means trusting God more. Trusting God more means having God’s peace as
a reality in our lives. We all need
that.
We have all
experienced discouragement and/or dealt with people who have. One of the realities of life is the rampant
problems of the battle of the mind. Rick
and Kaye Warren, he is pastor of Saddleback Church in California, dealt with
the suicide of their son who also struggled with mental illness. The insight I’ve gained from what the
Warren’s shared has been very good.
Here are some
thoughts from THIS
ARTICLE from Rick Warren:
Discouragement is a disease unique to human beings,
and it's universal -- eventually everyone gets it, including those in ministry.
I have no doubt you've experienced discouragement at times, maybe many times.
You might even be discouraged at this very moment…
WHAT CAUSES DISCOURAGEMENT?
FATIGUE … physically or emotionally exhausted …
defenses are lowered and things can seem bleaker than they really are.
FRUSTRATION … unfinished tasks pile up, it's natural
to feel overwhelmed. And when trivial matters or the unexpected interrupt you
and prevent you from accomplishing what you really need to do…
FAILURE … (desire to) give in to self-pity? Do you
blame others? …
FEAR … can cause a major onset of the blues.
WHAT'S THE CURE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT?
… REST YOUR BODY … You'll be more effective when you
return to work …
REORGANIZE YOUR LIFE … doing the right thing in the
wrong way. Try a new approach. Shake things up a little.
REMEMBER GOD WILL HELP YOU … ask Him. He can give you
new energy. There’s incredible motivating power in faith.
RESIST THE DISCOURAGEMENT … Discouragement is a
choice. If you feel discouraged, it's because you’ve chosen to feel that way…
That is great truth and
wise council. We must make positive
choices and chose faith over fear. By
doing so our lives and the lives of others will be changed!
Proverbs 23:7 NASB
For as he thinks within himself, so he is…
2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB
We are
destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge
of God, and we are taking every
thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
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