pastor help for those who struggle with mental illness

7 Biblical Principles for Taking Care of Your Mind

This post is derived from two blog posts I wrote over on PastorBrad.blog and KatieRDale.com. The Bible is full of wisdom for living a successful, God-honoring life. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. If we want to address our personhood in full, we can’t overlook our mind and how we handle its health. The following principles are derived from passages in Scripture that can help us understand how God values our mental well-being and the spirit seated within. Principle #1: Express your hurts and frustrations In numerous passages in the Psalms, we see David cry out to the Lord in his pain and troubles. Examples of his fears, doubts, hurts, and sorrow can be found throughout the book of Psalms. As a general interpretation, David’s example sometimes echoes and foreshadows the pain and trials Christ ends up enduring hundreds [...]

Dear Pastor: What the Church Needs to Know About Mental Illness

Today I'm making a derivative out of an old blog post (Misconceptions Your Church May Have About Depression) and reworking it to address our pastors this month - it's Pastor Appreciation Month. Dear Pastor, First and foremost, you are brave. Your calling is not easy or light. Drawing grit from your faith and convictions is a grit akin to what military forces draw upon. The required resilience that comes from committing to this calling is not glamorous or fiscally promising. The taxation on your spirit and soul your job exacts can be stretched thinner than your leather-worn Bible. To put your job into words is a tall task. So many souls depend on your leadership and rely on your words as support. In hopes of making your job more manageable in the realm of the mental health of your congregation, here is an open letter I share with you. [...]