Happy Sabbath friends! In case you were not already aware…May is mental health awareness month. I believe it is very important to bring awareness to mental health as it is very much prevalent. Mental health is a topic I get very passionate about as I believe the best way to grow is by acknowledging and being aware of what is going on inside of your mind, and all around you. When reading the Word of God, I notice how much we can relate the Word of God to our daily lives. There are multiple characters in the Word of God who ultimately struggled with their mental health. I love that mental health is mentioned in the Word of God because it shows that our Heavenly Father also feels it is an important and prevalent topic that needs to be discussed. Speaking on my own behalf, I can admit that I struggle with my mental health…some days more than others. With this in mind, it makes it easier to relate to the characters in the Bible who also went through periods when they too struggled with their mental health. When reading the Word of God, and seeing the relatability amongst all these characters in the Bible, it has a way of making you feel less alone. I noticed that the times when I am struggling with my mental health, it is so easy to feel alone and your mind (satan) will try to convince you that no one will understand what you are going through. Our God reminds us through His Word that we are NOT alone, and even when these characters in the Bible were faced with struggles, guess who was with them the whole entire time? Our Heavenly Father.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV

In this message, we are going to be focusing on a character named David, who also struggled with his mental health. When reading the below from the Word of God, I want you to look for ways that God showed up for David when he was going through a rough time emotionally.

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”
Psalms 13:1-6 NIV

I absolutely love the book of Psalms because poetry will always hold a special place in my heart, and I can relate to David here in Psalms 13. I have written countless of poems when I would be struggling with my mental health, and it would read very similarly to David’s psalm. I find it so profound that this chapter starts off with David asking the Lord, “How long?” and “Will you forget me forever?”. I can speak from experience that it can be hard when facing turmoil in your mind to believe that God is with you. Satan has a way of corrupting our minds and convincing us that our Heavenly Father has left us or forsaken us…which is funny because it is mentioned time and time again in scripture how God will never leave nor forsake us.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.””
Hebrews 13:5 NIV

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5 NIV

What I find to be so beautiful and empowering in Psalms 13 is David does not allow Satan and his mental health to overcome him. David acknowledges that he is struggling and is aware of what is happening in his mind, but he does not allow it to overtake him because he is also aware of our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and will never leave us nor forsake us. This psalm of David is a perfect reminder that we are going to face hardships in our life, and we may have moments when we struggle with our mental health, OR maybe someone close to us may be struggling…in knowing that these struggles and hardships are in our midst, we can rest in the truth that God loves us so much that He will carry us through whatever we may be facing.

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 NIV

Just as David stated in his psalms, may we rejoice and sing the Lord’s praise, as our Heavenly Father has been good to us.

I pray over all who are reading this message that they may be filled with Your peace and comfort. Please open our eyes and heart so we can acknowledge and be aware of the burdens and tribulations within us, or that may be around us. Lord, help us to be aware, but not allow these burdens and tribulations to overtake us. Help us hold onto the steadfast truth that you will never leave nor forsake us. Help us to trust in the promise of your unfailing love, just as David did when he was struggling. Thank You for never giving up on us even amidst moments when we may feel like giving up.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalms 23:1-6 NIV

Amen.