Praise the Lord and Pass the Prozac

Coming August 2022! This hopeful, helpful and humorous devotional is based on ten affirmations for those dealing with mental health issues whether anxiety, bipolar, depression eating disorders, PTSD, or others. I’m writing the devotionals and my daughter the licensed clinical social worker, Faith A. Watkins, is penning the applications.

Here’s a sneak preview from 1. I Am Connected.

“Hi, I’m David. I’m with bipolar.”

“Hi, David,” the group in a circle responded. It was the Sheni (Monday) support group for Bible heroes struggling with various mental health conditions. And although the first one to share was wearing a gold crown and royal robes, no one was intimidated or shocked that the king of Israel was dealing with mental health issues.

“Well, if you read some of my psalms, you’ll see I’ve been going through a rough patch with bipolar. For instance, if you read Psalm 21, I’m having sort of a manic episode.”

David pulled out a scroll. “How the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because you give him victory” (2:1).

“I felt like I could do anything. God was with me and I was definitely enjoying ‘victory.’ But then things went south in the very next psalm: ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief’”(22:1-2).

“But then there’s my Twenty-Third Psalm: ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength’” (21:1-3).

An old man in a tattered robe raised his hand. The group leader nodded to the renowned prophet.

“Hi, I’m Elijah and I can certainly relate to those ups and downs. It seems the higher the highs, the lower the lows that follow. For instance, you probably remember the big contest between the priests of Baal and myself. I proposed that we set up an altar and see which of our gods could light it up.

“As you know, nothing happened for the pagan priests, but as soon as I called out for Yahweh, our God sent a bolt of fire that evaporated the water I had poured of the altar for a bit of dramatic effect, consumed the wood and sacrificial bull—even melted the rocks of the altar. What a great display of God power!”

Elijah suddenly bowed his head and stared at the floor. “But as soon as I heard that Queen Jezebel was also burned up about that, I ran an entire day’s journey and collapsed under a broom tree. I told God, ‘I have had enough, Lord. Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died’” (1 Kings 9:4).

Another member raised his hand.

“Hi, I’m Moses, and I totally understand that. One day when the Israelites were on my last nerve whining about wanting meat to eat, I cried out to I AM. ‘I can’t carry all these people all by myself! The load it far to heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!’” (Numbers 11:14).

The leader acknowledged another raised hand.

“Hi, I’m Job. I hear you. I remember telling God, ‘Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest’” (Job 3:11).

The man everyone knew as the weeping prophet spoke up.

“Hi, I’m Jeremiah. I felt the same way. Everyone remembers me from my writing about God having plans ‘for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.’ But there was a time before that I wrote, “Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb, that her body had been my grave! Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame” (Jeremiah 20:18).

Each member of the group nodded in affirmation and compassion.

“Thanks to everyone for sharing. Most people at Sabbath services aren’t willing to share so honestly. It’s important to remember we’ve all had feeling of despair and despondency, but everyone of you are working through those feelings and holding on to that promise of a hope and future. I’m proud of you. See you next Sheni.”

Prescription

As a therapist, I have spent countless hours in group rooms much like this one. Well, maybe not quite like this, so I know the healing power of a support group very well.

When I began my own journey of recovery after the painful aftermath of looking for love in all the wrong places, I found my own biblical heroine support group of sorts. Included in my Love Addicts Anonymous (LAA) group were Rahab, the woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well, as well as others who tragically took their love lives into their own hands. In my dark hours, these women shared their experiences and revealed how God came near to them in their mental and emotional anguish.

What kind of darkness surrounds you today? Grief? Depression? Anxiety? Addiction? Fear? Rejection? Trauma? The Bible is jam-packed with heroes and heroines of the faith who faced similar struggles as you. Who would you want to include in your theoretical support group? Even if you aren’t familiar with the stories of the Bible, a quick Google search of “Bible characters who experienced [fill in the issue]” can give you a starting point.

Learn as much as you can about your group members’ mental and emotional struggles and how God came near to them in their brokenness. Know that you are in good company and hold tight to that promise of hope and a future.

Copyright © 2022 Faith A. Watkins and James N. Watkins