I was told to talk about Mental Health from a Biblical Perspective which, I think, is very timely. One of the participants from last week’s session shared about her experiences during this time of the pandemic. And I know that every one of us has experienced such.
I was talking about this pandemic. This started in March. So far, how are we doing? Since this is ‘Kumustahan’... and how did we respond, and how are we responding right now? As Christians, we have our mark: to live a life like Christ. What did we do?
Last week, I heard some of you sharing that they were stressed. I was also stressed; I was just so lucky that my husband was there during that time. It was my first trimester. It was very difficult. It was very stressful. I realized that pregnancy is hard especially it's my first time.
But it’s by the grace of God that we were able to survive. Then, I’m very okay now even when my husband is not here as he is currently onboard. It’s again because of the grace of God. What I’m going to share tonight is about the responses if we have these kinds of situations, not only in this pandemic but in every stressful situation we could be in. How should we respond as Christians?
Have you watched the Korean series entitled “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay”? I also watched it and was on a vigil to finish watching it.
In that series, the male protagonist taught the female protagonist that during stressful situations, what she should do is to cross her arms over her chest and pat herself. She has to PAT herself.
The outline of what I’ll be sharing tonight is PAT (Papa Alfa Tango)
---PAPA---
1.) PRIORITIZE GOD BY PRAYING
If I may share and read:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)
If we are in such situations that are problematic and stressful, we usually panic. Then we start thinking of solutions; what we should be doing. But just as they said, before anything else, we have to consult it first to the Lord. So talk to God first. That’s what we should do.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “ (Matthew 6:33 )
It’s because our immediate responses are usually to look for solutions on how we can get through that situation. But our first response should not be that way. Our first response should be to talk to God.
“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6 NIV)
We always tend to go forward without pausing to assess the situation.
Actually, I have a testimony about that. During this pandemic, many of you are supposed to be on board right now. But because of the pandemic, you have to wait and until now are still waiting. It’s really hard to wait. There are uncertainties of what will happen next, those are the questions that we have.
Me, personally, there was someone who offered me a business proposal. There I thought that it might be a good opportunity given the due to the pandemic situation, so I went for it. My mistake was that I didn’t inquire to the Lord. It didn’t go well because I was already in it when I started talking to God, “Lord, may you bless these transactions.” But that is not the right thing to do. I should have sought the will of the Lord before entering that business. Learn from that.
Learn from me, nagkamali ako dun (I failed on that part).
2.) PARTNER WITH A BELIEVER / PARTNER WITH BELIEVERS
Why? Because you will be the ones to encourage one another. If we need strength, we can get that from the Lord, but the Lord will use someone to bring it to us – encouragement and strength.
As I have said a while ago, during my first trimester, it was really hard. I was so blessed to have found a partner in my husband. Whenever I’m starting to get irritated and short-tempered, my husband was very supportive and very understanding. During those times, I was short-tempered because I can’t eat well and I always feel like vomiting. I even lose weight. He would lay me over to the Lord and would always pray for me. And he is the one who is always reminding me about faith, that in everything, there is a reason and that the Lord has a plan.
To you also, though you are still very young, you have to consider that if you look for a lifetime partner, he or she must be of the same faith as we are. Because you will be the one to give strength to one another.
---ALFA---
1.) ASK
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 NIV
We all want solutions to our problems. For instance, in our work, we want to join our vessels. The Lord knows all of those. But if we do not ask for those, then we will not be answered. We have to acknowledge our creator. We cannot do things on our own. Other unbelievers would say that they are alive because of their own efforts.
Actually, that is not true because everything is willed by God. If God would not permit it, it will not happen. But to us, we still have to acknowledge that we cannot stand on our own. We have a maker, we have a potter, we have the light, we have the guide that we should follow. We need to ask. During this time of the pandemic, we are reminded in Psalms 107:28
"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress." (Psalms 107:28 NIV)
So that’s what we should do, also. Whatever problems we are facing, may it be a pandemic or anything, we need to bring it all and cast it all to God and He will help us.
2.) ANTICIPATE
As we ask, we also have to anticipate. By anticipating, it means we have to wait on the Lord. Here we can differentiate the ‘wait for’ and ‘wait on’. If we say ‘wait on’ we trust that something good will happen. We just have to wait on Him and trust that everything will be okay according to His will. That’s what we should be anticipating.
"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."
(Psalm 33:20 NIV)
And God also has the promise that “He will never leave us not forsake us.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
3.) ATTITUDE
As we wait and anticipate, we also have to have the right attitude.
"Therefore, let us draw near with confidence in the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to find help in times of need." (Hebrews 4:16 NASB)
If we’re going to pray and ask God for what we need, then we’re going to wait on the Lord. As we wait, we have to have that confidence that whatever is God’s will, it will prevail. That should be our right attitude.
---TANGO---
1.) TRUST IN THE LORD
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB)
As I have said earlier, we love having spontaneous decisions; just going forward and not stopping to pray first. We don’t take time to ask first for guidance. Though we are so blessed that we somehow become successful, but that doesn’t mean that what we did was the right one; we just happened to be very blessed. But what we should do in those times is to come to the Lord first.
2.) TURN AWAY FROM NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Sadly, there are a lot of teenagers who take their lives (suicide) because they are stressed, they are depressed. But that should not happen to us because we have confidence in the Lord. We also have to take time to encourage each other, even our friends that are not believers, we have to reach out to them. That is what we are called to do.
We should make it a habit to ask our friends "kumusta?" (How are you doing?)
Asking that question to your classmates or colleagues is already a very big thing because we do not know what they are experiencing.
Maybe they are under attacks of depression or anxiety. Let’s take time, let’s pause, let’s listen to their story, let’s ask them “Kumusta?”
"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You." (Psalms 56:3 NASB)
And then, we, as a couple, this is our verse. That’s why every time that we are facing a problem, we have difficulty, we always remind each other of this verse in Romans.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 NIV)
Whenever I am stressed out or am facing a problem, my husband will tell me, “The Lord will not leave us nor forsake us” (in Ilocano).
May we also keep that in mind.
We just have to remind ourselves that everything is happening for a reason and everything is happening for good. Every time. All the time.
Connect With Us