September 10th, 2023
THE MYTHS OF FAITH & MENTAL HEALTH Myth #1 - Disorders aren’t for everyone
First, thank you to my wife, Tricia McCoy, for her contribution to this week’s thoughts. Tricia is a licensed social worker who serves as a mental health facility counselor.
Secondly, I write about what I know, as you’ll see unfold as I contribute to the first week of this series guide. About 17 years ago, I was diagnosed with a mental health challenge that threatened to take my life. By the grace of God, and with an incredible team of support and an incredible church, I am here today and thriving. Though I still have my scars and bad days, I have more good than bad ones, and I lean more on God than I ever have before. But I’m also aware of the many myths that plague mental health and those of us who profess faith in Christ. So, let’s read on and learn together.
The doctor looked me in the eyes and said the words that didn’t surprise me, but at the same time, words that still shook me to my core, “Paddy, you have a general anxiety disorder.”
He indeed was one of the best doctors I could have ever asked for because during my time as his patient, he took time to be with me in my diagnosis. This is the first lesson to learn in treating our mental health: your care team is critical. Whether it’s your physician, counselor, spiritual leader, or support team (i.e., family, friends, etc.), getting the right people around you is critical to healing and growth.
As the news began to sink in, my physician said that disorders are just how you and I have learned to adapt to a broken world. This means, in theory, that we all have a disorder of some kind or another. Maybe it’s diagnosable or not, but either way, we’ve all had to learn to adapt to a world full of pain, loss, abuse, divorce, betrayals, and many other things that we were never created to have to endure. In addition to our broken realities, the devil seeks to lie to us about the realities of the divine realm. He’ll try to convince us that we’re the only ones that struggle. He’ll make us believe we can never get better, heal, or grow. He’ll try to cover us with shame, which makes us feel like we can’t even approach God with our problems because He’s too disgusted with us. But remember, the devil is the father of lies.
“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 NLT
The devil’s lies started in heaven when he was crafty enough to deceive a third of the angels; imagine how many that could be if there are millions of angels. Then those lies are carried to this earth, where the devil tries to destroy and distract anything that resembles the image of his enemy (that’s you and me).
The good news is that when we recognize our true identity as children of the living God (I John 3: 1) and give our lives over Christ, we are new creations. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT.
This doesn’t mean we don’t have flaws, scars, etc. but it gives us hope that healing can come. As we’ll learn later in the week, there are times when the thorn in our flesh, like Paul’s thorn in his (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10), will keep us on our knees, crying out for God to help us once again. But depending on God is exactly where we each need to be, for He is the gold that not only pieces us back together but bonds us to Him making us even more substantial.
So the myth that some are better than others, some struggle and others don’t, is just that: a myth. Paul writes, “We have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.” Romans 3:9 NLT
We’re in this together, even those pretending to have it all together. The good news is that when we’re willing to share our struggles and show our scars, we take the first step toward healing and freedom.
JOURNAL:
Secondly, I write about what I know, as you’ll see unfold as I contribute to the first week of this series guide. About 17 years ago, I was diagnosed with a mental health challenge that threatened to take my life. By the grace of God, and with an incredible team of support and an incredible church, I am here today and thriving. Though I still have my scars and bad days, I have more good than bad ones, and I lean more on God than I ever have before. But I’m also aware of the many myths that plague mental health and those of us who profess faith in Christ. So, let’s read on and learn together.
The doctor looked me in the eyes and said the words that didn’t surprise me, but at the same time, words that still shook me to my core, “Paddy, you have a general anxiety disorder.”
He indeed was one of the best doctors I could have ever asked for because during my time as his patient, he took time to be with me in my diagnosis. This is the first lesson to learn in treating our mental health: your care team is critical. Whether it’s your physician, counselor, spiritual leader, or support team (i.e., family, friends, etc.), getting the right people around you is critical to healing and growth.
As the news began to sink in, my physician said that disorders are just how you and I have learned to adapt to a broken world. This means, in theory, that we all have a disorder of some kind or another. Maybe it’s diagnosable or not, but either way, we’ve all had to learn to adapt to a world full of pain, loss, abuse, divorce, betrayals, and many other things that we were never created to have to endure. In addition to our broken realities, the devil seeks to lie to us about the realities of the divine realm. He’ll try to convince us that we’re the only ones that struggle. He’ll make us believe we can never get better, heal, or grow. He’ll try to cover us with shame, which makes us feel like we can’t even approach God with our problems because He’s too disgusted with us. But remember, the devil is the father of lies.
“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 NLT
The devil’s lies started in heaven when he was crafty enough to deceive a third of the angels; imagine how many that could be if there are millions of angels. Then those lies are carried to this earth, where the devil tries to destroy and distract anything that resembles the image of his enemy (that’s you and me).
The good news is that when we recognize our true identity as children of the living God (I John 3: 1) and give our lives over Christ, we are new creations. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT.
This doesn’t mean we don’t have flaws, scars, etc. but it gives us hope that healing can come. As we’ll learn later in the week, there are times when the thorn in our flesh, like Paul’s thorn in his (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10), will keep us on our knees, crying out for God to help us once again. But depending on God is exactly where we each need to be, for He is the gold that not only pieces us back together but bonds us to Him making us even more substantial.
So the myth that some are better than others, some struggle and others don’t, is just that: a myth. Paul writes, “We have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.” Romans 3:9 NLT
We’re in this together, even those pretending to have it all together. The good news is that when we’re willing to share our struggles and show our scars, we take the first step toward healing and freedom.
JOURNAL:
- What areas of brokenness have you either experienced healing from or seek healing from now in the name of Jesus?
- Could our mental, physical, or emotional scars ever help our journey or others? If so, how?
- How could we keep God’s truth at the forefront of our minds instead of letting the devil’s influence distract us?
By Pastor Paddy McCoy
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