Jesusluvsall's Blog

Yesterday I wrote about how Jesus sees us and responds to us comparing with ways we respond to people with mental health issues. I appreciate those who work to promote better understanding of the issues involved, eliminate the stigma for those who struggle, and to support and encourage those who struggle with issues. Sometimes it is a lifelong struggle while for others it might be a sudden occurrence.

How do we respond to leaders who struggle? Do we lose faith in them? Do we look for a different leader? Do we gossip about them? Do we lose respect for them?

Those were questions that weighed heavily on me. I have been involved in ministry for refugees and immigrants for twenty years. I have also dealt with autoimmune problems  longer than that. My attitude had always been just soldier on and press through it. I did not want to let my autoimmune problems slow me down, but they were wearing me down. I have asthma, hypothyroid-that I almost died from, arthritis and Celiacs. Hypothyroid affected me with memory loss and Celiacs caused foggy brain. My brain had been through a lot. The result? Depression and Anxiety.

Admitting it was hard. For me it started with an email to one of my pastors. I told him what was going on and that I needed to start medication. I offered to resign if my taking medication would cause controversy. His response was, “Matt it is medical.” He let me know I did not need to resign.

As I shared about it with a few people I knew I could trust, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Because as anyone with depression will tell you, I did not want to let people down.

I shared about it with a friend at church who is a counselor. I shared it with her a few weeks after I started the medication. She looked me in the eye and said, “You can help a lot of people because of this.” I wasn’t sure about that at the time, but this week has been my first attempt at doing so by devoting my blog to Mental Health Awareness Week. My hope is that it encourages others.

I am doing much better now. I used to be skeptical about medication for depression. I am not anymore. I began to feel better within a week of starting. All it does it bring me back to normal. It is not a happy pill. It only restores balance in my brain.

Imagine being a pastor of a large church and having a sudden bout of depression. Tommy Nelson is a pastor of a large church , travels to speak, is on the board of a seminary, and mentors many young men in ministry. He was hit with a sudden bout of depression. He shared his experience at Dallas Theological Seminary. I watched his video and want to share it with you. I think it helps to know that a man considered to be a successful Christian leader has had his own struggles.

We are all living in bodies that will one day die. We are all mortal. We experience sickness. We grow old and wear out and die. In other words- WE ARE ALL HUMAN. The question is whether we support each other in the church. I am so thankful for the support of the pastors in my church and my trusted friends.

Thank you for reading. God Bless. Here is the video of Pastor Nelson sharing his experience with depression.