15 JAN 2017. THEME - HEADLINES: MENTAL HEALTH. SIMON BENHAM

SMALL GROUP NOTES FROM SUNDAY 15 JANUARY 2017. THEME - HEADLINES: MENTAL HEALTH. SIMON BENHAM

The message began with a video listing various quotes about the problems of mental health in today's society including Theresa May's comments from just last week. If Simon puts these online, they are well worth looking at.

Mental health problems are often accentuated in the church context. We are 'new creations' so everything should be sorted, except that isn't the case. Simon's aim is to remove stigma, and have honest and open conversations. Unlike physical health problems, mental health problems cannot be seen - they are hidden. They include depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, self-harming, suicidal thoughts, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia et al.

Simon drew on the biblical character of Elijah to raise various points. The context of the story was Jezebel being a bad influence on her husband Ahab, King of Israel. She worshipped Baal and expected everyone else to do so too. The prophet Elijah pronounced that there would be no rain until he spoke the word. He then hid in the Kerith ravine where God provided food and water. After 3 years of drought, Elijah re-appears to Ahab and there is a face-off between him and the 450 prophets of Baal. Only Elijah is able to call down fire for the sacrifice; and the drought comes to an end with heavy rain. The prophets of Baal were all slaughtered.

QUESTION: How would you expect Elijah to feel after such success?

READ: 1 Kings 19:1-18.

Elijah actually went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. He was afraid and ran away, praying that he might die. Simon spoke of his own time of feeling very low. Mental health problems can affect anyone. Winston Churchill for instance, who described the 'black dog' of depression.

The beginning of healing is to admit the problem; to myself, to God, to those around me. We can only run and be in denial for so long.

QUESTION: How did God respond to Elijah in the passage we just read?

He showed kindness to Elijah. He doesn't just tell him to get a grip, but cooks him a meal, provides for him. Remember how Jesus did something similar for Simon Peter? With a fish BBQ. We must learn to be kind to ourselves, and kind to those who are struggling. Don't try to fix it. Simon said 'I want this to be a kind place'.

QUESTION: Take a few minutes in quiet to ask ourselves what our personal response could be?

Simon then went on to consider some of the causes of mental health problems. Remember the Shalom circle from last week?

HEALTH. Physical health affects mental health. A sedentary lifestyle, a dependence on social media/email/smart phones etc are very detrimental on mental health. God brings good sleep, good food, and exercise to release good stuff into our brains. It is essential to find rhythm, take quality time to stop - be still - every day.

FINANCIAL/EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES can affect mental health. READ Romans 8:20-21. For some, this affects mental health and requires medical intervention. Healing via a doctor is not 2nd class healing. Only 20% of depression is chemical based, 80% is circumstantial. Finances are often a cause of stress. If this affects you, consider seeking help from CAP. If materialism is an issue for you, practise generosity.

RELATIONSHIPS. Elijah isolated himself, thinking everyone was against him. A better response would be to deliberately place ourselves into community. Consider also the power of resolving broken relationships and conflict. You could read Matthew 18 next week to hear Jesus' advice on how to do this. Forgiveness is essential. Confrontation may be necessary too.

SPIRITUAL. Elijah has an encounter with God. It did not come in the mighty wind, or the earthquake, or the fire - but in the gentle whisper, the still small voice. We need to put ourselves in a place where we can have an encounter with God, often not a spectacular encounter - but a place where we can hear His still small voice. READ 1 Peter 5:7. Simon stressed the power of spending time alone with God. READ Matthew 6:5-7; this is Jesus stressing the same thing.

QUESTION: Pause for a few minutes silence and consider how you might put this into practice? Where and when can I find a place to do this?

One suggestion from Simon was to book the prayer room for an hour. Share what other ideas came from the few minutes you just spent in silence.

Simon spoke of the importance of knowing our identity in God; our value, that we are loved, that God is pleased with me.

Simon finished by reading Psalm 42 over us, then leaving a minute of complete silence. If you have time, do the same thing as a group.

We finished with the song 'It is well with my soul' - the line which struck me was 'Through it all my eyes are on you'. A take-home question could be to ask what are my eyes fixed on?