A Biblical Perspective On The 8 Dimensions Of Wellness

 

As some of you may already know, I am coming to the end of my class at the Thomas Wernert Center. The class is called "8 Dimensions of Wellness". I have learned a lot about the 8 different ways one can be mentally healthy. As a mental health advocate, I have enjoyed learning how to encourage others to live a mentally healthy life. As a Christian, I have enjoyed seeing how these "8 Dimensions" actually coincide with Scripture. In this blog, I will share what each of these 8 Dimensions are, and then I will share how each of these Dimensions ties into the Biblical text. This blog aims to show you how you can live a mentally healthy life as a Christian. It is important to keep in mind that the way one operates in each of these dimensions will look different for each person. This does not mean that these 8 dimensions do not apply to everyone because they most certainly do. It just means that there is no "one-size-fits-all" for each of these dimensions. The book that I will be referencing in this blog is called "Creating A Healthier Life: A Step-By-Step Guide To Wellness". Now, it is time for me to discuss each of these categories. 

Physical Wellness
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The definition for this category is the following, 

"A healthy body. Good physical health habits. Nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care. These make up the physical dimension of wellness. A few ways that we can get there might be choosing things that make our body feel good and trimming back the things that bring us down. We can also feel better by creating a routine that balances activity with inactivity, and that is manageable within our obligations and needs. Our body is intelligent, and learning to listen to it more may be very important and empowering." 

I really love this definition because it perfectly says what physical wellness looks like. Pay close attention to some of the words and phrases in this definition. "Nutrition". "Exercise". "Choosing things that make our body feel good". "Trimming back the things that bring us down". What is it that you think of when you read these words and phrases? Take a moment to really ruminate on these thoughts. Now, how does this correlate with the Bible? I would like to draw your attention to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, which says the following, 

"Rather train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 

I know that this text is usually used to show how godliness is much more valuable than physical training, and
I do not have any dispute with that interpretation because that does seem to be the point that the Apostle Paul was getting at. However, notice what Paul does not do. He does not say that there is no value in physical training at all. This would mean that even Paul acknowledged that there is some value to physical exercise. I know that this might sound like a trite point, but I have heard godly men and women abuse this text by making it seem as if, as long as you are "godly," then it does not matter if you physically exercise. That is a gross misapplication of this text. 

Here are some ways that I try to fulfill this dimension: 

1) Going for walks
2) Exercising on the bike at the Thomas Wernert Center
3) Walking in place inside my apartment 



Intellectual Wellness 
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The definition for this category is the following, 

"...involves many things that keep our brains active and intellect expanding. In a broad sense, this dimension can involve looking at different perspectives of an issue and taking them into consideration. Through several activities-- from learning about current events to organizing game nights in your home og community center-- you can broaden your perspective and understand diverse points of view." 

I absolutely love this definition so very much! Pay close attention to some of the phrases in this definition. "Keep our brains active and intellect expanding". "Looking at different perspectives". "Broaden your perspective". What do you think of when you read these phrases? What does the Bible have to say about this? If we turn to Matthew 22:37, we read the words of our Lord saying, 

"...You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind"

As you can see, the Lord Jesus Christ commands us to love God with OUR MINDS. This does not mean we have an excuse to be intellectually lazy. As a matter of fact, the way we love the Lord with our minds to the best of our abilities is by keeping them active. We should never give up stimulating our minds. Christians do not get brownie points for being ignorant. Now, does this mean that we will always love the Lord perfectly with our minds? Heaven's no. As sinful, imperfect people, we will always struggle. But that is no excuse to just throw in the towel and give up. 

Here are some ways that I fulfill this category: 

1) Reading Theology, Psychology, and Philosophy Books 
2) Researching other perspectives different from my own 
3) Studying the Bible 
4) Having intellectually stimulating conversations 

Financial Wellness
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The definition for this category is the following, 

"...involves things such as income, debt and savings, as well as a person's understanding of financial processes and resources. A person's satisfaction with their current financial situation and future prospects also comes into play." 

Pay close attention to the words and phrases in this definition. "Debt and savings". "Person's understanding of financial processes". "Person's satisfaction with their current financial situation". What comes to your mind when you think of these words and phrases? What does the Bible say about this category? If we turn to 1 Timothy 6:10, we read the following, 

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 

Notice what the Apostle Paul does not say. He does not say that money is the root of all evil. He merely says that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. We must really take the time to understand that because many Christians read this verse and automatically think it is sinful to be rich. It is only sinful to be rich when you idolize your money above God. When someone does that, they will fall into "all kinds of evils". Another Scripture I'd like to draw your attention to is Proverbs 3:9-10, which says the following, 

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine." 

As you can see from this text, the wisest man to have ever lived commands us to use our wealth to honor God. As a matter of fact, Solomon promises us that if we honor God with our money, then God will bless us. I know that there is some disagreement amongst Christians concerning how one is to honor God with our money, but I think the Scripture is clear when it says our "first fruits". This means that when we get paid, we are to give our dues to the Lord before we buy or spend money on anything else. When we do this, then God will honor us. As a matter of fact, when we turn to Malachi 3:10, we read the following, 

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour down a blessing until there is no more need."

As you can see from this text, the Lord commands us to bring our tithe into our churches. What exactly constitutes a tithe? Biblically speaking, a tithe is 10% of all your income. Basically, we are commanded to give 10% of our income to our churches. That should be the bare minimum of what we give. God not only commands us to give our full tithe, but He tells us to test Him to see if He will not bless us for giving Him our full tithe. Usually, the Lord tells us not to test Him, but in this portion of Scripture, He gives us the right to test Him. 

Here is how I fulfill this category: 

1) I may not always give my full tithe, but I do make sure to tithe at least $15 at the beginning of each month
2) I do not spend any of my money before I give my tithe
3) I make sure I follow a budget to the best of my ability

Environment Wellness 
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The definition for this category is the following: 

"...involves being able to be safe and feel safe. This can include: Accessing clean air, food, and water. Preserving the areas where we live, learn, and work. Occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support our wellbeing, Promoting learning, contemplation, and relaxation in natural places and spaces." 

Pay close attention to some of these words and phrases. "Feel safe and be safe". "Clean air, food, and water". "Preserving the areas where we live". What do you think of when you think of these phrases? What does the Bible say? When we turn to chapter 2 of Genesis, we see a remarkable scene. We see that the Lord created the Garden of Eden, and it was very lush and beautiful, but it had no one to tend it. Then, eventually, God created the first man out of the dust of the ground and breathed His breath into the man so that the man would become a living being. Then, in verse 15, we read the following, 

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it." 

As you can see from this text, God commanded Adam to take care of his environment. This would mean that he had a job to do. And this was before he and Eve fell into sin. Basically, work is not sinful nor is it evil. As a matter of fact, we are commanded to work. Laziness is a sin that is forbidden throughout the Scriptures. Christians are not only commanded to work, but we are expected to work. And we are commanded to take care of our immediate environment. This means we are to make sure our living spaces are liveable. As Dr. Michael Horton has once said, "Christians should be the best environmentalists". 

Here are some ways I fulfil this category: 

1) Doing the chores around the house that my wife cannot do
2) Cleaning up after myself 
3) Making sure I do not litter, trash goes into the trash bin

Spiritual Wellness 
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The definition for this category is the following:

"...is a broad concept that represents one's personal beliefs and values and involves having meaning, purpose, and a sense of balance and peace." 

Pay close attention to these words and phrases. "personal beliefs and values,". "meaning, purpose, and sense of balance". What comes to your mind when you think of these phrases? What does the Bible say concerning this? If we turn to 1 Peter 2:9, we read the following, 

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 

As you can see from this scripture, Peter wants us to know a couple of things. First, he wants us to know who we are in Christ. He says things like we are "a chosen race", a "royal priesthood", and a "people for his own possession". In other words, we belong to the Great King of the universe, and that fact makes us holy and royal. We may as well think of ourselves as princes and princesses in His grand kingdom. Secondly, Peter wants us to know our purpose. He says our purpose is to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light". Basically, we are to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we can while we are alive on this earth. Spreading the Gospel message is not only our duty, but it is also our privilege. 

Here are some ways I fulfill this category: 

1) Pray daily
2) Read my Bible 
3) Conduct Family Worship 
4) Give people Bibles when they ask 
5) Talk to people about Christ 
6) Read theology books 

Social Wellness
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The definition for this category is the following, 

"...Involves having health relationships with friends, family, and community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others and humankind" 

What do you think of when you read this definition? What does the Bible say? When we turn to Philippians 2:3-4, we read the following, 

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." 

As you can clearly see from this text, we are not to be selfish by only caring for our needs, but we are commanded to think of other people as more important than ourselves. This means we should be thinking of meeting other people's needs before our own. Are we going to do this perfectly? No! As long as we are stuck in these sinful bodies, we will never do this perfectly because we are always prone to selfishness. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will make progress in fulfilling this command. Another text that I would like to draw your attention to is 1 Corinthians 12:22-24, which says the following, 

"On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable, we bestow greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are used with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it." 

The context of these verses is that Paul is comparing the Body of Christ to being like a human body. Each individual Christian makes up a part of the Body of Christ. Paul tells us that the weaker or less honorable member of the body of Christ should be treated with even more honor. This is the polar opposite of what the world teaches. The world wants attractive people, have lots of money and have a lot of charisma to be treated with all the honor and respect. The world will mistreat someone who is not attractive, who does not have a lot of money, and who does not have a lot of charisma. However, the Lord flips things upside-down by telling us to give more honor and respect to the outcasts and misfits of the world. 

Here are some ways I fulfill this category: 

1) I treat everyone I meet the same as I would treat anyone else 
2) I do my best to help out others 
3) I do not hold grudges 
4) I am always forgiving 

Occupational Wellness
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The definition for this category is the following, 

"involves participating in activities that provide meaning and purpose and reflect personal values, interests, and beliefs, including employment." 

This is a pretty straightforward definition, and as you can see, this has an overlap with the environmental wellness category. I will turn your attention to Genesis 2:15 again, which says, 

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it." 

If you remember correctly, God creates the Garden of Eden, but there is no one to tend this very lush and beautiful land. As a result, God creates Adam and gives him the job of tending the garden. As I have pointed out before, God gave Adam this job before the Fall. This means that work is not inherently sinful. As a matter of fact, we are called and commanded to work. I know that this may sound convincing to those of us with mental illness who cannot work. But the command is still the same for us. However, the Lord understands if we are not able to work a traditional 9-5 job. If you are like me, then you may have to figure out what your own personal niche is. What are some things you're good at, and how can you utilize your gifts? You may have to talk to those who are close to you to figure out what God's calling for your life is. 

How I fulfill this category: 

1) Being the best mental health advocate that I can be
2) Doing my best to take care of my wife 
3) Doing my best to represent Christ in the world

Emotional Wellness 
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The definition for this category is the following, 

"...involves the ability to express feelings, adjust to emotional challenges, cope with life stressors, and enjoy life. It includes knowing our strengths as well as what we want to get better at, and living and working on our own but letting others help us from time to time." 

Pay attention to some key words and phrases. "Express feelings". "Adjust to emotional challenges". "Knowing our strengths". What comes to your mind when you think of these words? What does the Bible say? If we turn to Proverbs 4:23, which says the following, 

"Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flows the springs of life" 

In this text, King Solomon is wisely commanding us to guard our hearts. In biblical times, the heart was considered to be our soul. In other words, it was the core of our being. So, when we are commanded to guard our hearts, Solomon was telling us to protect the core of our being. We do this by not allowing toxic people into our lives, by fighting negative thoughts that may arise in our minds, and by filling our thoughts with good things, as Philippians 4:8 tells us to do. When we can successfully do this, we will find that we are more at peace. 

I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my blog, and I hope that you find this to be a blessing in your life. I know that learning the "8 Dimensions of Wellness" has greatly benefitted me, and I know that it will greatly benefit you as well. Please feel free to let me know how these wellness tips have helped you in the comments below. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all! 

-David Lee Chu Sarchet 
Christian Mental Health Advocate 

Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website

Can Someone With Chronic Mental Illness Live A Fulfilling Life?

 

As some of you may know, I attend classes at The Thomas Wernert Center in Toledo, Ohio. The Thomas Wernert Center is a mental health peer support and advocacy clubhouse. I am currently enrolled in a class called "8 Dimensions of Wellness" in this center, where I learn about the many different forms of mental health wellness, as the name of the class would suggest. In today's class, we went over "Occupational Wellness," and I decided that the topic is so good that I need to address it from a biblical perspective. The reason for this is that so many of us Christians with mental illness seem to feel like God does not have a purpose for us and that we are destined to live sad and pathetic, and lonely lives. I personally believe that the Lord has a purpose for all of His children, and in this blog, I will discuss some of what that purpose would seem to be. First off, what exactly is "Occupational Wellness"? My class gave the perfect definition for it, and so I won't add to the definition because my words will not do it justice. The Thomas Wernert Center defines "Occupational Wellness" as the following, 

"The Occupational Wellness Dimension involves participating in activities that provide meaning and purpose and reflect personal values, interests, and beliefs, including employment." 

Did you notice some key words in this definition? Words such as "meaning" and "purpose"? Also, notice how this definition says that Occupational Wellness is about "personal values, interests, and beliefs"? Basically, when you are experiencing proper Occupational Wellness, you should feel like your activity is causing you to feel like your work has meaning and that you are meeting some purpose in your life. For example, before I began my career as a mental health advocate, my most enjoyable "job" I ever had was when I volunteered at the Canon City Pregnancy Center. I know it may sound odd, but it really did fulfill a void inside of me. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had found my life purpose. To this day, I am still a very staunch pro-life advocate because this is an issue I hold close to my heart. As a matter of fact, when I finally go to be with the Lord, I would like to be remembered as a faithful husband, a great mental health advocate, and a great defender of the unborn. 

You may be feeling a little discouraged by what I am saying, but let me assure you that if I can discover God's purpose for my life, so can you. I am nothing special. I am just clay in the Divine Potter's Hands. I will discuss how you can find God's plan for your life, but I will tell you that you most likely will not discover it right away. Sometimes the Lord reveals one's purpose right away, but most of the time it will take a while because He wants to properly prepare you for your task. I've only discovered my purpose about four years ago, and I have been a Christian for more than a decade! So, it requires a lot of patience on your part, as it did for me. I know this may sound discouraging, if you are anything like me, because you want to jump right into your calling quickly. However, some of the greatest people took the long route of being prepared for their calling. You and I are no different. 

The first Scripture that I'd like to draw your attention to is 1 Peter 2:9-10, which says the following, 

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 


Do you notice the "sandwich technique" that Peter pulls off here? He starts by telling us who we are as God's people, then he tells us our purpose, and then he closes by reminding us of who we are as God's people. According to the Apostle Peter, we are a "chosen race" (meaning we are unique amongst all people), a "royal priesthood", and a "holy nation". Please allow this to sink in for a minute. Peter is telling us that we are royal and holy. Holy means we are set apart for God, and royal means "having the status of a king or queen or a member of their family". When you belong to Christ, you are His family, and since He is a king, this would mean we are princes and princesses in His kingdom. This truth should have a profound impact on you, and if it does not, then I would suggest you take some time to personally meditate on these verses. 

The next thing the Apostle Peter does is remind us of our purpose. Notice how after he reminds us of who we are in Christ, the next thing he says is "who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light"? Basically, He is telling us that one of the reasons why God chose us is so we can proclaim the Gospel to a lost and dying world. This should be our primary focus as members of God's kingdom. As John says elsewhere concerning Jesus: "He must increase while I must decrease". This should be all of our motives. We should so desire to make His name known instead of looking for our own glory. Ironically, when we do serve His agenda, instead of our own, that is when we will be more satisfied with our lives. Peter then wraps up by once again telling us who we are when he says, "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people..." I believe he does this so that we will not forget who we belong to. The reason why this is so important is that it is very easy to allow your success to get in your head. Once this happens, we will begin to think it was our own hard work that got us where we are, and that we do not need God. What Peter is doing here by reminding us of who we belong to is basically telling us that we depend on Him and we should never forget that.

The final verse that I'd like to draw your attention to is Romans 12:1-2, which says the following, 

"I appeal to you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable before God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Do you notice what the Apostle Paul is saying here? He says we should offer ourselves to God as "living sacrifices". In the Old Testament times, God required the saints to offer sacrifices of dead animals for the remission of their sins. After Christ had been hung on the cross, He had already borne our punishment upon Himself for all eternity. We no longer need to sacrifice animals for forgiveness. So, why is there this talk of offering ourselves as "living sacrifices"? In the words of the late Dr. R.C. Sproul, 

"The sacrifice that remains is that of a thankful response... Paul will use this sacrificial imagery in verses 15:16 to portray his 'priestly ministry' as an apostle, bringing believing Gentiles as offerings in worship of his Lord." 

As you can see, we offer our bodies in sacrifice as a way of thanking the Lord for our salvation. However, it should be evident that a living sacrifice is far different than a dead sacrifice. The difference is the fact that a live sacrifice can move off the altar. This is something we all have to deal with because we are all prone to leaving the altar of sacrifice to pursue our own agendas. This is why Paul tells us that we need to constantly "renew our minds" because even he was aware of this sinful tendency to want to do things our way. So, how do we renew our minds? We do this by staying in His word daily and by participating in the act of corporate and family worship. We are to fill our minds with His word. We will not always be successful at doing this, but if we are faithful in always going to God for everything, then in time, Paul tells us that we will be able to figure out what His good and perfect, and acceptable will is for us. 

In closing, I would like to make sure you understand that God may not always have some grand purpose for you. I say this because when I was young in the faith, I wanted to do monumental things for God. I did not realize that God sometimes has us do little things for His kingdom. So, do not get discouraged if you find yourself doing simple things like handing out church bulletins every Sunday.  As a matter of fact, Paul tells us that those who have less honor should be treated with greater honor (1 Corinthians 12:23-24). This means that even though you may not have a worldwide ministry, your work is still far more valuable in the eyes of God. So, keep this in mind as you do the work He has planned for you, and it should cause you to do His work with more joy, and then you will find contentment and satisfaction with your life. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and I hope that this has been a blessing in your life. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all. 

-David Lee Chu Sarchet 
Christian Mental Health Advocate 

Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website

 

Significant Scripture Essay

 

As some of you may know, I have been working towards my certificate in the CCEF (Christian Counseling Education Forum) Biblical Counseling Course. I have really been enjoying what I have been learning recently in the class. I know that in the past I have been very vocal against the Biblical Counseling Movement, but lately I have grown to really appreciate this movement. Do not get me wrong, though. I will always love and cherish Psychology, but I do see the value in Biblical Counseling. In the second week of the class, we were assigned to write about a certain Scripture or Scriptures  that has been very impactful in our lives. After reading my essay, my Instructor told me that I should share this publicly. I thought that was a good idea, and so I will be sharing with you all exactly what I shared in my class. The purpose of this blog is not to get you to look at me and see how great I am. No, the purpose is to point you to how great God is. If it were not for His word, I would be either dead or in prison today. So, as you read this blog, please keep in mind that there is nothing good about me. I am merely a potter in the hands of The Potter. I hope that after you finish reading this that you will be edified and willing to also share your story concerning how Scripture has significantly impacted your life with me. Well, here is my story: 

As I ponder what to write concerning the topic of this paper, I cannot help but think back to my childhood. I have spoken many times on my ministry’s YouTube channel about my life experience in foster care and juvenile detention. My years as a “ward of the state” have taught me many things about God, and quite a few biblical Scriptures have been very significant to me. Before I get into that, however, I’d like to tell you a little bit about my younger years. As I have stated earlier in this course, I suffer from Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type. This means that I have the typical extreme mood swings from mania to depression and back to mania again. Also, in between my extreme mood fluctuations, I can have periods of psychosis too. I have dealt with this for my entire adult life. What I did not explain earlier is how I have dealt with a mother who also had Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type. The difference between her and me is the fact that I am currently treating my illness. Whereas my mother refused to treat her illness her entire life. As a result, I have witnessed my mom’s illness gradually get worse to the point where it destroyed her life. 

 

The first time I ever heard of Schizophrenia was after Social Services took me away from my mother when I was merely 13 years old. The night they took me away was a night I will never forget. My mom was on the phone with the 911 police dispatcher, and I was secretly listening to her conversation on my phone downstairs (I had a habit of doing this at the time). My mom was asking for an officer to come give me and her a lethal injection. I had no idea what that meant, but I knew it had something to do with death, and I was ready to die with my mother. As a result, I unmuted my end and told the dispatcher that I wanted to die with her. To make a long story short, they sent an officer to our house to take us away to put us in mental hospitals. After this whole fiasco, I was eventually put into a foster home. I remember I had a therapist who first told me about my mom’s condition. Immediately, I felt angry and depressed. Angry at God for giving me a mentally ill mother and depressed over the fact that I will never have a normal life. 

 

I was in foster care until I was 16 years old, when I was locked up in juvenile detention because I set my foster home on fire. At the time, I was feeling unloved, and I thought if I did something heroic, then maybe people would love me. To my surprise, that is not what happened. As a result of being in juvenile detention, I became very suicidal, but I did not want to kill myself because I was afraid of going to hell. I decided to cut my thighs instead. While I was in detention, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2, which was a misdiagnosis. I was immediately put on mood stabilizers and antidepressants, which merely caused me to have more manic episodes. No one there ever figured out how to treat me. 

 

When I got into my late adult years, I was diagnosed with the correct diagnosis, but I was put on the wrong medication. As a result of being on the wrong medication, I ended up in the hospital for three months because I almost died due to a perforated colon and septic shock. This happened during the first year of my marriage. Afterwards, I was put on the correct combination of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. As a result, I have been doing much better both mentally and physically. Now that I have shared this story, I will explain some of the Scriptures that have made the most impact on me. 

 

 

Fatherhood 

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One verse that comes to mind as I think about my life is Psalm 68:5, which says the following, 

 

“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”^[1] This Scripture holds special significance to me because even though I never had an earthly father, I know I can always trust my Heavenly Father. I am not saying that my life since being a Christian has gotten any easier. No, in a lot of ways the Lord has had to chasten me as Proverbs 3:11-12 says, 

 

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights”^[2]

 

What I like about this text is the fact that God disciplines those whom He loves. As a result of this, I know that when I am being humbled (and this has happened many times), I have the favor of the Lord. If God never humbles me, then that would be a sign that I do not belong to Him. I would just have a very strong delusion of the flesh, as one pastor famously put it^[3]. I have learned through my life to rejoice when God disciplines me. Does this mean that I always feel this way as I am being disciplined? Not at all! During the time of my humbling, I still initially feel angry, but then I think of Proverbs 3:11-12, and I usually calm down. 

 

 

God’s Sovereignty Works Everything Out For My Good 

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Another Scripture that means a lot to me is Romans 8:28, which says the following, 

 

“…and we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose”^[4]. I love this verse so much that I have dubbed this verse my life verse. Someday when I go to be with the Lord, I want my wife to put this verse on my tombstone. The reason I love this verse so much is that it perfectly describes my life. Afterall,

 

When I look back on my life, I can see how everything did work out for good in my life. For example, going into foster care introduced me to the Gospel at such a young age because both of my foster parents were godly people who always treated me with respect, despite how much hassle I caused them. Another thing that worked out for my good was all the times I’ve been homeless in my adult years. Homelessness has made me a very humble man, and it has taught me to trust God with my whole heart, mind, and soul. When you are experiencing homelessness, the only place you can look is up, as they say. Also, the three months I was in the hospital, I learned not to trust in my perception, but instead to trust in God’s sovereignty. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me the following, 

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path”^[5].  This Scripture has taught me a lot about God’s sovereignty. As I was younger, I thought I had to manipulate people to get what I wanted in life. However, all that did was cause me a lot of heartache and destruction. As I begin to lean on God’s sovereignty, I find myself being more at peace. Also, it is because of my psychosis that I have learned that I can no longer trust my senses and perceptions. I know that God’s word is always truthful, and so anything that contradicts His word must be a lie. Thus, whenever I hear voices telling me that I am God, I know not to listen because there is only one God and it is not me. As Isaiah 42:8 says, 

 

“I am the Lord; that is my name, and my glory I give to no other; nor my praise to carved idols”^[6]

I really hope that you enjoyed reading my story, and I hope that it was a blessing to you too. I hope you can see how these Scriptures hold significant importance to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and may the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all. Please tell me which Scripture, or Scriptures, have made a significant change in your life. 

-David Lee Chu Sarchet 

Christian Mental Health Advocate 

Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website

---

[1] Psalm 68:5  

[2] Proverbs 3:11-12  

[3] Pastor Paul Washer

[4] Romans 8:28

[5] Proverbs 3:5-6

[6] Isaiah 42:8 

Father To Son: Introduction

 

Dear Jason, 

I understand that this must be a very troubling time for you, son. I know that it must be hard for you to find out that you have a clinical mental illness. You must be worried about whether you will ever be able to live a "normal" life again. Will you ever be able to get married, get a career, and ever have your own family? Well, I am going to disclose something to you about myself that until now you did not know because I kept it a secret from you all these years. I did not want to burden you with my issues, but now I think it is the right time to tell you the truth about your dear ol' dad. You see, son, about fifteen years ago, I was also diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type. I know that you must be shocked by this admission, but I want you to know this information about me so that you know that you are not a "freak" and that you can live a normal life. Sure, you may have to take medications for the rest of your life, but that is really a small inconvenience for stable mental health. The only alternative is for you to stop taking your medication and wind up either dead or in prison. Trust me, I know this from personal experience because I have been on and off my medications for many years of my life. It is only by the grace of God that I've been able to find the right medication that works for me. Actually, all those times that your mother told you that I was on a "mini vacation" were times that I was either locked up or in a mental health hospital. It was during those times that I had a complete mental breakdown and needed to be hospitalized for both your safety and my own safety. 

I sincerely want you to know that I can relate to you and understand what you are going through because I have been there many times. When I was first diagnosed, I felt both fear and anger at the same time. I was angry because I was not sure why God would create me this way. I felt like He made me like your grandmother, who also suffered from our illness when she was alive. As a matter of fact, she never treated her illness because she did not think there was anything wrong with her. I was fearful because I knew that people would never understand me and they would treat me horribly as a result. Since I understand all too well what you are experiencing, I would like to take these next forty days to write you forty letters. In these letters, I will disclose some wise advice to you that I wish my own father would have told me when I was your age. I will also give hope and encouragement so that you will know how you will be able to live a life where you enjoy and glorify God, even while dealing with your mental illness. 

My father and I were never close. So, I am hoping that my transparency in each of these letters will help us bond with one another. I would like to spare you all the heartache that I have experienced. Trust me when I tell you that my life has not been all "puppy dogs and rainbows". In reality, I have made a whole lot of bone-headed mistakes and the Lord has had to humble me in more ways than one. Thankfully, the Lord has led me to your step-mom, who has always shown me the patience and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result of her love and patience, I have been able to forgive myself and I have been able to live a life where I strive to live and healthy and stable life. Also, it is to God's glory that your mother has been able to forgive me and we remain good friends to this very day. Please take these life lessons to heart as I express some hard truths in your life. And maybe, just maybe, you will know how to live a life to the glory of God. 

Signed, 
Your Dad. 

***Stay Tuned For Part 2 Of This Series***

-David Lee Chu Sarchet 
Christian Mental Health Advocate 

Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website

My Quit Smoking Journey Day 30

 

As some of you may know, I have been on a significant journey. The journey that I am referring to has to do with quitting smoking. As of today, I have officially gone a full month without a single cigarette. For those of you who know me personally know how big of a feat this has been for me. For this reason, I have decided to write this blog documenting my quit-smoking journey. The reason I want to do this is because I would like to give some encouragement to any Christian with mental illness who struggles with smoking. After all, I would like them to know that there is hope in Christ. If God can take away my addiction to cigarettes, then the Lord can do that for anyone. I am no one of importance. I am not more special than any other Christian (Actually, besides the Apostle Paul, I am probably the worst Christian!). Basically, what I am saying is that I am merely an average human being. There is no reason why God would favor me over another Christian. Anyway, so you may be wondering just how common smoking cigarettes is for people with mental illnesses, right? Well, according to the CDC (Center For Disease Control, people with mental illnesses, 

"...are more likely to smoke cigarettes (34.8% mentally ill people vs 16.5% non-mentally ill people" 

This is quite a remarkable statistic, right? However, there is more to this statistic, though. The CDC actually breaks this down to individual mental illnesses. For example, according to the CDC, 

"Schizophrenia: 62% to 90% of individuals smoke cigarettes
Bipolar Disorder: 44% to 74%of individuals tend to smoke cigarettes 
Major Depressive Disorder: 34%-46% of individuals smoke cigarettes 
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: 45%-61% of individuals smoke cigarettes" 

As someone who deals with Schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, I find this information astounding. It seems like I honestly had no chance of being a non-smoker. According to these statistics, I was a lost cause and I really should have been. However, the Lord never gave up on me, even when I was ready to give up on myself. All the glory goes to Him. 

Next, I would like to tell you about my story because I would like for you to know where I came from so that you will understand why it is such a celebration to see where I am now. The first time I ever started smoking was when I was in foster care back in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was about 15 years old. I remember my foster brother and I would sneak outside around one in the morning to go by the outlet stores in search of what we called "re-fries". What we meant by "re-fries" was old cigarette butts that we would find outside. If you find this nasty, I do agree with you. It really was nasty and at the time I felt very uncomfortable, but I went along with it anyway. However, this only lasts for a couple nights. After that, I did not smoke again until I was nineteen years old. At this time, I was living in a teen group home called Step-In Group Home in Canon City, Colorado, and I was working towards getting my GED. In my GED class, there were two girls named Rita and Crystal. I would hang out with them literally every day and they are the ones who introduced me to Newport 100s. After a few hits on that cigarette, I was instantly hooked! However, after I moved out of the group home and into my own place, I could no longer smoke Newport 100s anymore due to their prices. So, I was thinking that there should be a cigarette that was just as good, but not so expensive. This is when I discovered Camel Wides and I really loved them  As a matter of fact, I loved them so much that I would "break the bank" by buying a pack of Camel Wides every day. However, there was still something about Newport 100s that I missed. I was not sure at the time what that was, but looking back, I know that it was the menthol I was missing. This is when I discovered Camel Crush. I felt like I finally found my perfect cigarettes because now I can smoke a menthol cigarette but it would be cheaper than Newports. I was completely satisfied with Camel Crushes and I would smoke these all the way up until my early 30s. At this time, I was living in Toledo, Ohio and I could no longer afford Camel Crushes. As a result, I began smoking Montego Menthols and I stuck with these all the way to the present time because they are the cheapest brand of cigarettes here in Ohio, besides Senecas, which I refused to get. If it seems like I love cigarettes too much, it is because it is the truth. I really do love smoking. I love how it makes me feel and how it tastes and I love the smell. But, I do realize that cigarettes are not good for my health and it really is killing me. For this reason, I am glad God has taken away these cravings finally. 

Now, I know you may be thinking "What about me?" right? I know you are probably feeling a little jealous of me because God has taken my craving away from me but not from you. Again, I would like for you to always keep in mind that I am no one special in God's eyes. I am "simultaneously a sinner and saint" just like you. It took me a very long time before I was able to quit smoking and even then it happened only after many years of begging God to take my cravings away. If you are currently smoking and you feel condemned, I would like to remind you of Romans 8:1, which says, 

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Italics mine)

Did you notice how Paul is speaking in the present tense in this verse? I do not believe this was an arbitrary choice from him. Paul was telling his readers that if we believe and trust in Christ then that means right this very moment we are no longer condemned. It does not matter what you do or have done or will do because you are forever covered in the grace of Christ. Ultimately, it does not matter if you keep smoking or if you want to quit. I know that statement is going to land me in a lot of hot water, but please hear me out. What I mean is this, if you are in Christ, that means your salvation is secured forever no matter what you do. When Christ was on the cross, He cried out "It is finished", and at that moment, the fate of all of God's elect was forever saved. It does not matter whether we sin or not because nothing can separate us from His love. However, there are many reasons why you should quit smoking. Three main reasons you should quit are: 

1) For your physical health benefits 
2) Smoking can cause you to urinate your medications out
3) Smoking breaks down the effectiveness of your medication

Now, it is time for me to give you some sound advice on how to overcome smoking cigarettes. The advice that I will dispense to you is the advice that applied to myself. If you consistently apply this advice to yourself, every moment of every day, you will be able to quit in God's time. The first passage of Scripture I'd like to draw your attention to comes from Matthew 14:22-33, which says the following, 

"22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[a] from the land,[b] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”"

As you can see from this text, as long as Peter was keeping his on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water toward Him. However, the very instant he took his eyes off Christ, he began to sink. When I read three different life applications to this passage. The first application, see is that just like Peter, we need to always keep our eyes on Jesus. This is vitally important because as soon as we look at the evil around us, we will inevitably sink. Our enemy is always looking for ways to cause us to look away from Jesus, but we must not succumb to sin. The second life application I see from this text is knowing that Jesus is always in control of everything that comes to pass. I am sure that you noticed how as soon as Jesus entered the boat, the wind and waves ceased. This is how powerful our God is. Nature listened to the God-Man. Isn't that fascinating? I think so. The third life application I see from this text is that Jesus is merciful when we fall into sin or when we take our eyes off Him. He should have left Peter to drown to death, but that is not what He did whatsoever. In actuality, He reached out His hand to rescue Peter. Jesus is doing the same for us who are addicted to smoking cigarettes. He does not condemn us, but He does want to set us free from anything that is holding us hostage. We just need to grab his hand that is reaching out to us. 

Finally, the next passage that I'd like to draw your attention to is commonly called the Parable of the Persistent Widow and we can find it in Luke 18:1-8. It says the following, 

"18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 

As you can see from this text, the widow never ceased bothering the judge to fulfill her request. The text does not how many days she bothered him, but the point is that she never stopped. In other words, she begged him. This is actually the very thing that has helped me to quit smoking. I know that this may sound strange, or even pathetic, but it really did benefit. We should not think of ourselves as too good to beg God. He wants us to depend on Him wholeheartedly and He has ways of humbling us if we are too prideful. In my life, I got to the point where I decided that I was not too great to beg God. I literally would beg God every day and every minute of every day that He would take away my craving for cigarettes. I did not make any promises to God because I already knew that I would break them. No, instead, I just literally looked into the sky and begged the Father to cause me to quit. I did this literally every day and finally, He answered my prayers. I was basically the Persistent Widow, but God is a righteous Judge who granted me my request simply because He is good. 

I hope that this blog gives you hope that one day you will be able to quit smoking. If you do not ever quit smoking, that is fine too because you're not condemned either way. However, if you do quit, it will greatly benefit your health. If you think you are someone who is not capable of quitting, trust me, my closest friends thought the same of me too. As matter of fact, my brother, Joseph McDermott, told me that he would always tell his wife that he does not think that I will ever quit. Also, I am sure my brother, Joe Roman, thought the same thing after he gave up on trying to get me to vape instead, So, if anyone deserves God to cause them to quit smoking it would not be me. However, I am thankful that the Lord has healed me from my addictions. Soli Deo Gloria!

-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website

The Mental Health Of Benefits of Reading Books

 

As an avid reader of many books, I can testify to the many mental health benefits of reading good books. I know it may sound strange to hear that reading books can have mental health benefits, but numerous studies testify to this fact. In this blog, I shall discuss some of these benefits, but keep in mind that there are many more benefits. I do understand that for some people reading may be difficult due to short attention spans, ADD, or whatever else may be going on. The purpose of this blog is to generate more interest in people to read books for themselves. If you find reading too difficult, I recommend you start off small. You can start by reading one paragraph at a time until your mind gets stronger. Being a good reader is much like physical exercise. I say this because when you first start exercising, you cannot just jump right into lifting 500 lbs on your first day. No, you must start by lifting 10 lbs, then 20 lbs, etc. In the same way, when you start reading, you cannot start off reading a 500-page novel right away. You need to start by reading one paragraph, or even one sentence, at a time. Once you grasp that paragraph, even if you have to read it numerous times, then you will be able to move on to the next paragraph. If this sounds tedious, well, it is. Exercising your mind is very much like exercising your physical body. It may be difficult at first, but over time it will get easier and you will be grateful for the benefits. 

Some people say that they only read the Bible and that is perfectly fine, but even the Bible tells us that the Lord gives us teachers for the edification of the Church (Ephesians 4:11). This means that we were not meant to just interpret Scripture by ourselves, but that we are to look to teachers who have a firmer grasp of Scripture than we do. This does not mean that we shut off our brains and simply believe everything that our teachers tell us. No, we should always make sure that everything some teacher tells us actually lines up with the Bible. I agree that reading the Bible should take precedence over every other book, but that does not mean that the only book we should read is the Bible. As the great "Prince of Preachers" Charles Spurgeon once said, 

"Read many good books but live in the Bible" 

I believe what he desired when he said this was for people to actually get into the habit of reading more often. In today's day and age, people are so wrapped up in their technology (such as smartphones, smart TVs, video games, etc) that they neglect to read. As a result, people are suffering from stunted growth and mentality. I would love to reignite in people a newfound passion for reading. We should be grateful for the invention of the printing press because without it we would all be illiterate people who just blindly listened to what others in authority tell us. 

Now, that all that has been said and done, I will focus on what some of the mental health benefits of reading. As I've already said, these are some of the benefits, but they are not all the benefits. For the sake of this blog, I shall focus on only three benefits, but if you can think of any more, please feel free to share them in the comments below. 

Increase Critical Thinking Skills 

As I have alluded to earlier, if it were not for the invention of the printing press, we would all be illiterate people who blindly trusted authority figures. Nowadays, since we can read for ourselves, we can always fact-check anything we hear from someone. Reading for ourselves has greatly helped us develop critical thinking. There are literally millions of books out there on many different topics so the possibilities of learning are literally limitless. This does not mean all books are created equal. Just like there are false teachers in the world, there are false teachings too. This is why any time you pick up a book to read if it is not fiction, you should make sure the book lines up with God's Word before you trust the information in the book. 

Distraction 

One of the skills in DBT (Dialectal Behavioral Therapy) is called Distraction and it is one of my absolutely favorite skills that I've learned in therapy. I love this skill because anytime life gets too rough or my mental illness is becoming too great to bear, it helps me to get lost in a good novel Currently, one of the books I am reading is a novel called Batman Resurrection. I love to read books that transport me into another world where I do not have to worry about everyday life problems. However, I will caution you by saying that you can overdo distraction. What I mean by this is if you find yourself reading so much that you are neglecting to take care of daily chores or even neglecting your spouse or children, then you have to stop utilizing this skill and take care of your responsibilities. Distraction is an amazing skill to utilize but only within moderation. 

Improves Sleep 

This benefit is something I feel gets overlooked a lot. We tend to take our sleep for granted unless you are someone who struggles with sleep. Numerous studies have shown that a proper amount of sleep (at least 8 hours) has a great impact on one's mental health. However, some people still struggle with falling asleep or even staying asleep once sleep does come. This can be where reading a book can come into play. When you read a good book, it relaxes your mind and body. Once you are relaxed, then it should make it much easier for you to fall asleep and even stay asleep. I am not naive' enough to say reading will always help you sleep because there are always exceptions to everything. But, if you read before going to sleep, and have nothing else going on, it should make sleep easier and more enjoyable. 

I hope that this blog helps you understand the mental health benefits of reading books are. I could go on for hours talking about other benefits but I think you get the gist. Also, I hope that this blog encourages you to really give reading a chance. I know reading does not come easy for everyone, but if you can train your mind to read, then you will notice great benefits. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and may the riches of Jesus Christ grace bless you all!

-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate 

Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website

How Doxology Is Good For Mental Health

 

Doxology is a word the modern American Christian is not accustomed to hearing in the twenty-first century. However, doxology is vital to a healthy Christian spirit. We must always thank our Lord and Savior, especially in these dark times. As a matter of fact, I would argue that if a Christian does not participate in doxology then that is evidence that their faith is a sham. What exactly is doxology, you ask? According to Dictionary.com, doxology is simply, 

"a liturgical formula of thanks to God" 

In other words, doxology is an expression of thankfulness to God. As Christians, we can always find things that we are thankful to the Lord for. I do not care how tough your life is because no matter how tough you may think you have it, there is always something you can be thankful for. I am not speaking as someone whose life has always been a cakewalk. During the thirty-six years that I've been alive on this earth, I've been homeless at least ten times. During those times I slept outside in extreme weather whenever I could not make it into the homeless shelter. Also, in my teenage years, I was incarcerated in juvenile detention. Furthermore, I have dealt with mental illness for a good majority of my life and I even almost lost my life on two separate occasions because of it too.  So, trust me when I say that if anyone has a right to not be thankful to the Lord, it would be me. However, no matter what I've been through in life, God has always shown Himself to be a faithful Father toward me. My life is a perfect example of the truth behind Romans 8:28, which says, 

"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" 

The beautiful thing about this verse is that Paul is not saying that everything we go through in life will be good. What he is saying is that all things, whether good or bad, are currently working together for our good. We may not be able to see how a certain event is working out for our good, but since our God is sovereign and in control, we can trust Him in His word. 

You are probably wondering how this all relates to doxology and how doxology is beneficial to one's mental health, right? Well, before I get into the mental health aspect, I'd like to direct you to a certain Scripture. If we turn to Romans 11:33-36, we read the following, 

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things! To Him be glory forever. Amen" 

As you can tell from this text, the Apostle Paul is breaking out into a hymn of thankfulness to the Lord. But, why is he doing this? Well, to answer that question, we must go back to the passages leading up to this final doxology. In chapter 7 of Romans, we see Paul talking about how the evil he does not want to do, that he does. But, the good he does want to do, that he does not do (Verse 15), He concludes that chapter by saying in verses 22-25,

"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh, I serve the law of sin. (italics mine)

Here the Apostle Paul was looking inward and seeing that he was pure evil, which made him grieve. However, his solution was not to keep looking inward. When we look inward, we will be in despair because all we will ever see is bad. However, Paul realized the appropriate answer was to look outside of himself toward Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only good person because He is literally God, who is all good. It is precisely the fact that Jesus took our punishment upon Himself at the cross and rose again three days later, that we can look to Him and trust in His righteousness alone. When we trust in Him alone, we are not only credited with His righteousness but we are declared justified before the thrice holy God. This is why Paul can tell us in Romans 8:1, 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus"

In chapter 8 of Romans, Paul tells us how we are heirs with Christ Jesus. If we turn to verses 15-16, we read the following, 

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry 'Abba Father!' The Spirit Himself bears witness without spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him" 

As someone who pretty much spent a good portion of my life in foster care, I find a special affinity with this passage. I've always wanted to be a part of a family because I never really had one for myself. Sure, I have my sisters but I did not grow up with them. I pretty much grew up as an only child until I went into foster care. Even while in foster care, I did not feel like they were my family. As a result, I wandered around this world searching for a family. I say all this because I want you to know that I understand and what it is like to feel like you do not have a family of your own. However, what Paul is telling us here is that the Body of Christ is the true family we did not deserve but God gave to us anyway. The reason we are a family is because we have the same Heavenly Father who is our protector and provider. He even disciplines us when we need to be disciplined too. As a result of God being our father, we are joint heirs of everything that belongs to Christ. Since Christ is a King, this would mean that we are now considered to be royalty. 

Romans chapter 9 is probably the most controversial text in the entire book of Romans because it perfectly describes how God has predestined His elect people for salvation before the foundations of the world. God did this before we did anything good or evil so that His purpose of the election would show that it is not based on our works but on His grace alone. I know that some people might think this is unfair, but if we truly got what was fair, then none of us would be saved because we all have rebelled against God. So, the fact that God has elected anyone by His grace is truly amazing indeed! 

All of this that was written finally concluded in the doxological praise we see in chapter 11 earlier. You see, when Paul truly contemplated all of what we just went over, his only response was to express gratitude and honor to God. This is our only rational response too. As a matter of fact, if you do not feel like expressing gratitude to God after reading all of this, then either you are not saved or you do not truly understand God's gift of salvation and justification. As Christians who are saved by grace through faith, how can we do anything less than worshiping the Lord? As Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2, 

"I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" 

Living a life of gratitude toward the Lord is the only rational thing we should be doing. Now, what does all this have to do with mental health, you ask? As I think about this, I can think of three ways that doxology can have a positive impact on one's mental health. I will explain these three things, but I want you to know that there are more than just three positive impacts on mental health. For the sake of this blog, I am merely choosing to focus on these three, but if you can think of any more, please feel free to comment below. 

Doxology Keeps You Humble 

When you realize that God is the one is provides everything for you and that you are completely dependent upon Him, this knowledge should keep you humble. As a matter of fact, if you feel prideful in any sense, chances are you have not truly understood your own dependency on God. We own nothing in this life and everything in creation belongs to Him. So, anything He provides us with is truly a gift from our Heavenly Father. 

Doxology Eliminates Hatred 

There is something truly remarkable about how when every Lord's Day people from every walk of life and every socioeconomic background and race can come together to worship God as one body. Although we are all different from one another in more ways than one, we all belong to one Father, who made us all from one blood. It is for this reason that there is no room for racism, sexism, or any kind of hatred in God's kingdom. This does not mean we gloss over sin because God does delight in Truth. But, truth without love is another form of hatred, and love without truth is fantasy. 

Doxology Makes Us Hopeful 

When we have our eyes on Jesus and we truly trust in Him, we will understand that He is completely sovereign because He has orchestrated everything that comes to pass since the beginning of time. Nothing that has or will happen is beyond His knowledge. We also know that our God is good. This means that no matter what we endure in this life, we can go through every trial with hope because our God is guiding us all the way. It is for this reason that we can rest easy no matter what life brings us. 

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope that it helps you to understand why doxology is so important for the life of Christians and how it will have a positive impact on our mental health if we engage in it truly. God is a good God who deserves all of our praise and worship. Even if He never does anything for us, He still deserves our worship just because of who He is. So, the fact that He does anything for us is evidence of His glory and majesty. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all. 

-David Lee Chu Sarchet 
Christian Mental Health Advocate 

Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website