One goal I have had in this series is to help us all understand that in many ways people with mental illness are just like us. \u00a0The Bible has much to say to them, but everything it says to them it also says to us. \u00a0This is because our gracious and eternal father knows our feeble frame. He knows our frailty and our weaknesses. \u00a0HE is God and you are not! \u00a0What batter place to conclude this series on mental health than with a very comforting Psalm that tells us of God\u2019s care for us because he crafted us, including our sometimes broken minds:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
PSALM 139\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
1\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!<\/p>\n
2\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;<\/p>\n
you discern my thoughts from afar.<\/p>\n
3\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You search out my path and my lying down<\/p>\n
and are acquainted with all my ways.<\/p>\n
4\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Even before a word is on my tongue,<\/p>\n
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.<\/p>\n
5\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You hem me in, behind and before,<\/p>\n
and lay your hand upon me.<\/p>\n
6\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;<\/p>\n
it is high; I cannot attain it.<\/p>\n
7\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Where shall I go from your Spirit?<\/p>\n
Or where shall I flee from your presence?<\/p>\n
8\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!<\/p>\n
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!<\/p>\n
9\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I take the wings of the morning<\/p>\n
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,<\/p>\n
10\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 even there your hand shall lead me,<\/p>\n
and your right hand shall hold me.<\/p>\n
11\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I say, \u201cSurely the darkness shall cover me,<\/p>\n
and the light about me be night,\u201d<\/p>\n
12\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 even the darkness is not dark to you;<\/p>\n
the night is bright as the day,<\/p>\n
for darkness is as light with you.<\/p>\n
13\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For you formed my inward parts;<\/p>\n
you knitted me together in my mother\u2019s womb.<\/p>\n
14\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.<\/p>\n
Wonderful are your works;<\/p>\n
my soul knows it very well.<\/p>\n
15\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My frame was not hidden from you,<\/p>\n
when I was being made in secret,<\/p>\n
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.<\/p>\n
16\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;<\/p>\n
in your book were written, every one of them,<\/p>\n
the days that were formed for me,<\/p>\n
when as yet there was none of them.<\/p>\n
17\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!<\/p>\n
How vast is the sum of them!<\/p>\n
18\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.<\/p>\n
I awake, and I am still with you.<\/p>\n
19\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!<\/p>\n
O men of blood, depart from me!<\/p>\n
20\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They speak against you with malicious intent;<\/p>\n
your enemies take your name in vain.<\/p>\n
21\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?<\/p>\n
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?<\/p>\n
22\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I hate them with complete hatred;<\/p>\n
I count them my enemies.<\/p>\n
23\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Search me, O God, and know my heart!<\/p>\n
Try me and know my thoughts!<\/p>\n
24\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And see if there be any grievous way in me,<\/p>\n
and lead me in the way everlasting!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One goal I have had in this series is to help us all understand that in many ways people with mental illness are just like us. \u00a0The Bible has much to say to them, but everything it says to them it also says to us. \u00a0This is because our gracious and eternal father knows our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[499,545,544,523],"class_list":["post-22121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mental-health-series","tag-mental-health","tag-mental-illness","tag-psychiatry","tag-suffering"],"yoast_head":"\n
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