We live in a world that is filled with problems. Just turn on the news, and it won’t take you long to see that our world is filled with trouble. For many, the weight of their personal problems, and the problems of this world can be overwhelming. If we just look back at what our nation and world has had to face in the last year there are many reasons to feel the weight of the problems of this life. Jesus told us that in this world there would be trouble. He warned us that life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. However, he also promised us the strength to deal with the problems we face in this life. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Jesus wasn’t talking about a great life later in the sweet by and by, but rather in the here and now. In spite of the troubles of this world we can have abundant life through Jesus now.

So how can we have abundant life or live our best life? Once we accept Christ as our Savior it begins through sanctification and changing the way we think which leads to a Christ-centered mindset. The problem today is there are many of us that have been saved, but our mindset remains unchanged. We are living in times of a huge mental health crisis where people are battling with so many issues. According to the National Alliance on Mental illness, “1 in 5 US adults suffer from mental illness and “50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14,” and “75% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 24.” These statistics include clinical depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others. Please understand that we live in a world where many people silently struggle with mental issues when they don’t have to because there is now physical, emotional, and spiritual help. However, mental health has always been a taboo subject in our culture. I understand that many people have a great grasp on their mental health, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some kind of mental, emotional, and spiritual improvements that need to develop.

In case you’re wondering, the Bible doesn’t exclude issues like depression, anxiety, or fear. In fact, both the Old and New Testaments are filled with accounts of men and women who struggled to hear from God because of these very things. Elijah asked God to let him die after his victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 King 19:4). When Elijah lost hope in life, God didn’t shame him or correct him in the middle of his grief. Instead, God fed him and told him to rest before sending him on a journey in which he would gain a partner and ultimately see that the Lord was still at work in the lives and in the hearts of Israel in the book of 1 Kings. In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul addresses how to change our mindset so we can win the battlefield of the mind. Paul’s letter to the Philippian church was written during a time of immense personal stress for the apostle. He’d long been in conflict with his former colleagues in the Jewish leadership, there had been multiple attempts on his life, and he was living under house arrest while waiting to present his case to Caesar in Rome. Paul had a reason to experience anxiety, stress, and a mental battle! However, in time Paul learned how to be “content” in all circumstances because of the transformation of his mindset.

This Sunday at South Side we will begin our new series entitled “Mindset” where we will unpack how to change the way we think which will change the way we experience all seasons of life. Our onsite worship begins at 10:15, and our Children’s Ministry offers children’s classes for all ages. We are continuing to practice social distancing at our services. If you are unable to attend our online services will be available at 3:00 on Facebook and our website. If you would like to give generously just text the word “help” to: 84321 and follow the simple instructions. We would love to have you and your family worship with us! For more information visit us on our website at: www.southsidewch.com or on Facebook.

In Christ,

Barry Pettit

Lead Pastor

South Side Church of Christ