Mental health in ministry is an area that is overlooked. Sometimes, we hurt ourselves because we don’t reach out for help when we know we need it. Sometimes, we feel guilty because we think we aren’t “spiritual enough” to make it without help.

Some pastors probably don’t say anything because they don’t want to appear inadequate. What I mean by that is, they don’t want people to see their issue and then lose confidence that they can be of help.

Add depression and anxiety to the mix, something pastors aren’t supposed to deal with and especially feel like they can’t talk about, and it can end in disaster. Not just pastors but anyone, in any walk of life, can feel lost and alone fighting mental illness because of the stigma associated with it.

This cannot continue. We must stand up and say that it is ok to struggle, it is ok to seek help, it is ok to have a counselor, and it is okay to not be okay. More than half the battle of any step of freedom is the acknowledgment of it and bringing it out into the open.

If you are reading this and are one who struggles with mental health, you are not alone, and God has not abandoned you. He loves you with an everlasting love that is shown in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We are praying for you.
We are praying with you.
We are praying over you.

We are fighting for you
We are in the fight with you.
You are not in this fight alone.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus Always,

CJ Luckey