In 1988, Bobby McFerrin’s upbeat anthem “Don’t Worry Be Happy” captivated audiences around the world and topped music charts in countries like Australia. Despite its light-hearted message, it serves as a reminder that this cheer-up approach is no cure for those dealing with mental health issues.
Proverbs 25:20 paints a vivid picture of the effects that mockery can have on someone in distress. It’s like taking away a garment from one who is freezing and adding insult, if not injury. Like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Face Emotions Head On
On this episode of Set Free, Pastor Ken Legg warns us about the pitfalls of tossing out platitudes like ‘don’t worry!’. He urges us instead to take emotional issues seriously and tackle them head-on in order to address the underlying causes behind anxiety and depression.
‘Feelings and emotions are either physiological or psychological,’ says Ken. ‘They can be a result of some sort of imbalance in our body, or they can be caused by the way we’ve been taught to view the world. If the problem is with the brain, then we need medical help. But if the problem is with the mind, we need some counselling to get our thinking back on track.’
In order to get the correct help, we have to diagnose the issue. Ken believes that to support someone who is suffering from anxiety, we should encourage them to think better, not to feel better. Because our feelings are a by-product of correct and healthy thinking.
Renewing our Minds
‘That’s why the Bible speaks so much about renewing the mind,’ says Ken. ‘It says, don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. In my experience, the two biggest areas people struggle with is what they think about God, and what they think about themselves.’
Ken is passionate about teaching people the truth; that God loves them and doesn’t want to see them suffer. He sees too many people punishing themselves due to lies they were taught when a more fulfilling life can be found in understanding how much God cares for them.
‘If we can change the way that people think about God and the way they think about themselves,’ says Ken, ‘we could fix about 90% of the problems in this area of wrong perceptions.’
‘It’s the Holy Spirit that transforms us and renews our minds to help us win over worry.’
Listen to the full message on Set Free below, or for more resources from Ken visit our Vision Store.
