Mental illness - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19

Mental illness
Mental illnesses now rank third in the statistics for incapacity to work in Germany. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Since 2000, the number of days absent from work due to depression has more than doubled. Closely related to depression is the “burn-out syndrome”, which describes a state of total physical and mental exhaustion. Here, too, the burden of disease has more than quadrupled in the last ten years. Those most affected are occupational groups in the social sector and those who have a lot to do with the public (e.g. in call centres). According to estimates, up to eight percent of employees in large companies could be affected by burnout. In addition, a high number of unreported cases must be assumed. Those affected often have to wait a long time for treatment.

The Word of God, the Bible, tells us that the human being comprises physical and spiritual-emotional components (cf. Proverbs 13:25; Matthew 10:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). So it stands to reason that not only physical but also spiritual illnesses affect our lives. We would like to encourage each of our readers – whether healthy or ill: the great God is there for us precisely when we are despondent, and when our soul is suffering!

The God of the Bible has mercy on the sick, the tired, the sad and the weak. The book of Psalms is a real treasure trove on this subject. It shows us the whole variety of feelings and emotions that we go through as human beings. But not only that: in the Bible we also get to know a God who loves us personally, understands us, feels for us and wants to give us eternal life.

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 16:5-23 · 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5