Overcoming Your Mind

2 Corinthians 4:7-11

Mental health conditions, issues, or illness are not rare. Reputable organizations estimate that such conditions affect 20% of our population. Moreover, there are strong indications that these issues will only become more pervasive in future generations.

This sermon does not seek to fully address the issues related to mental health. Instead, it seeks to bring awareness on issues related to mental health and to promote thoughtful conversations on how the gospel intersects with such issues. Mental health issues in many cases are lifelong and will require an environment that is conducive to honest and vulnerable communication, as well as pensive reflections on the fullness of the gospel as revealed in Scripture.

I begin the sermon with some basic guidelines on the definition of mental health issues, how prevalent these issues are, what to do if you think that your friend is struggling with such issues, and what you should do if you think you are struggling with these issues.

The focus of the sermon, however, is on 2 Corinthians 4.7-11. The repeated point that Paul makes in this passage is that although we have been deposited with the treasure of God (his power, his gospel, his presence), this treasure can only be displayed when we are broken. Thus, we are described as brittle jars of clay, whose life is characterized by repeated sufferings of many kinds. Though this might sound morbid, there is actually an underlying beauty in all of this as I attempt to articulate how these principles have enabled me to struggle and overcome my own mental health issues.