"My mental health history makes me unfit for ministry or leadership"
How it sounds in your head: I've been on antidepressants since sophomore year. How can I lead others when I can barely lead myself? Ministry is for the stable ones who have it together, not someone with anxiety attacks and a therapist on speed dial.
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
-- 2 Corinthians 12:9Source: Religious perfectionism that requires leaders to be 'healed' before they can minister, ignoring that God uses cracked pots to show His glory.
She sees polished leaders on stage who seem to have it all together while she's managing panic attacks in bathroom stalls. The contrast makes her feel disqualified from ever being used by God.
Elijah called down fire from heaven, then immediately spiraled into suicidal depression, hiding in a cave wanting to die. God didn't remove him from ministry—He fed him, spoke gently to him, and sent him BACK to anoint the next generation of leaders.
I REFUSE the lie that my mental health struggles disqualify me from ministry. IT IS WRITTEN that God's strength is made PERFECT in my weakness—not despite it but THROUGH it. I am not disqualified by my struggles; I am UNIQUELY qualified to minister to others in theirs. IT IS WRITTEN in 2 Corinthians 4:7 that we have this treasure in EARTHEN VESSELS, that the excellence of power may be of God and not of us. My cracks are where His light shines through. The BARAK blessing includes being used powerfully by God, and that blessing doesn't require mental perfection—just connection to the Vine.
The Father isn't waiting for you to 'get it together' to use you—He's already chosen you, anxiety and all, because your weakness is the perfect stage for His strength. The most powerful ministers are the broken ones who know they need Him every moment.