What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? – 1 Corinthians 6:19
“You know tomorrow is the last day you can take off for mental care,” Beverly warned. “Not interested in taking off as if sick in the head,” Janice responded. “Now that’s the craziest excuse I’ve ever heard. Just like you go to your doctor for yearly checkups to keep your body healthy, taking time off to rest your mind from this stressful job is how you don’t become a mental patient. But, you can always sign over your day to someone more than willing to take it, me,” Beverly said. “Sorry, but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll be scheduling today to use it tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to look crazy,” Janice said with a smile.
Thousands of years before May was declared Mental Health Awareness Month, a serious emotional breakdown was recorded in 1 Kings 19 about Elijah, one of the most influential prophets of his time. His resume included restoring the life of a young boy in 1 Kings 17:22 and praying for a drought that lasted three years and six months and later its return, both of which are recorded in James 5:17-18. Yet, this extraordinary man found himself gripped in the claws of a mental crisis, whereby he sought God to take his life.
Elijah’s emotional distress demonstrated that no one is exempt from becoming depressed, mildly or severely. This makes it imperative to take necessary steps to ensure proper mental care: prevention or treatment. God’s directive to take care of His temple means the entire body, from top to bottom, physically and mentally.