Nougat 3

I don’t really remember the stories we spun about him, but I remember the strange sounds emitted at odd times from his home. We concluded that he struggled with mental health concerns that threw him into a fit and resulted in his moaning. He didn’t moan all the time, so we assumed he was on medication. There were considerations that it might have been drugs, witchcraft, or even a childhood condition that created his issue originally. Not much thought was given to his parents, although I sometimes wondered what it was like to work for him in that house.

The house was a mini palace, set on the hilltop, and fit for a king. I never made the connection before, but that could have been a description of Saul. While we don’t know how his ailment manifested, we know that his mental health condition required intervention. As previously stated, it was perceived that God had placed the evil spirit on Saul, which meant David was needed to soothe him.

Whether that is expressly the case or not, we bear it in mind as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat

1 Samuel 16:23 NIV‬

[23] Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

No Respector of Persons

Siblings in Christ, mental health challenges are faced by all kinds of people, no matter where we are. We may be rich, poor, educated, illiterate, royalty, commoner, single, married, divorced, employed, unemployed, retired, student, on the move, healthy, well or otherwise, it can affect us.

Mark 5 also tells us about another person who faced worse challenges, as he had broken restrains and often lived among the tombs than with others. He was fearsome. And to our knowledge, he was not royalty. It is likely, therefore, that he was at the opposite end of the social scale from Saul.

Yet, by God’s grace, they both found respite from their condition. Each time he had a fit of whatever ailed him, Saul was relieved by the music of the harp. It was not only the music but the anointing that accompanied the music. Likewise, it was the anointing of Jesus’ command that transformed the young man’s life. It was amazing.

If we face mental health challenges today, I pray that we realize that it can affect any of us. I also pray that we remember that although it is no respector of persons, mental health challenges can be treated and even cured. May we find respite in Jesus (whether by medication or miracles) that results in a testimony of God’s intervention.

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May all we seek be found in Christ