Praise the Lord and Pass the Prozac

James N. Watkins and Faith A. Watkins

Group Study Guide

How to Use This Guide

These questions are designed to encourage honest conversation, biblical reflection, personal growth, and support within the group. You do not have to answer every question, and no one should feel pressured to share something deeply personal.

Facilitator note. Allow participants to pass on any question they do not wish to answer. Maintain confidentiality, avoid judgment, and remember that a Bible study group is a source of spiritual encouragement and community—not a substitute for qualified mental health care.

I: I Am Not Alone

1. “Hi, I’m David. I’m Bipolar”

1. What does David’s willingness to acknowledge his struggles teach us about being honest with others?
2. Why is it important to recognize that people of faith can experience mental health challenges?
3. What do David’s different emotional experiences in the Psalms teach us about the ups and downs of life?
4. How might knowing that biblical figures experienced despair help someone who feels alone in their struggles?
5. What are some ways a church or support group can help people feel accepted rather than judged?

2. And I Thought I Had Issues

1. What stood out to you about the struggles of David Brainerd, Charles Spurgeon, and Mother Teresa?
2. How does learning about the mental health struggles of respected Christian leaders challenge common misconceptions?
3. Why do you think people sometimes hide emotional pain behind a public image of strength?
4. How can journaling help someone recognize, understand, and express difficult emotions?
5. What is one thought, feeling, or experience you might benefit from writing about this week?

3. At Least the Voices Keep Me Company

1. Why might people with mental health challenges feel uncomfortable discussing their struggles in church?
2. What harmful messages might Christians unintentionally communicate when they tell someone simply to pray more or have more faith?
3. How does the image of the body of Christ help us understand our responsibility to care for one another?
4. What qualities should we look for in a church, support group, or community when seeking emotional support?
5. How can we become better listeners to someone who is struggling instead of immediately trying to fix the situation?

4. I Think I Am What I Think Others Think I Am

1. How do other people’s opinions influence the way we see ourselves?
2. What is the difference between a healthy relationship that encourages us and an unhealthy relationship that tears us down?
3. How can negative labels affect a person’s confidence and identity?
4. What does the Bible teach us about choosing wise friends and influences?
5. What is one negative message you need to stop believing about yourself?

II. I Am Loved

5. “Hi, I’m ‘That Woman’”

1. What can we learn from the way the woman in this  is treated and identified by others?
2. Why is it so easy for society to define someone by their past mistakes?
3. How did Jesus demonstrate love and compassion toward people whom others rejected?
4. How can shame interfere with a person’s ability to receive love and forgiveness?
5. What practical steps can we take to make people who feel rejected know they are welcome?

6. Lookin’ for Love in All the Right Places

1. What does this  teach us about seeking love and acceptance in unhealthy places?
2. Why might people repeatedly return to relationships or behaviors that hurt them?
3. How can God’s unconditional love change the way we approach relationships?
4. What is the difference between wanting someone to love us and believing we are worthy of love?
5. What healthy boundaries might help someone build stronger and more loving relationships?

7. I’m Not Paragraph 315.1 in the DSM

1. Why is it important to remember that a diagnosis does not define a person’s entire identity?
2. How might a mental health label affect the way someone sees themselves?
3. What is the difference between identifying a challenge and allowing that challenge to become our identity?
4. How can we show respect and compassion to people whose mental health experiences are different from our own?
5. What qualities, gifts, and strengths do you want people to recognize beyond any label they might place on you?

8. Mood-Altering Hugs

1. Why are healthy relationships and human connection important to emotional well-being?
2. What benefits can appropriate physical affection, such as a hug, provide?
3. Why is it important to respect another person’s comfort level and boundaries when offering affection?
4. How can small acts of kindness communicate love to someone who is struggling?
5. Who could benefit from a word of encouragement, a thoughtful note, or a simple act of kindness from you this week?

---

III: I Am Seen

9. “Hi, I’m Hagar. I’m Homeless”

1. What circumstances caused Hagar to feel rejected, alone, and without a place to belong?
2. What does Hagar’s experience teach us about God’s awareness of people who feel forgotten?
3. Why is it important to recognize people who may be overlooked by society?
4. How can our group help people feel seen, heard, and valued?
5. What does the name Hagar uses for God teach us about His relationship with people in difficult circumstances?

10. I Feel Locked in the Attic

1. What does the image of being locked away communicate about isolation and rejection?
2. How have people with mental health challenges sometimes been hidden, misunderstood, or excluded?
3. What does the Bible teach about the importance of every member of the body of Christ?
4. How can churches become safer and more welcoming places for people who are struggling?
5. What is one practical way you can help someone who feels invisible or excluded?

11. I Am Seen and Celebrated

1. What does Zephaniah 3.17 reveal about how God views His people?
2. How is being seen by God different from simply being noticed by other people?
3. Why might it be difficult for someone who feels unworthy to believe that God delights in them?
4. How can remembering God’s love help calm our fears and insecurities?
5. What is one truth about God’s view of you that you want to remember this week?

12. Inkblots: Butterfly or Blood Splatter?

1. What does the inkblot illustration teach us about the way people interpret the same situation differently?
2. How can our past experiences influence the way we see present circumstances?
3. Why is it important to distinguish between what we observe and the meaning we assign to it?
4. How can focusing on God’s promises help us see beyond our immediate troubles?
5. What situation in your life might benefit from a different perspective?

IV: I Am Important

13. “Hi, I’m Gideon. I’m a Nobody”

1. Why did Gideon struggle to believe he was capable of doing something important?
2. How did God see Gideon differently from the way Gideon saw himself?
3. What fears or insecurities can prevent people from recognizing their abilities?
4. How can God’s calling help someone move beyond feelings of inadequacy?
5. What is one ability or opportunity you may be overlooking because you doubt yourself?

14. A Hemorrhoid in the Body of Christ

1. What does the  chapter’s humorous title reveal about how people with mental health challenges can feel treated in church?
2. Why are people who seem weak or different sometimes treated as burdens?
3. What can we learn from Henri Nouwen’s example of serving people with significant needs?
4. How can a church demonstrate that every person has value and a place to belong?
5. What changes could our group make to become more accepting and supportive of others?

15. You Are Always on His Mind

1. What does Psalm 40.17 communicate about God’s awareness of us?
2. How is God’s attention different from the inconsistent attention people sometimes give one another?
3. Why might someone who feels forgotten struggle to believe that God is thinking about them?
4. How can remembering that God knows and cares for us influence our self-worth?
5. What could you do this week to remind someone that they matter?

16. Who’s Your Daddy?

1. What does the Bible mean when it describes believers as children of God?
2. How can a person’s experiences with an earthly father influence their understanding of God?
3. What does the word Abba communicate about our relationship with our heavenly Father?
4. How can knowing that we are loved and adopted by God help us overcome feelings of rejection?
5. What would change in your daily life if you more consistently lived with the confidence that you are God’s child?

---

V. I Am Planned

17. “Hi, I’m Jeremiah. My Life Isn’t Working Out as Planned”

1. Why did Jeremiah struggle with the direction his life was taking?
2. How can disappointment make us question God’s purpose for our lives?
3. What does Jeremiah’s calling teach us about God’s knowledge of us before we were born?
4. How can we maintain hope when our circumstances do not match our expectations?
5. What is one area of your life where you need to trust God with an uncertain future?

18. I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

1. What does Psalm 139 teach us about God’s involvement in creating each person?
2. How can understanding that we are intentionally created influence our self-image?
3. Why do people sometimes focus more on their weaknesses than on the value God has given them?
4. How can we appreciate our differences without comparing ourselves to others?
5. What is one thing about the way God made you that you can learn to appreciate more?

19. Why, Yes. I Am a Piece of Work!

1. How does the chapter use the idea of being a work of art to describe God’s creation?
2. Why is it sometimes easier to criticize ourselves than to appreciate our God-given qualities?
3. How can our imperfections become opportunities for growth rather than reasons for shame?
4. What does it mean to believe that God’s workmanship is marvelous, even when life feels messy?
5. What is one part of yourself that you need to treat with more patience and appreciation?

20. A Good, Pleasing, and Perfect Plan

1. What does Romans 12.2 teach us about allowing God to transform our thinking?
2. Why can following God’s plan be difficult when we have our own expectations?
3. How can negative thinking interfere with our ability to recognize God’s direction?
4. What is the difference between trusting God’s plan and expecting life to be free of difficulties?
5. What is one thought pattern you would like God to help you change?

---

VI: I Am Forgiven

21. “Hi, I’m Rahab. I Run an Inn”

1. Why might Rahab have felt uncomfortable sharing her story with the support group?
2. What does Rahab’s story teach us about God’s willingness to forgive people with difficult pasts?
3. Why is it important to distinguish a person’s past behavior from their present identity?
4. How can shame keep people from accepting God’s forgiveness?
5. How can we respond with grace when someone shares a part of their past that is difficult to discuss?

22. I Am Made Brand New

1. What does 2 Corinthians 5.17 teach us about becoming a new person in Christ?
2. How can traumatic experiences affect the way someone views their worth?
3. Why is it important to understand that what happened to someone does not determine their value?
4. How can God’s love help someone begin to see themselves differently?
5. What does it mean to live as a new person while still working through painful memories?

23. I Am Forgiven—by Me

1. Why can forgiving ourselves sometimes be harder than accepting God’s forgiveness?
2. How can regret and shame keep us emotionally stuck in the past?
3. What does Paul’s example in Philippians 3.13 teach us about moving forward?
4. What is the difference between taking responsibility for our mistakes and continually punishing ourselves?
5. What is one regret you need to begin releasing so you can move forward in a healthier way?

24. Loving Yourself as Your Neighbor

1. What does Jesus mean when He tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves?
2. Why might people find it easier to show compassion to others than to themselves?
3. How does healthy self-respect differ from selfishness or pride?
4. What would it look like to treat yourself with the same kindness you offer a friend?
5. What is one practical way you can practice healthy self-care this week?

---

VII: I Am Present

25. “Hi, I’m Martha. I’m Obsessive Compulsive”

1. What does Martha’s behavior reveal about the pressure to make everything perfect?
2. How can perfectionism and the need for control interfere with relationships?
3. What can Martha’s story teach us about the importance of being present with people?
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to slow down and allow ourselves to rest?
5. What is one responsibility or expectation you could release to make more room for meaningful relationships?

26. I Am Not Anxious—I’m Vigilant

1. What is the difference between reasonable caution and excessive anxiety?
2. How can constant exposure to frightening information increase our fears?
3. What does Philippians 4.6 teach us about bringing our concerns to God?
4. How can we evaluate risks realistically rather than allowing worst-case scenarios to control our thinking?
5. What is one worry you can turn into a prayer or a practical action this week?

27. Your Mind on Mindfulness

1. What does mindfulness mean in the context of this chapter?
2. Why is it difficult for people to focus on the present instead of worrying about tomorrow?
3. How does Matthew 6.34 encourage us to deal with today’s challenges rather than borrowing tomorrow’s troubles?
4. What daily activities could help you slow down and become more aware of the present moment?
5. What is one simple mindfulness practice you could try this week?

28. In God’s Witness Protection Program

1. How does the witness protection illustration help explain the idea of becoming new in Christ?
2. What does Galatians 2.20 teach us about our old identity and our new life in Jesus?
3. Why do people sometimes continue to define themselves by sins and mistakes God has forgiven?
4. How can accepting God’s forgiveness help us stop living under the weight of our past?
5. What is one old label or belief about yourself that you need to replace with the truth of your identity in Christ?

---

VIII: I Am Empowered

29. “Hi, I’m Peter. I’m a Total Failure”

1. Why did Peter see himself as a failure after denying Jesus?
2. What does Peter’s story teach us about the difference between making a mistake and being a failure?
3. How did Jesus respond to Peter after his denial?
4. Why is it important to allow ourselves to receive grace after a painful failure?
5. What is one past failure you need to view through the lens of God’s forgiveness and restoration?

30. Breaking Habits Before They Break You

1. What are the five W’s and H discussed in the chapter, and how can they help identify the circumstances surrounding a habit?
2. How can certain people, places, or situations trigger unhealthy behaviors?
3. Why is it important to understand the reasons behind a habit instead of simply trying to stop it?
4. How can accountability and supportive relationships help someone develop healthier patterns?
5. What practical change could you make to reduce one unhealthy habit or strengthen one healthy habit?

31. Depression Is My Superpower

1. What unexpected strengths does the chapter associate with people who experience depression?
2. How can creativity and sensitivity become positive qualities when properly understood and supported?
3. Why is it important not to define a person entirely by their diagnosis or difficulties?
4. How can someone recognize and use their strengths while still seeking appropriate treatment and support?
5. What personal strength or ability has helped you through a difficult season?

32. I’ve Fallen, and I Can Get Up

1. What does the chapter teach us about recovering after emotional or psychological setbacks?
2. Why should people not feel ashamed about seeking medical or professional help?
3. How can medication, therapy, faith, and supportive relationships work together in a person’s recovery?
4. What is the difference between experiencing a setback and giving up on recovery?
5. What is one step you can take when you feel discouraged or believe you have fallen backward?

---

IX: I Am Victorious

33. “Hi, I’m Lee. I Have Self-Control Issues”

1. What does Lee’s story teach us about the power of Jesus to bring transformation?
2. Why is it important to recognize that people can change, even when their past behavior has been frightening or destructive?
3. What role can faith and support play in overcoming behaviors that feel out of control?
4. How can we avoid judging people solely by their past actions?
5. What is one area of your life where you need to ask God for strength and seek practical support?

34. Emotions Are Real, But Not Reality

1. What does the chapter mean when it says emotions are real but not necessarily reality?
2. Why is it important to acknowledge emotions rather than deny or suppress them?
3. How can strong feelings influence the way we interpret a situation?
4. What practical steps can help us respond thoughtfully instead of reacting immediately to difficult emotions?
5. What is one emotion you experience frequently, and what healthy response might help you manage it?

35. Hi, I’m Jim. I Have an Addictive Personality

1. What warning signs of addiction does the chapter discuss?
2. Why can people sometimes justify unhealthy behaviors even when those behaviors are causing problems?
3. What is the difference between enjoying something and becoming controlled by it?
4. How can accountability, healthy boundaries, and professional help support someone dealing with addictive behavior?
5. What is one habit or behavior you should examine to make sure it is not controlling your life?

36. All’s Not Lost with Alzheimer’s

1. What does the chapter teach us about a person’s value when memory and cognitive abilities decline?
2. How can someone’s influence continue through family members, friends, students, and others they have helped?
3. Why is it important to treat people with Alzheimer’s disease with dignity, patience, and compassion?
4. How does Philippians 1:6 encourage us to trust God’s continuing work in our lives?
5. What memories, values, lessons, or acts of kindness would you hope to leave as part of your legacy?

---

X. I Am Eternal

37. “Hi, I’m Elijah. I’m Just Really Tired!”

1. What does Elijah’s experience teach us about the emotional exhaustion that can follow intense periods of stress?
2. Why is it important to recognize when we are physically, emotionally, or spiritually exhausted?
3. How did God provide for Elijah when he was overwhelmed and discouraged?
4. What does Jesus’ invitation to the weary teach us about receiving rest?
5. What is one healthy way you can make room for rest and renewal in your life?

38. “Convince Me Not to Shoot Myself”

1. What does this chapter teach us about taking suicidal thoughts and emotional suffering seriously?
2. Why is it important to respond to someone in crisis with compassion, attention, and immediate support?
3. How can faith provide hope without replacing professional mental health care?
4. What trusted people, professionals, and emergency resources should someone know about before a crisis occurs?
5. How can our church or group become a safer place for people to speak honestly about despair and ask for help?

Important group reminder. If someone is in immediate danger of suicide, do not leave them alone. Contact emergency services or a crisis service. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Facilitator note. Allow participants to pass on any question they do not wish to answer. Maintain confidentiality, avoid judgment, and remember that a Bible study group is a source of spiritual encouragement and community—not a substitute for qualified mental health care.

39. A Week-Long Wedding Feast

1. What does the wedding feast of the Lamb represent in the Christian understanding of eternity?
2. Why does the chapter emphasize the hope of resurrection and renewed life?
3. How does the promise of a future without suffering, illness, or death encourage people facing present difficulties?
4. What does the biblical picture of heaven teach us about God’s desire for joy, fellowship, and restoration?
5. How can the hope of eternity change the way we approach today’s struggles?

40. It’s Only Temporary

1. What does the Humpty Dumpty illustration communicate about how mental health challenges can make people feel?
2. Why can ongoing struggles make it difficult to believe that circumstances will improve?
3. What does 1 Peter 5.10 teach us about God’s promise to strengthen and restore His people?
4. How can we maintain hope when treatment and recovery take longer than we expected?
5. What message of hope would you share with someone who feels broken, discouraged, or afraid that things will never get better?

Final Group Discussion

After completing all 40 chapters, use these questions to reflect on the entire book.

1. Which of the ten affirmations: Not Alone, Loved, Seen, Important, Planned, Forgiven, Present, Empowered, Victorious, or Eternal—has meant the most to you? Why?
2. What have you learned about the relationship between Christian faith and mental health?
3. How has your understanding of people living with mental health challenges changed?
4. What is one practical lesson from the book that you want to apply to your daily life?
5. How can our group continue to support one another after completing this study?

Closing Activity. My Ten Affirmations

Invite each participant to choose one affirmation to focus on during the coming week. Ask them to write down.

• The affirmation they chose.
• A Scripture passage that supports it.
• One negative thought they want to challenge.
• One practical action they will take.
• One person who can encourage them along the way.

Suggested Closing Prayer

The entire group may want to read it aloud.

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us through this study that we are not alone, that we are loved, that we are seen, and that our lives have meaning and purpose.

Help us show compassion to ourselves and to others. Give us courage to seek help when we need it, wisdom to support one another, and faith to hold on to Your promises when life becomes difficult.

Remind us that our struggles do not define our worth. Help us grow in understanding, patience, forgiveness, and hope.

May our group become a place where people feel safe, accepted, encouraged, and loved.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

---