Does Worship Require Joy?

At my church, the worship service on Sunday begins with a minister saying, “This is the day that our God has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Every Sunday worship service celebrates the possibility of new life in Christ, so joy seems to be the appropriate emotion.

But what about the mentally ill? Can persons struggling with mental wellness rejoice in the day God has made?

Well, I would say that sometimes they can and sometimes they can’t. I am thinking especially of depression, the common cold of mental illness. In a deep depression, many people lose the ability to experience pleasure and joy. Rejoicing at worship services may not be possible for someone in a seriously depressed state.

I have sometimes felt left out of the group in worship services. One of the reasons is the joyful aspect of the music and the prayers said at a time when joy is not possible for me. I recall one prayer, spoken by the minister, that said, “We thank you, God, for giving us this day to live.” I felt quite left out because I did not feel thankful for the day I was living. In fact, I was wishing that I didn’t have to be alive that day.

We can be more welcoming of people who have mental health challenges by modifying our prayers a little. How about this? “We thank you, God, for every day that we can live joyfully. Be with us when life is a struggle.” This acknowledges both experiences and may make a depressed person feel that they are part of the group.

When we choose hymns for a service, we can be aware that especially joyful hymns may not reach some people in their present needs. A mixture of joyful hymns and hymns that address feelings of difficulty could be good.

If we have a goal to make all people feel welcome, we will include in our services many approaches to God and many aspects of human life. Diversity is always with us; acknowledging the diversity of human experiences will make us more inclusive and sensitive.