Faith + Mental Health
You are not your stronghold.
I don’t know about you, but I grew up with this preconceived notion that if you struggle with any sense of insecurity and doubt, then your faith in Jesus must be lacking.
Surely if you truly understood just how much God loves you and is ultimately Sovereign, then you wouldn’t deal with fear and anxiety… right?
Let me put you at ease right now, friend:
Just because you struggle with fear, anxiety, doubt, depression, or XYZ…does not mean your faith in Jesus is lacking.
You are not any less of a person, any less loved, or any less redeemed than the person next to you because the battles you face are in your mind.
As someone who is your ally in the fight against anxiety and depression, I am here to tell you today that it’s a battle we must face every day. Although it’s something we have to work at overcoming, it does not equate to us being weak. You know what it does mean? We are human with flaws that etch up who we are, all while being wholly loved by the One who created us.
"You are not any less of a person, any less loved, or any less redeemed than the person next to you because the battles you face are in your mind."
Meditate on that.
Even though our struggles take place inside our mind, we are still seen and wholly loved.
We are not forgotten in this sea of turmoil we find ourselves in.
I understand that when you’re in the moment of panic and fear, you can feel lost and forgotten. I have been there. However, the truth of the matter is this: When we face those moments of anxiety, Jesus meets us right there in the turmoil, in the brokenness, and in the unknown of our minds. He is there.
I am not dismissing what you are going through as unreal. It’s quite the opposite, and I know that. There are so many people in the Bible that faced anxiety, too, and cried out to God in their pain and unknown of the future.
King David himself wrote many times in the book of Psalms how his “soul was in distress”, and his “heart in agony daily”. “The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.” -Psalm 25:17 ESV
David was known as the man after God’s own heart, and yet we find him anxious and possibly even depressed.
He was also an adulterer and murderer.
Are we keeping track of this sinful record the world says we ought to? That we should note every detail of our downfalls? We shouldn’t.
Because God loved David greatly, and David sought out God daily, in his sin he was still chosen to glorify God with his life. He was appointed as not only a King, but a writer in the Bible!
I don’t know about you, but both titles are a pretty big deal. He was a mess, but like us, redeemed. He was used to further the kingdom of God.
We too can relate with David in that 1) we are a mess and 2) we are redeemed.
Please rest assured today friend, that your battles you face in your mind do not disqualify you from fulfilling a calling He has on your life. It does not lessen your value in His eyes. It does not make you weak.
Wouldn’t you say that battling our weaknesses daily actually makes us conquerors?
With God, literally anything is possible (Matthew 19:26). You do not have to be trapped in your anxiety. You do not have to label your life as an anxious-driven one. You have permission to flourish for His Kingdom, because He is on your side and will walk with you in every step of this exhausting mental battle.
And when you find yourself caught in the center of panic, practice some breathing techniques and prayer: Slowly inhale, counting to four. Hold that breath for 6 seconds, and then slowly exhale, counting to seven. Repeat as needed during a moment of panic.
Dive into His word daily, remembering the truths given to meditate on during moments of doubt:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” -Philippians 4:6-8 ESV
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” -Matthew 6:34 ESV
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
You got this. We got this.
Cheering you on,