Faith and Mental Health

I have been a believer for a long time. I can remember some of my earliest fears: Bigfoot (which is a different subject entirely) and the devil. I grew up thinking I had to have everything together before coming to Christ. If that’s you, it’s just not true. Perfection existed once in this world in Jesus Christ. God knows we’re messy. God knows we don’t have it all together. Consider this: If we can do everything on our own, then we don’t need a Savior. We go through the things we go through so that we can lean more into our faith. Often, we end up helping someone else with similar issues. The truth is simply we cannot do it all on our own. That doesn’t mean I haven’t tried!

Our faith can be hard to wrap our human minds around. The Creator of the universe loved us so much that He sent His son to die for our wrongdoings? To rejoin our Lord, all we have to do is believe that Jesus Christ came, lived a perfect life without messes, died on a cross for our messes, and rejoined the Father Who sent Him. Our experiences help shape us and can color the lenses through which we view the world. I do remember hearing sermons as a child, wondering if I would go to the devil because I liked the band Kiss. I remember playing in the floor at church and asking my mom if I would go to the devil.

I’ve had that innate right/wrong sense throughout my life. That does not mean I have always done right or tried to do right. Unfortunately, there have been times, even as a very small child, I knew right and did wrong anyway. I had a sense when wrong things happened, when they happened to me, and when I did them myself. Some of those bad things that happened to me have continuously impacted my life. Thank God, it’s less of an impact now, but it takes effort. It takes awareness. It takes intervention. It takes faith in God.

I see us counselors as awareness providers. I like to joke that I’ve earned every grey hair and nay hair I have. While I once had a lot of hair, I realized God has a great sense of humor because He took it away. Hair just isn’t that important to me now!

I’ve served in mental health in a variety of ways for more than 25 years. While I have learned some things, there is a lot left to learn. I do want to share with you, though, some things to consider when it comes to faith and mental health.

God created us, and He does good work.

We aren’t designed to figure this out alone or on our own. God made us in His image, and God didn’t make bad. God made good. (Genesis 1:27-31).We are fearfully and wonderfully made. I can easily forget this. In fact—get this—God’s very breath is in us!

When I get stuck in negatives, I can be pretty mean, to others and to myself. When I’m clear, when I’m mature enough, I realize when I insult me, I’m insulting a creation of the Almighty. God does not make bad. Feelings aren’t facts, but they sure can feel real. Our feelings influence our thoughts which influence our behaviors and vice versa. Through what we see, what we experience, and what we consume all impact our thoughts. Maybe some of you are like me and take one tiny fear-based thought and have the superpower to blow that into a full-blown catastrophe!

We have to remember God created us, and God doesn’t make bad.

Watch for habits of responding and thinking.

I’ve come to believe we develop habits of responding.

Have you ever tried to break a habit? It’s not easy!

Wait until January, and watch these folks make resolutions about this or that only to very likely quit after about 2 weeks. Habits are so powerful that, in fact, Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, shared a story of a person who suffered with dementia. It was so bad so that he couldn’t remember very recent things, couldn’t tell you where he lived or how to get there, and may or may not remember family members. The family grew concerned because they could not find him. They panicked. After a while, the person made his way back home. He had gone for a walk. He made his way back home.

Even with a damaged brain, the habit was so strong that it persisted through disease.

Our responses become habits, and when we try to do something differently, we get discouraged, the devil works his lying magic, and we revert back to what we’ve always done.

Watch our words.

Watch out for words you use like just, only, always, never, should, could, and would. There may be a line of garbage about to follow. See if you can identify some of your habits of responding, thinking, or feeling. If you can’t, there’s a good possibility a loved one can help!

We may very well be the most anxious and depressed we have ever been as a society. Watch how these things show up for you. It took me forever to figure out my anxiety is actually fear-based. To me, anxiety likes to live way out in the future or way back in the past. We can help ourselves by focusing on the here and now.

The things we take in whether it’s media, news, etc., can impact our thoughts. Once that brand new tube of toothpaste is squeezed, we can’t put it back together in its original form. Words work like that.

Guard our eyes.

Addiction could play a part, but your addiction may not look like someone else’s or mine. Whether it’s drugs or alcohol, videogames, pornography, sports, or social media, help is out there. The Bible teaches about moderation, but that may not work for everyone, and frankly, there are some things from which we need to abstain. For many things, it starts with our eyes, and we have to be careful.

Grief is real.

This is a big one in my opinion. I had it described to me that grief’s not just about physical loss, but instead, it’s any significant loss. For example, this could be the loss of an ability. It could be as trivial as losing our phone or keys. Perhaps, it’s the loss of a dream. It could be a relationship’s end. Or, it could be hair loss. Regardless, loss is going to happen, and we need to be aware of how it impacts us. Certainly, the type of loss/the significance of it can really impact how we deal with it. Learn the 5 stages; know they’re not in order. Think “messy” because we’re messy.

I had a family member visit once. Somehow, a hairspray can turned upside down and sprayed out in a bright red/pink bag. Unfortunately, it soaked through and left a pink stain on our wood floor. I scrubbed, tried all these home remedies, and we still have some pink stain.

Yeah, we’re messy like that.

Comparison is a trap.

I’ve never had an audible experience with God, but I’ve come to learn that God speaks to me when I wake. I find those insights to be Spirit-led. It has helped me immensely in many ways.

The great men of the Bible were just that, men. They were flawed like we are. Elijah does some incredible things by faith through God. Even still, he became afraid. God did not speak to him in a big way, but through a still, small voice—a whisper. David, a man after God’s own heart, repeatedly made big mistakes. Peter denied Jesus. Paul, writer of a massive portion of the New Testament, killed believers. I often read about these folks, thinking they’re superheroes, and they just aren’t.

That should be good news for you and me, though, because God qualifies us.

How does mental health play a part?

A counselor can help you with awareness, help you identify patterns of thinking and behaving, learn that “it’s not just you” because—spoiler—it isn’t, work through loss or addiction, and express yourself more honestly and clearly.

Barriers exist. A big barrier you can control is you. Don’t let yourself be your barrier.

Pray; seek God; and listen. Be authentic with God. He can handle it. Praise Him, and then lament and petition.

Talk things over with a trusted confidant.

Watch comparisons.

Seek professional help. Psychiatrists deal with medications. Therapists talk. Counselors are licensed. Biblical Counselors use the Bible for all that ails us. There are social workers who offer a different perspective as well.

Thankfully, there are all kinds of ways to get help these days. Remember, it may be one of these suggestions that work for you. It may be that God delivers you from your troubles. And, it could be a combination of these things. I know I thank God for some Zoloft. Talk therapy has helped. My knowledge helped. I just needed a little extra help.

Regardless, what I can absolutely guarantee you is God will never leave us or forsake us and will be with us in our hurts.

Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT) reads:

            May the LORD bless you and protect you;

            May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.

            May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.

Psalm 23 reads:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.