What does the Bible say about mental health?
I love the fall of the year. The season of “falling back” and a time to snuggle in as the weather begins to change. I love cool weather, college football, and sweatshirts. A time leading up to the holidays, family gatherings, and time together with those we love.
As we fall back in this season, I wanted to tackle some questions, I, myself, have asked. I’ve heard friends and acquaintances ask them as well. I’m no perfect Biblical scholar but I hope you’ll join me the next several weeks as we explore different popular questions and just what the Bible has to say about them.
Know that God welcomes our questions. He doesn’t judge or look down on us. He offers us answers through the only perfect Word, the Bible.
***
Question #1 → What does the Bible say about mental health?
It feels like a loaded question, I know. I wanted to start here because I know what it's like to live battling anxiety and depression. I have friends who know this too. I know individuals suffering from a wide variety of mental health disorders. They can change everything and encompass so much.
In 1 Kings 19, we read about a prophet named Elijah. He had become distraught and rundown. He felt he wasn’t qualified to do the work he set out to do and felt isolated. His emotions were so strong, he ran for his life.
1 Kings 19:3-4 ESV
Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
Now, I’ve never spent a day fleeing into the desert, but I certainly understand what it's like to be overwhelmed to the point of wanting to quit and throw in the towel. Elijah wanted his life to end. He was at an all-time low. Very depressed and very hopeless.
If you or someone you love has been in this position before, know you are not alone. There is help for you. You are not too far gone. Please know that you are valued and your life matters. Do not give up.
Mental health resources:
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
1 Kings 19:5-8 ESV
And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
God provided for Elijah. That same God provides for you and me today. It does not matter what the situation is. God provided Elijah with his basic needs - rest, food, and water.
Once his basic needs were met, Elijah could continue his journey. The same is true for us. When our basic needs are in jeopardy, it affects us as a whole. It can lead to trouble coping, an increase in physical symptoms, and more powerful symptoms of anxiety, fear, depression, or impending doom.
I will also insert here that counseling and medication may be a wise decision. These can be for a lifetime or for a season. While there is nothing specific that I can find regarding medication in the Bible, we do have multiple scriptures on the importance of seeking wise counsel. I believe that God gives us wisdom to seek out guidance in certain situations. God has gifted medical professionals and therapists with certain gifts and talents. They can in turn help us understand how to navigate certain situations. Much like we need to see a surgeon if our appendix needs to be removed, we may need to seek a physician and/or counselor to help guide us in our times of need regarding our mental health. And this is okay. It is nothing to be shamed or talked down about. Do not let your pride stand in the way of seeking God’s ultimate healing in your life.
Proverbs 1:5 NIV
Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.
We serve a good God. Because our world is broken, there is pain, but God promises to never leave us in our pain and heartbreak. There is a promise of Heaven on the horizon. Hope for eternity for all of those who believe. Don’t discount your mental health today. It is important and it is vital to your outlook on life, and also to the ones around you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
I challenge you today, that if you find yourself or someone you love battling with mental health concerns, trust that God has a plan. Tell Him your hurts and your pains. Nothing is too great for Him. God meets us in our brokenness and restores us to life again. No part of your pain will be wasted. Be brave. Seek help. Prepare for healing. You are loved.
