We don’t need to allow a mental health diagnosis to distance us from the life God has called us to. While it is true that some days will be harder than others, God will be with us through every hill and valley.
In recent years, mental illnesses have skyrocketed. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 26% of American adults suffer from mental illness in the United States alone. This translates to one in four American adults struggling with some type of mental illness throughout their lives. When we look at these percentages, we see just how much Christians need to be aware of mental illnesses. Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of religion, socioeconomic status, gender, age, or ethnicity.
Anyone can struggle with a mental health issue, and sadly, within Christian communities, many individuals are going undiagnosed. Due to the assumption that mental health issues are rooted in “sin,” many Christians refrain from ever saying they are suffering. If this is something that has been true for you, know that there is nothing wrong with struggling with a mental illness. It does not make you less of a person or less of a Christian.
Rather than allowing the taboo nature of mental illness to stay in your mind, it will be beneficial to seek out help. Doctors, therapists, and specialists will be able to help you in your struggle. Through medication management and therapy sessions, you will be able to alleviate many of your struggles. With time, hard work, and effort, you will be able to equip yourself with the right tools when your mental health starts to suffer.
Personally, I struggle with clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and an eating disorder. While I have been called many mean names by Christians and treated poorly for struggling with my mental health, I know that God doesn’t think less of me. These diagnoses do not define who I am—only God defines me.
Through the four questions listed below, you will also learn that God is the One who defines you as well. We don’t need to allow a mental health diagnosis to distance us from the life God has called us to. While it is true that some days will be harder than others, God will be with us through every hill and valley. We need to choose to trust Him instead of doubting Him.
1. Where Is God When I’m Struggling?
If you have recently been diagnosed with a mental illness, it is reasonable to feel upset or confused. As mentioned, don’t allow it to change how you view yourself. It doesn’t change who you are. You are still you—a beloved child of God (1 John 3:2). God doesn’t see us any differently once we have been diagnosed with a mental health issue, so we shouldn’t either.
As you are thinking over your diagnosis, you might be wondering as to where God is when you are struggling. When we are struggling with mental illness, it is very common for us to feel as though God is distant or far away from us. Even though this is how we are feeling, it is not true. God is always right beside us—even through our most painful days.
The Lord tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). As Jesus tells us in this passage, in Him, we can have peace. We will face many troubles in this world, but we can take heart and be brave because He has overcome the world.
Our mental health struggles can make us feel as though we are alone, but we are never alone. God is always with us, and He is present in our pain (Psalm 23, 56:8). I personally have gone through bouts where I feel alone and distant from God when I’m struggling with my mental health; however, He is never truly far from me. I feel distant because I have made myself distant from Him. Maybe this is true for you as well.
God hasn’t gone anywhere. He is still right beside you. It is only because we are pushing Him away that He feels absent. God is right beside you, and He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, I often feel You are far removed from me when I’m struggling. Please help me feel surrounded by Your presence and love. You are always with me. Help me to always remember this even when I’m struggling. Amen.”
2. If God Can Heal Me, Why Doesn’t He?
Whether God can heal our mental illness or not is a common question. Yes, of course, God can heal our mental illnesses, yet this is not how He works in the world today. He can heal our mental illnesses because nothing is impossible for Him; however, sometimes we can learn more about Him and deepen our relationship with Him in the darkest days of our troubles.
God is more focused on our growth than our comfort. While God doesn’t cause us to suffer from mental illnesses, He can work out all things for His good (Romans 8:28). One of these things is mental illnesses. Yet again, as someone who has suffered from multiple mental illnesses for most of my life, I truly wish I could be healed from them. However, I know that we live in a fallen world, and nowhere in the Bible does God promise to heal us from these struggles while we are on earth.
Our present life will be full of hardships, yet there will also be beauty. Mental illnesses are not by God’s own doing nor by His choice. We don’t need to associate Him with evil because there is not a shadow in Him (Psalm 92:15). God is the exact opposite of evil and wickedness—His entire being consists of love (1 John 4:7-12).
Even though God does not normally heal us from our mental health struggles, He will be with us throughout all of them. We can pray and ask for His help, trusting Him with the outcome. God does not desire for any of us to struggle with mental illnesses, and He will help us with our deep sorrow, anxiety, and fear. Just because God doesn’t heal us from our mental illnesses does not mean He cannot provide us with relief from our symptoms.
Prayer: “Dear God, thank You for teaching me this truth. You are my good, good Father, and I know You only want what is best for me. You didn’t cause me to get this mental illness, as it is an effect of living in the fallen world. I praise You that You are with me during this illness and that You will provide relief from my symptoms. Please continue to help me make it through each day. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.”
3. Will My Mental Illness Ever Go Away?
Our mental illnesses will go away once we are with Christ. Some mental illnesses can be completely cured, such as eating disorders, yet this can still be a challenge. For other mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, or OCD, it can be a lifelong struggle. While this is not the most positive news, we can take solace in knowing that we won’t have mental health struggles for all eternity. There will be a day in the future when we will not have to struggle with mental health issues ever again.
This day will come when we are with Jesus. We will pass from death to life, and we will enter Paradise. We don’t need to fear this day, as it will be a beautiful event. Finally, we will be able to meet Jesus face to face and hug Him. No longer will we have to worry about death, crying, or sickness, and this includes mental illnesses.
Freedom from our mental health struggles will come. Instead of looking back with regret, we can look back with joy knowing that we still chose to serve, follow, and love Jesus despite our struggles. If we are honest, sometimes these struggles are what bring us to the feet of Jesus.
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, even though my mental illness might endure my entire life, I still trust You. Use me to do Your will, share the gospel, and extend Your love in my actions. Freedom will come one day, and I will rejoice when this day comes. Thank You, Amen.”
4. Can I Live a Normal Life Despite Struggling with Mental Illness?
As someone who struggles with various mental illnesses, I can share the truth that it is still possible to live a normal life despite the struggles you are facing. While everyday tasks might be a bit more difficult for us, in no way does it mean we cannot have a joyful life in the Lord. We will have more challenges, yet when we overcome these challenges, we will see God’s power all the more.
If you have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, know that it is not the end of the world. You can still have a wonderful life. However, it is important to seek out help from a therapist and a doctor. Any shame that you have in conjunction with seeking out help needs to be eradicated. God wants you to get the help you need in the form of therapists and doctors. They will be able to help you in your struggles and get you back to a better quality of life.
“Dear Jesus, thank You for showing me that I can still live a normal life despite my struggles. All of my mental health struggles can make me feel as though my life is over. Please help me embrace my struggles as a way to see You more clearly. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
Final Thoughts
Yes, God can cure mental illness, but we also live in a fallen world. Bad things happen in this world, yet they are never by God’s doing. Rather than allowing this to make us sink into despair, we need to rest in the promises that God will be with us in our pain, as well as He will free us from this struggle when we are with Him in heaven.
Before we know it, we will be living with the Lord in Paradise. Freed from mental illnesses and all other struggles, we will be whole, fully seen, fully known, and fully okay. May we all praise God that our futures are in His hands and that there are only joy, smiles, and freedom waiting for us on the other side.
Prayer: “Dear God, please help me as I continue on this journey. My mental health truggle can make me doubt You at times, but please help my heart to always return to You. Whether or not I'm healed on earth, I trust in You, and I know there is a beautiful light, Your light, at the end of the tunnel. I praise You, Amen.”
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PeteWill
