Mental Health and the Healer
In today’s society, the topic of mental health appears to have a negative connotation. The issue seems to get kicked under the rug until it is pushed onto the surface.
Whenever we feel like our minds are in an abnormal state, feelings of shame and embarrassment cloud our thoughts. We think about trying to express to someone how we feel, but we doubt that they will ever understand. Our minds can be flooded with many different thoughts that all stem from where our mental health lies.
I wish I could say that I have mastered understanding mental health, but I have not. I have only learned that mental health is a day-by-day process that we have to take one step at a time. I would like to hope that everyone's mind is where they would like it to be, but I also know that we are all human and that we all struggle at some point in our life.
Acknowledging whether you are suffering from anxiety or depression or are the happiest person alive, and realizing that it is okay to be where you're at, is a start to getting your mental health to where you want it to be.
Freedom in Christ
I heard a message from a pastor one time, and he said a part of sharing the Gospel with others is being open about your life. I want to open up and state that my mental health knowledge does not come from an outsider's point of view, but it comes from someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression. As someone who has walked through - and still walks through - mental health battles, I want to say that you are not alone.
As Christians, the thought of being in a mental battle when God is the Prince of Peace can make us feel conflicted. The Church has to realize that our mental health is not separated from God. He already knows our every thought and our every emotion (read Psalm 139), so why would we not invite Him into something He is already sovereign over?
It can feel like you are the only one having certain thoughts or fears, but there are others out there going through the same thing. It can be challenging to share what you’re going through, but I believe there is a step towards freedom when you let the right community come along and support you in the ways that you need. God did not intend for us to carry a heavy weight on our own.
For so long I tried to shove the emotions down, acting as if they did not exist, but that only led to more anger and to me pushing away the life that God had planned for me. Embracing where our mental health is, and allowing ourselves to feel or come face to face with what is taking place in our minds, will allow us to seek out what needs healing or peace or the areas we want our mental health to grow.
Where the Healing Begins
Sometimes we have to dig deep, let go, and experience what we need to experience in order to fully heal or overcome the thoughts that try to hold us back. There’s a sense of freedom when we no longer feel like we have to hide behind what is trapping us inside but instead embrace wherever we may be. A lot of times we do not want to admit to the deeper, innermost parts of ourselves because we feel as if they define us. We feel like if others know what we are going through, that is all they will see us as.
The truth is, we are not defined by the labels our mental health places on us, but we are defined by who the Creator of the Universe says we are. Who we are and what we experience are two different ideas. Know that there is something more inside of you than what your mind may be telling itself. God sees us for who He has created us to be, not by anything else.
Shifting Perspective
When discussing or viewing mental health, I don’t think we should see the concern as negative or positive, right or wrong, but we should face it just as it is.
One of the most crucial parts of mental health is perspective. I think the perspective that we have in approaching mental health determines the direction we want to go. Acknowledging that our mental health may not be in the place we want it to be but trying to have a positive outlook can direct our minds in a positive direction.
Sometimes there are so many emotions, thoughts and feelings that seem to trap us. It can feel like we are in a never-ending battle that always circles back to a dark place. It is hard to obtain a positive outlook when all we see is the negative. But underneath our darkest parts, there is hope, there is light.
As Christians, we have hope found in Jesus Christ. We have an eternal hope in knowing that one day all our pain will disappear (Revelation 21:4). We have hope in the midst of suffering because of who God is and what he has done for us (Romans 5:3-5). Having a resilient perspective can give us encouragement to keep holding on to hope, even when it feels like we are at our lowest. It is also important to be aware of what we need and when we need it.
One of the most challenging processes is having to go through everyday life whenever your mind does not feel fully present. The world cannot stop moving for our mental health to get to the place we would like it to be, but we can stop in the midst of our world, breathe, and regroup. Sometimes our minds make us think that we are not okay (and maybe sometimes we aren’t), but when we slow down and take a step back, we can find reassurance that everything will be okay.
There are times when we have to calm ourselves down and speak words of encouragement over ourselves. We cannot always change our circumstances, but we can change our perspective; even though it is challenging, it may be a pivotal moment that impacts our view of life.
When God Steps In
Whenever we are struggling with mental health, it also comes down to the fight. It seems silly, but that is honestly what it is. Sometimes we just have to get up and fight against whatever may be trying to defeat us.
Whenever it is hardest to fight against the battle inside our minds, that is the greatest opportunity for God to show his strength within us. When we invite Him into anything we are going through, we are allowing God to fight for us as well. Sometimes all we have left is for God to fight for us, and to accept the rest that He is calling us to.
Some people may ask the question, “if God has the power to end suffering, why do we have to go through it?” It is a question that can be hard to wrap our minds around, but I believe a balance of faith and trust is the answer.
Picture a scale. On one side, we should have faith that it is possible for God to heal whatever mental battle we may be going through, that with Him all things are possible. On the other side of the scale, we should have an understanding that God allows us to go through certain experiences to teach, grow and strengthen us. When we trust that He is good, even through suffering, the pain will be worth it. Sometimes we have to go through certain experiences so that we may become the people God is leading us to be. Paul, in my opinion, is one of the best representatives of having faith in the midst of suffering and trusting God through it all (read Acts 20-28).
A Simple Reminder
Know that you do not have to have it all together. Life is a process, a time of learning and growing. Trying to enjoy life while struggling with mental health can be complicated, but it is possible.
John 10:10 tells us that while the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came so that we may have life and have it abundantly. If this is true, then we can live with confidence that the Lord desires freedom for each and every one of His children, and not just eternally but mentally here on Earth as well.
If all things are possible with God (which they are), then we can rest assured that the Healer Himself is able to restore what has been lost and turn what is broken into something beautiful.