So You Wanna Be a Christian? by Ericka Clay - HTML preview
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Mental Health from A Biblical Perspective
As a sufferer of anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember, mental health has played an extremely important role in my life. I’ve either tried to ignore it completely or have gone down its rabbit hole to the point of practically reaching the earth’s core.
There’s been, to be fair, not a lot of balance in my journey.
It wasn’t until I started researching what God has to say about mental health through His Word that I started to find that balance. And not only that, but a lot of peace, joy, and beautiful surrender in the process.
I’ve created this resource so we can take a harder look at a few mental health terms you may have come across in your own research, viewing them in the light of Scripture.
Please note that I’m not a doctor or a scientist, just a fellow human on life’s journey who has observed a few things on the way and who gives all glory to the God who made her, mental struggles and all.
Agency/Autonomy
When you hear about “agency” or “autonomy,” you’re hearing words related to the concept of self-rule, meaning the ability we have as humans to choose and decide for ourselves.
It’s incredibly easy for us to fall victim to the authority of another human being. That isn’t to say we shouldn’t respect the ideals of authority in light of honoring our parents (Exodus 20:12) or our government (Ephesians 6:2-3).
But we also need to realize that our relationship with God is built on the fact that we’re individuals given free will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20) and that our journey to eternity with him forever is based on His grace and the decisions we make in following him (regardless of our circumstances or the decisions made by those around us).
It’s our responsibility to utilize our agency in ways that respect God and others and to remember that we’re bondservants to God, no one else. Suppose we find ourselves in relationships that dishonor our connection with God. Then we must seek out fellow Jesus followers to share this burden and receive guidance while praying to God for help and protection and relying on His Word to determine the next steps.
Codependency
If you were to research an antonym for agency or autonomy, chances are you’d stumble upon “codependency.”
Codependency is when two people are invested in an unhealthy relationship that isn’t built on real love or sacrifice. Rather, it’s built on utter reliance on another person to feel and function. Essentially, it’s the act of idolizing another human being, putting them in the role of God, and using this relationship to quell internal fears and a lack of control.
All in all? Not great.
God created man for woman and woman for man (Matthew 19:4-6), however, our roles are to support each other, not treat each other as the source of life itself. That role belongs to God the Father through belief in His Son, Jesus. When we rely on another person to fill this role, we quickly lose trust in Jesus alone as our Savior and instead put our faith in a fallible human being.
When we find ourselves trusting man more than God (Psalm 118:8), it is wise to confess this sin to our Father and pray for the strength to rely on God alone.
Boundaries
In my history of people-pleasing and “do all the things” mentality, the idea of boundaries has often been a foreign concept to me. I’ve spent countless moments researching Scripture just to make sure I’m allowed to stand my ground and keep from falling victim to others’ desires that might not be healthy for me.
And you know what? God is all for boundaries.
In the Old Testament, God maps out several “rules” that define the people of Israel and keep them from falling victim to the sinfully cruel ways of the pagans who live nearby (Leviticus 19).
And in the New Testament, Jesus doesn’t keep healing everyone until he passes out. No, he takes time to rest and commune with His Father (Mark 6:31, Mark 1:35).
God has indeed prepared good things for us to do in and for the world (Ephesians 2:10), but He hasn’t prepared “all the things.” When we deceive ourselves into thinking we can’t say “no” and create time to talk and rest with our Father, then we believe the lie that we’re the Savior who has to do everything, which is an absolute affront to Jesus.
Identity
The concept of identity has become very loose in our society. Identity has become a choice rather than a defined role based on our relation to Jesus.
Biblically, identity is who we are in Christ. When you believe in and follow Jesus, you become an adopted child of God, and your identity is reflected through glorifying Him and administering to His people (John 1:12).
But the world skews this definition, making us believe identity can be molded by our hands. And how quickly we forget how sinful those hands actually are.
By letting our identity be defined by Christ (and not ourselves), we become who we were truly created to be, healing the wounds of our past and allowing us to fully look forward to a future with God.
Self-Actualization
There’s this idea in our world that we need to become our “best selves” and live our “personal truth.” But according to Scripture, our best selves are reflected in our total dependence on Christ, and there is no such thing as personal truth, only THE truth that exists through God’s Son (John 14:6).
So what does this mean in regard to self-actualization (the process of reaching our full potential)?
It means we’re not the ones burdened with the task of becoming our true selves. Instead, we place our shortcomings and sins on Jesus, whose “yoke is easy and burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
It’s this act that leads to complete freedom, which, in turn, allows us to be sanctified through Christ. But here’s the deal–we’ll never reach our full potential on this side of heaven, and that’s okay.
God has given us the acts of confession (owning up to our sins) and repentance (turning away from them) to keep our minds and hearts pure as we walk through this often chaotic and imperfect journey known as life.
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is really just a fancy word for “self-deception.“ And deceiving ourselves is something I think we can all relate to.
The Bible often talks about “the flesh”– our sinful human nature that is the result of the fall. It is our flesh that is crucified with Christ when we believe and follow Him. We turn away from our dark desires to embrace our newfound freedom in Jesus.
But as humans living in a very sinful world, we can find ourselves off the trail of following Jesus and falling down some very deceptive rabbit holes. This is often when cognitive dissonance kicks in. For example, perhaps you’ve suffered from some sort of eating disorder like I have in the past. I remember being truly convinced that what I was doing was “healthy eating” and not undereating, despite what the scale said and comments from those concerned about me.
My takeaway at the time? They were just jealous of my willpower and ability to look great in a swimsuit. Gross.
Like David, we should ask God to search our hearts (Psalm 139:23-24), not falling into the trap of self-deception but always open to the truth and His loving admonishment.
OCD
Control is a sin I’ve wrestled with for a very long time. And it’s only recently that I’ve discovered where it’s roots come from: fear.
As someone who’s diagnosed with a condition that heightens my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), the physical and mental ramifications can be brutal. My symptoms have ranged from intrusive thoughts to perfectionistic tendencies revolving around my outer appearance.
My head and heart have often felt like prisons.
But over the years, God has taught me that I can control pretty much nothing in my life, and instead of this being a frightful thing, it’s quite comforting. Because He, the Lion of Judah, the Creator of EVERYTHING, is an ever-present help when I’m in need.
And the last time I checked, He’s far more capable of helping me than I am helping myself.
By taking my thoughts captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and renewing the mind He’s given me (Romans 12:2), I can keep my thoughts from negatively influencing my life.
Anxiety
I’ve been battling anxiety since I was a child. I used to have this recurring fear that my mother would die on the way to pick me up for school; something about that thought got lodged inside my entire being.
The physical repercussions were brutal.
It’s interesting how the Bible tells us not to fear (roughly 365 times, one for each day of the week), but how is that possible when anxiety feels more like a burden that courses through your very soul than a choice?
Paul answers this question in Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Instead of worrying? Pray. Instead of focusing on the negative “what ifs,” create a list of all the good things God has provided and continues to provide. By changing our thoughts, taking them captive to Christ, and renewing our minds, we rewire the way our hearts and bodies respond to circumstances beyond our control.
Neurodivergence
One of the most self-affirming parts of Scripture is in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 where Paul speaks about how each believer is a special part of the Church, and just because we play different roles or have been given different giftings, it doesn’t mean any one person is more important than the other.
This is important to remember when discussing neurodivergence, which is the reality that some people have brain differences that might make them act and function differently than society expects.
And considering Jesus acted and functioned differently than society expected, I believe there’s a very special place in God’s heart for those of us who do not fit neatly within societal expectations.
Our family falls into the neurodivergent camp, with my daughter having ADHD and there being some evidence that I might be on the spectrum myself. In fact, a lot of my anxiety and depression has stemmed from feeling different from other females since I was young. However, God’s gently shown me the giftings and skills He’s provided me and how important these are in bringing forth His Kingdom.
He provides all of us talents (no matter how we think) to be used for His glory.
Trauma
It’s no surprise we’re all victims of a fallen world. We all have suffered injustices and have caused them, too, only adding to the emotional and psychological fallout that arises from distressing situations.
But as we who follow Jesus know, He has forgiven our sins and made atonement for them on the cross. And we have hope that one day there will be no more tears and suffering.
But what about dealing with trauma presently on Earth? What does Scripture say about that?
Several verses in Scripture speak of healing, but I’m always personally inspired and encouraged by the Psalms. David had an entire history of traumatic experiences, some caused by his own hand and some by the hands of others. But He always knew the God of the universe was there to heal his heart and offer him protection.
Trauma can most certainly begin to heal with prescribed medication and sharing past events with people who can be trusted with your feelings. But praying for greater strength through Jesus and faith in the promises yet to come can help us move forward into a future that contains no harm for us or anyone else.
Addiction
Addiction is ultimately swapping God for something else as the focus of our lives. Usually, this starts innocently enough, but after enough repetition and reliance on an unhealthy substance, we soon come to find out that we’re no longer in control and “need” whatever it is we’re worshipping no matter how it makes us feel or if we even desire to stop.
This is why it’s important to ask God to search our hearts immediately for any sin that could become an addiction and to actively confess it and repent from it. Otherwise, it becomes the slave master, and us? The slaves.
God is the only authority to whom we should be bondservants. And knowing this, it’s far easier to be discerning about the things that might entrap us.
But if we’re already caught up in our sin and feel “addicted”to it, we’ll need the counsel and help of others to break what we can’t break ourselves. This might mean rehabilitation, medication, counseling, etc. But it always most certainly involves the prayers of the faithful who love us and love the Lord.
Meditation
I’ve included “meditation” in this resource simply because it’s often cited as a treatment for a lot of the conditions I’ve already named.
Christians need to understand that worldly meditation is the emptying of the mind, making our thoughts vulnerable to outside influences. This puts us in a susceptible position where our heads and hearts can be filled with lies instead of God’s truth.
In Scripture, meditation is focusing intently on the Word of God and bringing it to mind, especially in states of desperate need. It’s God’s words that can heal our hearts, not the words of man.
It is important to note that meditation can have a calming effect on the body. However, prayer is even more powerful in improving our mental health and is worth making part of our daily routine.
So what is prayer? It’s the act of conversing with our Lord as our Father and friend, coming to Him with our anxieties and requests, while also taking stock of the things we’re thankful for and glorifying who He is with our words.
As Scripture says, we aren’t to pray as the pagans pray, babbling in rote recitation, but with an authentic purpose to our Lord.
The world is messy, and it seems like every day, we’re challenged with a darkness that pervades our personal worlds and the world at large.
But Jesus said for us to take heart, that He has conquered the world, and no matter what we’re struggling with, we can keep our eyes focused on Him to heal our heads and hearts.
It most likely won’t be instantaneous. In fact, it might be a long process that He uses to sanctify us so that we have a testimony of His glory that we can share one day with others who are struggling.
At the age of forty, I can say I finally feel healed of my mental health battles, and a lot of this depended on me forgoing my cognitive dissonance and being honest about my sins and shortcomings. And in doing so, I turned away from my typical mode of self-preservation and turned to the God of the universe who preserves my very essence with His unconditional love.
So the biggest piece of advice I can give you is to not walk this life alone. Submit to the Lord who created you, loves you, and can guide you to a place of healing and hope.
Helpful Resources
The following are a few resources that I’ve personally used and might be helpful on your journey to better emotional, mental, and spiritual health.