Balancing The Mental With The Spiritual
Question 1: Can Christians be diagnosed with a mental illness?
The answer is yes! Christians can suffer from mental illnesses because we are human!
Some individuals believe that Christians cannot suffer from the debilitating effects of mental illness because well- ‘Isn’t the joy of the Lord supposed to be our strength?’ Even going as far as believing that if a professing Christian is depressed, anxious, or bipolar, it might be because of some terrible sin they haven’t repented of, or their level of faith just isn’t meeting the benchmark.
Don’t get me wrong, in some cases mental illness and other forms of health-related ailments are as a result of spiritual strongholds that can be permanently overcome through spiritual intervention, and of course at God’s choosing, and within His will. God supernaturally healed me from alcohol and cigarette addiction and that hasn’t changed, however, this is not ALWAYS the case for everyone. There is a misconception that salvation guarantees a fully transformed lifestyle overnight, that once we are saved, every infirmity or sickness supernaturally vanishes into thin air. This kind of thinking is so flawed and is detrimental to our individual walk and relationship with God.
Christians are not shielded from the effects of living in a fallen world. We have accidents, we are abused, we are wronged, we are lied about. People hurt us, some intentionally, some unintentionally. We experience painful and traumatic events that can scar us for life. We lose loved ones. Our families break up. Trauma has been shown to change the shape, size, and functionality of the brain and other bodily systems that are related to how we think and feel. Jesus Himself stated that in life we would face trials & tribulations (John 16: 33) so hardships of any kind should be expected.
So, what causes mental illness? So many things. Experts tell us there are three main categories of causes of mental illness—biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Many of these factors are completely out of our control. Mental illness can be triggered by a chemical imbalance affecting the neurotransmitters our brain cells use to communicate. It can be triggered by personal trauma and loss. It can be triggered by something that happened to us while we were in the womb, by certain infections, by societal pressures or just by existing in a dysfunctional environment.
I believe that not all mental illness is a spiritual problem (although the mind certainly can affect the spirit, and vice versa). Although spiritual practices like prayer and Bible reading can help facilitate and support healing, illnesses require treatment, not judgement or rejection.
Question 2: Does the bible validate mental illness as an affliction?
Again, the answer is yes! Jesus was overcome with sorrow, Paul knew what it was to struggle against the ‘fighting’s within’, and we even have a book of songs (the Psalms) that frequently express the deepest sorrow, angst, and fears an individual could experience.
So now that we see that even The Bible isn’t afraid to talk about mental and emotional anguish, you would think this should make us (especially as Christians) a little more empathetic right? Mental healing is far more complex than being devout or having a consistent prayer life. Ultimately complete healing is just simply up to God!
You Are Not a “Bad Christian”
The apostle Paul speaks of a thorn in his side, that he pleaded with God three times to remove (2 Cor. 12:7–10). Biblical scholars aren’t sure exactly what Paul’s thorn was, but I can tell you mine: low self-esteem, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness and sporadic bouts of depression and hopelessness. It’s taken me a while to finally understand that God’s grace is sufficient for me, and honestly every new experience is a new reminder of just how much.
Personally, I have seen that mental illness does not inherently mean that God is punishing me because of something I may have done but often, it’s part of a bigger picture that I can’t quite see yet. Trust God, but don’t default to blaming yourself. It is also important to remember that there is nothing we can ever do to earn salvation. It is God’s grace for us that we can truly have confidence in. God is the ultimate source of all healing, and while our approach to solving any problem should begin with prayer, there’s nothing wrong with getting help or just taking a time out if you need it.
Mental illness still seems to be a highly stigmatized topic in the church. For those who do not have such struggles, suicidal thoughts and the extreme hopelessness that come with clinical depression can be difficult to understand. Even though many Christians may know the trial of occasional anxiety or depressed feelings, people with a diagnosed mental illness face unique challenges, that are so hard to put into words at times- it’s truly beyond comprehension.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The mind can descend far lower than the body, for in it there are bottomless pits. The flesh can bear only a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can bleed in ten thousand ways, and die over and over again each hour.” Mental illness is not a new phenomenon. My experience with mental illness may not be my fault, but it can be an opportunity to speak truth about Christ’s love, which I have experienced in all my seasons of mental upheaval, even after being saved. It’s about sharing that love with others who struggle with it every day and remind them that they can never be too broken for Christ.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8) is a promise for good days and for dark ones too. So maybe like Paul, my thorn may never leave my side, I might defer to anxious thoughts or feelings of worthlessness from time to time, however my joy comes in knowing that My God will always make His strength evident through my weakness, and that’s what makes it okay.
Reference: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/encouraging-truths-mental-illness/
