Mental health gets pushed under the rug far too often in Christian circles. It’s an uncomfortable subject for many. But we live in a fallen world. What we see and interact with is dying, breaking down. It’s far from what God created it to be, and we all feel the effects of what happened in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time.
One thing we have to deal with is mental health. Sometimes mental health issues are the result of chemical or mechanical failures in the brain. Sometimes they’re the result of sin on our part. Other times, they come because we took our minds off God. Which can be incredibly easy to do. Sometimes, we experience mental health trouble because of multiple of the above reasons at once.
Isaiah 26:2&3 (KJV) says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength[.]”
This is an encouragement from the prophet Isaiah to fix our minds on God. When we do that, we can have confidence that He will give us peace. That peace may be immediate. But it also might not. God may choose to take us through a time where the last thing we feel is peace. Or our entire life may be a process of learning to trust God for peace.
Thankfully, feelings aren’t Truth. They can reflect Truth, but just because we feel something doesn’t make it so. Feelings are powerful things though, and they affect our mental health dramatically. We may know that what we feel isn’t true, but our brains may not recognize it right away (or at all, depending on several factors). Alternatively, we may not be able to see through the emotional storm we’re in whatsoever.
Whatever the case, God is there for us, and He can calm even the worst possible hurricane. Perhaps He’ll do it with a single word. Dissipate it over the course of months or years. Maybe He won’t stop the hurricane at all and instead lead you through it. Whatever He chooses, He does it for our good. He knows what He’s doing in each and every life and heart.
This past week has been a lot. Loads of things all hit at once, emotions were high, and there was very little I could do about any of it. I spent a lot of time in prayer and quiet thought, talking with God about everything, because He’s the one who guides and sees.
One of the things I’ve found integral to keeping my mind on God is listening to and thinking on God-honoring music. This time, God brought two songs. One is based on I Peter 5:7 (KJV), “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
The other is an old hymn by Edward H. Joy, who has long been in Heaven. Its name is “Is there a heart overbound by sorrow?” More commonly known as “All Your Anxiety*.”
1. Is there a heart o’erbound by sorrow?
Is there a life weighed down by care?
Come to the cross, each burden bearing;
All your anxiety—leave it there.
Refrain:
All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there,
Never a burden He cannot bear,
Never a friend like Jesus!
2. No other friend so swift to help you,
No other friend so quick to hear,
No other place to leave your burden,
No other one to hear your prayer.
3. Come then at once; delay no longer!
Heed His entreaty kind and sweet,
You need not fear a disappointment;
You shall find peace at the mercy seat.
Whatever your mental health situation today—good or bad; caused by factors beyond your control or ones you can change—take time to be with God and talk with Him. Bring Him your joys and your worries. Talk with Him about what weighs you down and what lifts you up. Because God listens. And He cares.
*“All Your Anxiety” is in the Public Domain.
More about D. T.:
D. T. Powell, author of the critically acclaimed, award-winning novel With Mercy’s Eyes, has delved into difficult subjects through fiction for over a decade. Her work in both fanfiction and original fiction showcases how God’s persistent light shines even through the darkest of moments. Her original short fiction has appeared in Writer’s Digest and various short story collections from small presses. Also, her many top-quality book reviews publish quarterly in Clean Fiction Magazine. She enjoys reading, playing pickleball, and the occasional video game. You can find her online as dtill359. Her favorite verse is Psalm 126:5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
