Faith & Feelings: Navigating Mental Health as a Christian

Today begins another in our series of empowerment sessions where we learn and share and are empowered through everyday circumstances of life by the power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we are not immune to difficulties. The Word of God tells us, and we experience it ourselves, that once we want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus, we will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT).

But that same Bible also reassures us in Psalm 34:19 (KJV) that although many are the afflictions of the righteous, the Lord delivers us out of them all. Glory to God.

So today, we want to delve into a topic that may be a little daunting or scary for some. It may be an embarrassing subject for others. It may be happening to you or somebody you know, and you either are in denial or you don’t know how to handle it, or perhaps you have been dealing with it and would like to strengthen somebody else because of your experience. 

I pray that God will cover us under His Blood as we continue to break generational curses and seek to help one another along this Christian journey.

So: Faith & Feelings: Navigating Mental Health as a Christian.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, popularly known as the CDC, positive emotional well-being helps people manage their thoughts and feelings. People with positive emotional well-being have a sense of meaning and purpose. Without positive emotional well-being, people may have difficulty connecting socially.

There is a distinction to be drawn with mental health.

According to the World Health Organization, WHO, mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to their community.

How many of us can truly say today that we are emotionally stable? 

Before you answer that, hear this: Symptoms of emotional instability may include rapid mood swings, impulsive behaviour, chronic feelings of emptiness, excessive emotional reactions, difficulty managing stress or anger, unstable relationships, self-harming thoughts or behaviours, low self-esteem or identity confusion, and paranoia or dissociation under stress.

Ok, I only see my hand raised. Maybe this series will be for only me and be very short. But for today - moving right along…

It is important to distinguish between mental or emotional health struggles and clinical psychosis. 

Psychosis, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), involves a disconnection from reality, often including hallucinations or delusions, and typically requires medical intervention. 

Emotional or mental health challenges like anxiety or depression, however, do not equate to being “crazy”—a harmful, outdated, and stigmatizing term. I want to point out, that Christians may experience such challenges while remaining spiritually grounded and mentally competent.

Let’s go to the Bible. Remember Elijah? He was referred to as the prophet of fire. He had just experienced a supernatural triumph. Fire fell from heaven, and the prophets of Baal were defeated (1 Kings 18). 

But in the very next chapter, he fled in fear. Queen Jezebel had vowed to kill him. Elijah was overwhelmed, depleted, and emotionally undone.

It is recorded in 1 Kings 19:4 (NLT): “Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.’”

Elijah’s words echo the thoughts of many believers today. “I’ve had enough.” “I can’t go on.” 

1 Kings 19:5–6 (NLT) “Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, ‘Get up and eat!’ He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.”

But notice: Elijah wasn’t rebuked for his despair. God did not accuse him of lacking faith. Instead, God met him in his place of pain. That’s a Word for somebody today who is laughing at, ridiculing, rejoicing over that person’s emotional or mental issues.

God responded with care—food, rest, and encouragement—before offering direction.  This order is significant - food, rest, and encouragement. 

Sometimes, what the soul needs is restoration before revelation. In the church, we often expect people to “snap out of it” with prayer alone. But even a mighty prophet needed time, nourishment, and healing.

Many times, we look at people in the church, or even ourselves, we attend regularly, we sing, we shout, we praise, we smile, we greet one another in Jesus Name, we even support one another when they are down or in need. 

But quietly, we wrestle with anxiety. We break down in tears as soon as we enter our homes. We don’t sleep well. We avoid social settings. 

Am I talking to somebody here today? I’m being helped here myself.

We don’t want to be called unstable. We don’t want to be looked on as being crazy. But through some stroke of encouragement by someone or the Holy Spirit Himself, we seek professional help. 

Now, with therapy, prayer, and community support, we can learn to manage our anxiety without shame.

Family, this experience reminds us that we can trust God and still need help. We can have faith and still face emotional storms. 

Jesus Himself demonstrated deep emotion—He wept at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:35), He sweated blood in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44, AMP), and expressed anguish on the cross. So weakness is not a liability in the Kingdom. It is the very place where God pours out grace.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 (AMP), “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest—refreshing your souls with salvation.”

The Message version says: “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”

These are not just words—they are an invitation to emotional refuge.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV), “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

I hope this brings some reassurance to someone today, especially those of us who sometimes are in denial. We know something isn’t too right with us or this family member or this friend, this church brother or sister, but we don’t want to offend them by saying anything. 

Today, as I encourage myself, I encourage you: Emotional health struggles do not mean spiritual failure. God ministers to the whole person—body, soul, and spirit. Elijah’s story proves it. And so does yours. So does mine. Glory to God. Hallelujah.

aub - 23June25

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