Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. — Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Whether you’ve struggled with mental illness for a long time, or you have recently seen a decline in your mental health, there is hope. Here are some encouraging reminders for Christians struggling with mental illness:
We love because he first loved us. — 1 John 4:19 NIV
You are loved, in the midst of the good times and the bad times. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8). God is love and his love is not conditional. He created us and values us.
God also puts people in our lives who love us. He called us as believers to love one another and care about one another. However, no earthly love could ever compare to the love he has for us and we can cling to that in the midst of our struggles.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. — Matthew 28:20 NIV
When we become Christians, we are adopted into his family. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ” (John 1:12). We have brothers and sisters in Christ who also are going through similar experiences. It is important to remember even in the hardest times, we are never alone and there are many other people who are also learning how to live with their mental health situations.
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (Proverbs 18:24). Even when we are at our loneliest and feel we have hit rock bottom emotionally, God has not abandoned us.
He is with us each and every day. Mental illness can make us feel lonely and isolated. However, even when our emotions are strong and the loneliness feels at its worst, we are not alone.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
There are a lot of stigmas surrounding Christianity and mental health and sometimes it can lead to Christians feeling like they are not good enough or are failing due to a mental illness. However, having a mental illness is not a sin and in no way means you are weak. Facing a mental illness takes strength and courage each day.
It is also important to remember that nothing we do saves us, whether we have a mental illness or not. It is God’s grace and gift of salvation for us that we can truly have confidence in.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. — Romans 12:12 NIV
If you are struggling with a mental illness, remember there is hope and help. There are mental health professionals who are equipped with tools to help reduce the symptoms of mental illness as well as help connect you with resources that can benefit you.
Although not all churches have mental health resources, some do offer Christian counseling opportunities as well as other outreach ministry for those recovering from mental health struggles.
Ultimately, our hope comes from God and his promises. He is the one with power and authority in our lives. However, we should take advantage of the knowledgeable people he has put in our lives.
