Mental Health is not a Spiritual Problem

Mental Health is not a Spiritual Problem

Many, many years ago, people were taught that you could not have a mental health problem if you were close with God. I’m not really sure where that came from, forgive me for not fact checking but my goodness, the audacity that ever allowed people to think this way. 

Since then, the major belief is that the two are not related. You can have a deep and meaningful relationship with our Father, despite where your mental health may be. A mental health problem is not a spiritual problem. 

Needless to say, I agree with this wholeheartedly. The hurt of that original statement, I think blocked any kind of connection between mental and spiritual health, which is a shame. Mental health is dealt with in one way and spiritual health in another.

Each person has three distinct parts- the body, the mind and the soul. The body which is outward, and the mind and soul that lie inwardly. If the mind and soul dwell inwardly together, surely they’ve crossed paths at some point. 

Let’s think of the sound “mind,” without a care in the world. Wakes up every morning, completely refreshed, goes to work, comes home and says their prayers with a mouth that may be singing praises but a heart that says, “sorry God for my sins (I know I have to say that one) it’s just been so busy, I think this is enough for tonight, check.” 

The opposite of this could take a range of different forms. Maybe it wakes up in the morning and thinks, “I don’t know how to get up today.” Maybe by the time it gets to work, it thinks, “if I don’t do anything wrong today, nothing bad will happen.” Maybe it thinks itself a failure, as neglected, as the one that no good could ever come from.

My reflex response to hearing someone think in this way is typically, “it’s okay, everything will be okay, you’ll get through this.” But I don’t know if that’s how God responds. I don’t think He says, “it’ll be okay.” I think He says, “Yeah- in this world you will have tribulation, but be good cheer for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Sounds easier said than done but what will always be true is that God hold the heart that is in distress in the palm of His Hands. He is by your side and He is the strength when you feel like you have nothing left. It was tribulation that allowed Job to say, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). It was in his deepest and darkest despair that Job saw God. In those moments of mental distress, God is there and His presence is felt stronger than ever before.

If we see the struggles of the mind in this way, then it no longer becomes, “I don’t know how to get up today,” but “please God help me to get up today.” It is no longer, “I hope I don’t mess up,” but “God please help me to get it right.”

“God, be by my side and help me.”

“God, even if I mess up, let it be for Your good.”

“God, help me to believe in You.”

“My Lord, Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me.”

The one that comes home from a long day, broken and defeated is the one that prays with a broken and a contrite heart – these our Lord does not despise. Maybe we despise because we look outwardly. But the heart that is in distress from the outside is the one that is honest on the inside and prays with all sincerity.

The heart that cries out in anguish to the Lord is already miles ahead of the one that is content. Mental health can be a spiritual tool.

Praying when the mind feels discontent is not the solution to mental health. But think of how God sees your prayers. The one that is honest, and broken and in so much need – I think that soul is God’s favourite. Truly, even those that feel fully content are still in need, we all are. We all need our Creator. If it is anxiety, depression, or even worse that brings you to Him, your soul will always belongs to our Lord, and this could be the bridge your soul craves to bring you back to His embrace.

When St Paul says, “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6), I don’t think he means just forget your anxiety, or even go get the help you need and then consider your spiritual life later. He means to take your anxiety and turn it into prayer. Pray about everything, give thanks for everything, and in that your soul will be at rest, no matter what plagues your mind. Prayer is not the solution, but prayer is the good company that will be with you along the journey of the unknown.

While I can’t speak from a mental health standpoint, the help is there. Here are just a few:

In the meantime, tell the One that sees it all, from the inside out, and be reassured that He sees you, He hears you, He knows how it difficult it is for you to cry out to Him, and it is during these times that He holds your hand even tighter. Glory be to His Name, Amen.

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