<\/p>\n
Have you ever struggled with anxiety or depression and felt like no one truly understood what you were experiencing? No matter how hard you tried to explain the scenario, they looked at you like you had twelve heads. I know the feeling.<\/p>\n
Fourteen years ago, I sat in my high school English class writing a paper about who I was and who I wanted to become. Everyone around me thought I had it all together\u2014good grades, strong faith, and a busy schedule. But inside, I felt lost and confused.<\/p>\n
Despite living in a \u201cChristian home,\u201d my world was far from safe. I was ten when someone I loved dearly threatened to kill me. My home was filled with anger, violence, and substance abuse\u2014all from close family members. I felt trapped.<\/p>\n
To cope, I developed a dangerous relationship with food and an addiction to exercise. I thought that controlling my body was the answer. It wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
At the time, I didn\u2019t realize how abnormal my situation was. I was told to pray more and be grateful because others had it worse, but that didn\u2019t ease my pain. It invalidated it.<\/p>\n
Sadly, many of you might relate to this. You might not have grown up in a dangerous home, but 1 in 3 (33%) of you struggle with worry, fear, sadness, scattered thoughts, unhealthy diet, or self-harm. Most of you feel so ashamed or confused and hide how you really<\/em> feel. When someone asks how you\u2019re doing, it\u2019s easier to say, \u201cI\u2019m fine\u201d than to share the truth. Can you relate?<\/p>\n As a former English teacher, I want you to try a simple activity. If any of the following statements resonate with you, simply acknowledge them and nod your head as you read. Here are the statements:<\/p>\n 1. “I know someone who has struggled with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder.” While I couldn’t physically see you nodding, I assume that most of you nodded your head to nearly all of these questions. Mental health struggles aren’t new to society, and Christians aren’t immune from their presence in our lives. But it’s powerful to know you\u2019re not alone in this.<\/p>\n Friend, it\u2019s okay to feel your feelings and reach out for support. There\u2019s no shame in seeking help and being honest about your struggles. And though it might seem daunting, I\u2019m here to guide you through it.<\/p>\n If I could turn back the clock, there are 3 things I wish someone would\u2019ve told me about mental health when I was growing up, three truths everyone should know:<\/p>\n I used to believe that because I was a Christian, I wouldn\u2019t struggle. John 16:33 assures us otherwise. In this world, we will have trouble\u2014that includes physical and mental health challenges. But Jesus has overcome the world.<\/p>\n If you believe in Jesus, the power of His Spirit lives in you. Jesus experienced everything we face, and He left us His Spirit to comfort us. In John 16:7, a few verses before Jesus\u2019 declaration that we will encounter trouble, John reminds us of this: \u201cBut in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don\u2019t, the Advocate won\u2019t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you\u201d (NLT).<\/p>\n \u00a0 One helpful coping skill for anxiety is deep breathing. It might feel challenging, but focusing on your breath can keep you grounded.<\/p>\n \u00a0 1. Inhale deeply through your nose for four seconds while reading the first part of a Scripture: \u201cWhen anxiety was great within me\u201d (Psalm 94:19).<\/p>\n 2. Hold that breath for four seconds in your mouth. This technique calms your mind and reminds you of God\u2019s presence. If you have someone with you when you\u2019re anxious, they can also help by counting or gently tapping your arm.<\/p>\n Mental health issues are normal and nothing to be ashamed of. But if Satan convinces you you’re the only one struggling, you’ve already lost the war. Hiding our struggles only allows them to grow. One of the best ways to prevent this is by being honest about our struggles. This leads me to the second thing I wish someone would\u2019ve told me:<\/p>\n I could give you dozens of examples of biblical figures who felt weak in the Bible. From Job and Elijah to David, Moses, and Jeremiah, the list goes on. My two favorites are Paul and Jesus.<\/p>\n Paul’s Example:<\/strong> Accepting weakness can be tough. But Paul responds: \u201cTherefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ\u2019s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ\u2019s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”<\/p>\n \u00a0 Jesus’ Example:<\/strong> Though He was God, He was also human. He knew pain, sorrow, and anxiety greater than we ever would. Why else would He cry out \u201cMy Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will\u201d (v. 39) one verse later? Remember, Jesus also prayed three times.<\/p>\n \u00a0 In times like these, I encourage journaling as a way to communicate openly and honestly with God. It\u2019s a prayer that helps us process and understand.<\/p>\n Once we understand that feeling anxious is just a part of humanity and asking for help is a sign of strength, we can journey toward a healthier mindset. <\/p>\n The third thing I wish someone would\u2019ve told me when I was growing up is:<\/p>\n After college, I was diagnosed with 10+ conditions. I went from being healthy and active to weak and sick. It was my best friend who convinced me to seek counseling. I learned that I could love Jesus and still get help for anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n When I first started therapy, I asked my counselor how long it would take. He said, \u201cAs long as it takes.\u201d Six years later, I\u2019m still in therapy, and it\u2019s one of the best decisions I\u2019ve ever made. It\u2019s not only helped me cope better but be open to things like medication. It\u2019s also taught me that while faith and my relationship with Jesus are of the utmost importance, it’s also okay to seek professional help. God provides us with tools like medication, therapy, and doctors for a reason. Why?<\/p>\n Faith isn\u2019t just about praying away problems but taking practical action steps. Sometimes that faith includes using the tools here on earth He\u2019s blessed us with. And Jesus wants you to care for your mental well-being just as much as the physical.<\/p>\n \u00a0 If you want to stand for mental health, you could also be a mental health ally. You can check in on those who might be struggling by sending a simple text like \u201cHow are you really\u00a0<\/em>doing?\u201d<\/p>\n You listen without judgment and encourage those who need professional help. Gently suggest resources like school counselors or therapists if a friend seems overwhelmed, for example, and normalize seeking help by sharing your own experiences. Of course, if you think a friend might be in crisis, it\u2019s essential to talk to a trusted adult or call 9-8-8.<\/p>\n \u00a0 Many of us have faced worry, sadness, or self-harm. Christians aren\u2019t exempt from these struggles, and I want you to know I see you, hear you, and care. But having anxiety doesn\u2019t mean you lack faith; it means you\u2019re human. Faith includes caring for your whole self, including your headspace, and it’s about supporting one another with honesty and kindness. Asking for help isn\u2019t a sign of weakness but immense and powerful strength.<\/p>\n As we navigate our faith journeys, let\u2019s remember that healing is just that\u2014a journey. It\u2019s not a quick fix, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time.<\/p>\n Your Challenge With Christ\u2019s power, we can create a community that supports each other and stands for truth.<\/p>\n Agape, Amber<\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a9iStock\/Getty Images Plus\/PeopleImages<\/span><\/p>\n Amber Ginter<\/strong> is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for\u00a0free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at\u00a0amberginter.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you ever struggled with anxiety or depression and felt like no one truly understood what you were experiencing? No matter how hard you tried to explain the scenario, they looked at you like you had twelve heads. I know the feeling. Fourteen years ago, I sat in my high school English class writing a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[703,152,1010],"class_list":["post-9254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-christian-living","tag-health","tag-mental","tag-truths"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9254\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
2. “I know someone who has attempted or died by suicide.”
3. “I have struggled with anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, or any other mental health issue.”
4. “I\u2019ve felt ashamed or embarrassed about my mental health issues.”
5. “I told someone about my struggles and felt judged.”<\/p>\n1. Having Anxiety Doesn\u2019t Mean You Lack Faith<\/h2>\n
Beyond His Spirit, Jesus gives us other human beings who can support us through our struggles. Someone who can sit across from us, look us in the eyes, and say \u201cMe too.\u201d We were created for connection, and it\u2019s vital to remember that mental health struggles can affect anyone. Galatians 6:2 says it this way: \u201cBear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ\u201d (ESV).<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re feeling uneasy, try using a 4-4-8 breath prayer. Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\n
3. Exhale slowly through your mouth for eight seconds while reading the second part of a Scripture: \u201cYour consolation brought me joy\u201d (Psalm 94:19 NIV).<\/p>\n2. Asking for Help Is a Sign of Strength<\/h2>\n
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, Paul wrestled with a thorn in the flesh. While we don\u2019t know if this was a mental or physical struggle, we do know it was not something easily prayed away. In fact, after Paul prayed three times, God told him, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness\u201d (NIV).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Paul teaches us it\u2019s okay to be weak, admit we\u2019re not okay, and seek the help we need.<\/p>\n
In Matthew 26:38, Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples. He\u2019s already prophesied His death but is \u201coverwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death\u201d (NIV). This verse highlights the anguish Jesus felt before His crucifixion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This moment reveals Jesus\u2019 vulnerability. He chose to suffer because He submitted everything to God, even when it was hard. This highlights the struggle between His human feelings and divine calling. Jesus experienced human weakness and reached out for support when He needed it. We can learn from this that it\u2019s okay to feel overwhelmed and ask for help, just like He did.<\/p>\n3. Healing Is a Journey, Not a Destination<\/h2>\n
If someone had cancer, we wouldn\u2019t tell them to just pray or trust God enough to heal them. We would tell them to seek chemotherapy and<\/em> believe in God\u2019s healing. Why are mental health issues any different? Healing takes time. We must remember that God can heal, but who\u2019s to say He can\u2019t use mud, spit, figs, and leaves (AKA medication, therapy, doctors, and coping skills), too? Supporting our health means acknowledging that healing can require spiritual support and professional help.<\/p>\nBe a Mental Health Ally for Others<\/h2>\n
Being a mental health ally isn\u2019t easy. It might lead to tough conversations. But saving a life is worth any temporary upset. Your courage to speak up could be the lifeline someone desperately needs.<\/p>\n
<\/strong>This week, I encourage you to ponder one way you can implement one of the practices I mentioned: Deep breathing, journaling, or being a mental health ally. As you consider how to take action, remember Philippians 2:4: \u201cLet each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others\u201d (ESV).<\/p>\n