A Biblical Perspective on our mental health:
Luke 17:6
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
We each have a mulberry tree growing in us. Its roots go deep into every part of us and they can represent all the hurt, pain, disappointment, betrayal and rejection that we’ve experienced. Unless we psychologically pull out these roots we limit space for our future self, diminishing our ability to embrace a better future. We can struggle to find peace. What roots do you need to pull out?
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Our confidence can sometimes be influenced by how self-assured we feel. This internal process can be influenced by external factors, such as the kind (or unkind) words of others. We can start to lose self-assuredness when we compare ourselves unfavourably with others, focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths and tell ourselves we will feel happier or more self-assured when a certain goal has been achieved – such as obtaining a better car, a bigger friendship group or more money. This can cause us to feel unhappy with ourselves in the here and now.
We’re reminded here to put aside such worldly concerns and focus on approaching God’s throne of grace with confidence knowing he will help us in our time of need.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT for short, is a model of therapy that looks at the way our thoughts create feelings and behaviours. Stress, anxiety and low mood can be driven by an internal narrative that is focused on unhelpful thinking – for example what if I lose my job, what if I become unwell, what if my partner leaves me. So, In this passage we are reminded of the things we need to think about.
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
When we are stressed and/or anxious we can often look for instant tension reduction. If I could just get on top of my work load, deal with my finances and any issues in my personal life today then I might be able to relax. But life regularly throws us curve balls. As Stephen Covey described, we can’t consider everything to be both urgent and important. If we do, we may face burn out. What do you need to prioritise today and what and who needs to wait?
Proverbs 12:25
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”
We all experience anxiety at some point in our lives, but it’s easy to forget that other people do too. It has become common place in our society to criticise and condemn others. We’re reminded here that a good word from someone can help ease the weight of our anxiety. Who can you offer an encouraging word to today?
2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
We can often be caught between two mindsets: confidence and paranoia, sometimes referred to as the angel and devil on our shoulders. Our confident narrative can tell us that we are safe, secure, capable, well liked and that we have a positive future ahead. But all too often we find ourselves in a paranoid mindset of “what if” thinking. What if I lose my job, what if I become ill, what if my relationship breaks down? This narrative can create anxiety. We are reminded here that each of us has power, love and self-discipline within us. We need to find ways to embrace this and reject the “what if”.
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About The Author
Steven Lucas MBACP MNCS (Prof Accred) is a professional counselling psychotherapist working in Northamptonshire. Read Full Bio.
Furthermore, If this has resonated with you and you feel you would benefit from discussing it in a therapeutic setting, contact us now in strict confidence. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! We are here to help.
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor so this guide should not be considered a replacement for seeking medical advice. It is also not a substitute for obtaining therapy as other factors, such as trauma, need to be considered. There are pay per click ads on this site for which I may receive a small commission. This helps to pay for the running of the site. I do not endorse any of the products advertised.