Six Biblical Truths About Good Mental Health

The concept of good mental health is given much attention today. While poor mental health and illness were previously stigmatized, there is now far more knowledge and public focus on the inner battles that innumerable people deal with daily. This marks a great change in exposing what was previously in the dark, and with it bringing increased help and support to those who need it.

Christians, however, should not fail to consider a biblical understanding of good mental health. While biblical counselors are still pioneering research on this topic, it would be good to remember that historically, “soul care” was the domain of the pastoral care culture, and it is only in the last several decades that “well-being” has been measured by medical and secular institutions, who set the standard for what is considered normal.

In this context, spiritual health is of little concern, and, while research points to prayer reducing stress and church attendance creating a sense of community, there is not much more connection made between faith and mental and emotional well-being. Here then are six Biblical truths about good mental health:

Mental illness has a spiritual origin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines mental health as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.” As Christians, we understand it to relate to the heart – the very core of man and the source of our feelings, thinking, and actions.

The Bible has much to say about the heart, and, as sinful people living in a fallen world, it is not all that good. Here are two examples:

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. – Mark 7:21-23

Every man’s way is right in his eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. – Proverbs 21:2

Our behavior patterns, thought patterns, and related emotions are all influenced most by the health of the heart, which has been made to function best when serving God in thought, desire, and choice. As sinners, we constantly fail to do this and therefore experience poor mental health. While this can seem simplistic, and certainly controversial, as Christians we stand on God’s Word as we see it transforming our lives and the lives of those around us.

Good mental health is impossible without God

While popular literature and secular psychologists point to the many ways to achieve good mental health (for example, a clinical diagnosis followed by the correct medical treatment, physical exercise, clean eating, meditation, eliminating toxic relationships, getting out in nature, etc.), they ignore the reality that good mental health is impossible without God. As created beings dependent on God, our “wellness” is related to our relationship with our Creator.

If we are disconnected from Him, spiritually separated by our sin, then the chance of us achieving the sense of mental well-being we crave is impossible. If sin is the enemy of mental health, then any hope of good mental health was lost in the fall. It can only be redeemed by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10).

So, while scientists pursue well-being in good faith, without the power of the cross, there can be no peace with God, and no peace within. If we continue to look for good mental health by focusing on self-esteem and self-sufficiency, we will end up depleted and miserable.

The key to good mental health is in God’s Word

If we are saved, then we can address the mental health issues that plague us. It makes sense that the key to good mental health is found in the Bible, where we meet the One who has given us “everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1.3).

When we are given a new heart (a heart of flesh, rather than a heart of stone, as described in Ezekiel 11:9), we can begin a process of working toward being sanctified, or made more Christ-like, through the help of the Spirit.

We finally have the power to put to death all the things that affect our mental health (idols that make us want things like comfort, power, and success above God’s will for our lives; a lack of forgiveness in our relationships, poor boundaries, etc.) and put on the qualities that lead to the “good mental health” that the Bible describes using words like peace, contentment, joy, shalom and blessing.

A clinical diagnosis can be confusing

We live in an era where mental disorders are diagnosed far more readily than ever before. Depression and anxiety are the buzzwords of the day, and in some instances, these clinical diagnoses can be confusing. They can leave the individual with little recourse to true healing, apart from the use of medication and talk therapy.

While these treatments are beneficial, they can also put a person in a position where they view themselves as a victim, without much agency or responsibility for the condition they find themselves in. It is far more liberating to understand oneself as having a “human” problem, applicable to all, rather than being labeled, which can lead to shame and poor mental health in and of itself.

Biblical counseling respects medical intervention

The consequences of sin, as part of our DNA as sons and daughters of Adam, can be extreme, and debilitating. The suffering that affects the body and mind to a great degree warrants medical assessment and intervention, if necessary.

Biblical counseling does not negate the role of medication or acute care. But it does profess that, as embodied souls, we are not limited to the point where we cannot obey, and respond in a renewed way to the thoughts, feelings, and actions that have hindered us in the past.

Good mental health may be a far off for many individuals, but the starting point is calling out to God for help, and arming oneself with a counselor and community to provide guidance and accountability for the journey to healing.

Good mental health needs to be biblically framed

The reality is that much of the science and research being conducted on good mental health completely ignores the heart. Psychedelics and even shock therapy are being used to try and yank a nation out of its despair, and yet at best, these interventions will just help people to see their problem more clearly. They will not bring the solution that every heart is longing for.

The Bible is full of rich teachings, vivid pictures, and wisdom for those seeking good mental health. If you are struggling and are looking for a way out of the psychological mess you find yourself in, consider a session with a trained biblical counselor. They will be able to provide a platform for you to pour out your struggles and be able to slowly build up a relationship with you as they walk the road to healing with you.

Becoming a Christian does not mean all our problems go away, and you have no doubt found this to be the case. In many instances, they increase! But take heart that you have a heavenly Father who understands weakness and has compassion and mercy for His beloved children. His desire for you is to run your Christian race unhindered by mental pain, and strong in His power.

Help for the journey

Would you like a trained biblical counselor to walk with you through the process of seeking Christ for peace and good mental health? Let us connect you with one of the counselors in our network to get you started.